In Tuesday’s Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response, Democrats unveiled their plan to address Measure 110. Republicans have also proposed several key pieces of legislation.

“Above all, I am saddened by the Democrats’ lack of interest to do what is necessary to end the drug addiction crisis, which is killing people young and old every single day. They are instead choosing to listen to special interest activists and pursue an omnibus bill reduced to window dressing,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend). “While Democrats kick the can down the road, we will continue to put forward bold solutions that will stop the drug crisis in its tracks.”

“The proposal we saw today is one chalked full of farcical fixes which will work about as well as the drug treatment hotline. Measure 110 has proven that voluntary addiction treatment does not work and keeps people chronically addicted. Oregonians overwhelmingly agree that we must scrap this naïve approach, but the Democrats’ proposal keeps the status quo in place,” said Representative Christine Goodwin (R-Canyonville). “Oregonians deserve better than this weak proposal. It will do almost nothing to save lives, clean up our streets, and restore safety to our communities.”

“Oregonians have made it abundantly clear: we must reestablish hard drug use as a class A misdemeanor so that rehabilitation treatment can be required. The current system does not include such power and a low-level class C misdemeanor only provides 30 days in jail as an alternative. This is nowhere near the amount of time needed to address addiction,” said Representative Kevin Mannix (R-Keizer). “Our current system is not compassionate. People are hurting. The Legislature has a responsibility to step up and meet this challenge.”

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“Clearly Democrats in the legislature haven’t walked the streets to see the crisis Measure 110 has caused," said House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich. “The Republican bill restores accountability, ushers addicts into treatment, and makes our streets clean and safe again – none of which will be achieved with the majority’s proposal. While people suffer, the majority party ignores Oregonians’ calls for bipartisan action, choosing instead to pander to radical special interests with a bill that solves nothing. Oregonians have demanded real solutions, and that is what House Republicans will continue to strive for.”

Candidate for Oregon Attorney General and former prosecutor, Will Lathrop, rebuked politicians in Salem for failing to propose a real solution to Oregon’s failed Measure 110 and instead hiding behind House Bill 4002, a half-hearted proposal.

“Unfortunately, Salem politicians have failed to listen to law enforcement, local governments, and Oregonians across our state who are demanding meaningful solutions to Oregon’s failed Measure 110. Instead, these same politicians have opted to hide behind their political ideologies with an inadequate bill that fails to respond to the historical crisis on our streets,” said Will Lathrop.

“What was hailed as revolutionary change, is now known to be an unmitigated disaster shrouding Oregon in a state of crisis. Despite calls from our law enforcement community, treatment experts, and local jurisdictions to replace Measure 110 with real accountability measures that get people into treatment and traffickers off the street, HB 4002 is a half-measure designed to provide cover to a political class determined to continue the status quo,” added Lathrop

With less than two weeks before the 2024 Legislative Session convenes, AG candidate Will Lathrop offered Oregonians some words of encouragement while challenging legislators to return to the drawing board.

“It’s not too late for legislators in Salem to reject band-aid fixes and work with law enforcement and addiction service providers to deliver lasting solutions. Oregonians are relying on our elected politicians to act with urgency to shift the tide of crime and addiction in our communities and give Oregonians real hope for change,” concluded Lathrop.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-23 15:31:59

Last Update: 2024-01-23 16:38:51

As the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a lockdown of businesses and schools by Governor Kate Brown, thousands of Oregonians were threatened with eviction. As their income diminished, they struggled to pay rent in an economy that had stalled. In December 2021 the Legislative Housing Committee requested an audit of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (Oregon ERA).

Oregon ERA was created to provide federal funding to help keep Oregonians in their homes. Oregon’s housing agency, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), was charged with administering the program under enormous pressure to get millions of dollars out the door as quickly as possible.

OHCS was able to distribute $426 million in emergency rental assistance as of June 2023. But according to the Oregon Audits Division audit, the framework under which this occurred came with substantial risk. A year into the pandemic in 2020, OHCS agrees with auditors that, like many other government and non-governmental organizations, the agency was unprepared for the magnitude and scale of multiple emergencies. Oregon ERA suffered from the rushed implementation of new software and a fragmented customer service system resulting in application processing delays and communications challenges that frustrated consumers and local partners.

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade said in a statement, “The urgency with which OHCS acted to distribute rental assistance during a global crisis is laudable. As auditors, it’s our job to ensure state agencies properly account for how they spend public money. I encourage OHCS to work speedily to implement the recommendations in this report in preparation for future emergencies.”

According to the audit, "While the urgency brought by this situation was understandable, it’s still critically important agencies implement adequate financial controls to ensure funds are distributed to the people who should be receiving them. Money that is spent out of compliance with federal guidelines runs the risk of being clawed back by the federal government. Fraud was a major risk for Oregon ERA." According to multiple community action agencies, they denied approximately $37 million requested through 1,813 potentially fraudulent applications.

OHCS employed limited oversight of the funds and, in its haste, skipped critical controls, including over financial accounting and contract administration. These same control weaknesses were highlighted by financial auditors in the Statewide Single Audit released earlier this year. In fact, the severity and pervasive aspect of the control weaknesses led financial auditors to issue an adverse opinion for the program — the first from the division in more than 25 years.

While the urgency brought by this situation was understandable, it’s still critically important agencies implement adequate financial controls to ensure funds are distributed to the people who should be receiving them. Money that is spent out of compliance with federal guidelines runs the risk of being clawed back by the federal government. Fraud was a major risk for Oregon ERA; according to multiple community action agencies, they denied approximately $37 million requested through 1,813 potentially fraudulent applications.

“There is no doubt OHCS, like all of Oregon government, was working under unprecedented emergency conditions during the pandemic,” said Audits Director Kip Memmott. “As auditors, it’s our job to ensure public monies are being spent in accordance with program guidelines and properly accounted for. It’s extremely concerning that OHCS is unable to verify whether millions of dollars went to the Oregonians who needed and deserved this money the most.”

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Auditors have multiple recommendations for OHCS, among them:

• Better prepare for future emergencies given the agency’s important role under Oregon’s emergency management framework, including conducting an after-action review of Oregon ERA with local partners; Improve internal controls over contract monitoring;
• Improve internal controls over reporting program outcomes, especially when it comes to reporting the number of Oregon ERA applications paid, households assisted and dollars spent;
• Improve internal controls over detecting and preventing fraud; and
• Continue efforts to obtain timely, complete, and quality client data to better understand and respond to Oregon’s housing needs.

Oregon ERA ended on June 2023. However, the lessons learned from this program are still applicable. OHCS has now been tasked with administering millions of dollars to address Oregon’s ongoing homelessness crisis, a major priority for Governor Tina Kotek. This can be troublesome since OHCS disagrees with the audit on the after-action process including systems oversight of benefit measurement, and they lacked reporting to ensure systems are functioning as expected.

Other recommendations were only partially agreed to being correct. OHCS must implement audit recommendations and apply lessons learned, if Oregonians can be reassured OHCS can successfully and properly accounted for the Governor’s homeless program.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-19 13:19:01

Last Update: 2024-01-19 15:22:40

Governor Tina Kotek declared a statewide emergency due to the severe ice storm that impacted counties across the state. This declaration comes following an assessment of needs and subsequent requests from multiple counties as they enter the 6th day of severe impacts as a result of the storm. The declaration will support counties to respond and recover from damages as a result of the storm.

“Thousands of people across the state have been impacted by the storm, including power outages, lack of transportation, and an array of safety concerns that come with severe weather,” Governor Kotek said. “The state has been working with counties as they assess needs, including critical federal resources that can be unlocked by a statewide emergency. I declared a state of emergency in Lane County on Tuesday, and now we are heeding the call from additional counties to escalate.”

Emergency response starts at the local level. As resources are exhausted, cities and counties turn to the state for additional support. Not all resources, such as those the state has been providing since the start of the storm, require a state emergency declaration. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Governor’s Office have been in frequent communication with impacted counties as they continuously assess their needs, anticipate emerging issues, problem-solve, and seek to fill gaps.

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State emergency declarations are a critical tool that support counties getting access to federal resources they may be entitled to through the Federal Emergency Management Agency as well as other resources. Assets include, but are not limited to, federal infrastructure support for highways, telecommunications, and power system recovery, which responders can access more easily with a statewide emergency declaration.

Currently, Multnomah County, Lincoln County, Washington County, Hood River County, and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians have declared a local state of emergency and have been receiving support from the state, including from OEM, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Transportation.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-19 10:07:15

Last Update: 2024-01-19 10:40:35

In keeping with past practice, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade released a preliminary list of candidates to appear on the 2024 Democratic and Republican Primary ballots for Oregon’s May Primary election. Most notably, the Republican primary ballot is projected to have former President Donald Trump.

“The 2024 Primary Election is just four months away,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “I want to remind Oregonians to check their voter registration information at Oregonvotes.gov. If you’ve moved, changed your name, or just want to make sure you’re registered, you can check your info in just a few minutes at Oregonvotes.gov.”

The preliminary lists for the 2024 Democratic and Republican Primary ballots are as follows, in alphabetical order:

Democratic Candidates:

• Joseph Biden
• Dean Phillips, and
• Marianne Williamson.

Republican Candidates:

• Ron DeSantis
• Nikki Haley, and
• Donald Trump.

ORS 249.078 (1)(a) states that a Secretary of State may place the name of a candidate on a major party Presidential primary ballot if the Secretary, in their “sole discretion, has determined that the candidate’s candidacy is generally advocated or is recognized in national news media.”

To decide if candidates meet the statutory criteria, the Secretary is relying on national polls and including all candidates who have the support of a minimum of 1% of party voters. Candidates may also access the ballot by nominating petition as provided in ORS 249.078 (1)(b). The deadline to submit already verified signatures of nominating petition is March 14, 2024.

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The Secretary intends to review the list of candidates using then-current data and issue a final list after Oregon’s candidate filing deadline has passed and before providing the list to county clerks for inclusion on the primary ballot. Names will be removed from the list if a candidate suspends their campaign or otherwise publicly announces that they are no longer running for President in the 2024 election. Other changes to the list will be made at the direction of the courts, if necessary.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-18 16:02:13

Last Update: 2024-01-19 10:44:54

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has pulled back on her budget priorities for the 2024 legislative short session, or has she? She is introducing only one bill, but expressed that her bill, SB 1537 is separate from the Housing Production Advisory Council (HPAC) recommendations, which Governor Kotek created through Executive Order 23-04 last year to develop long-term strategies for ramping up home construction across Oregon, and is expected to request more of the Governor’s wish list.

Governor Kotek’s bill, Senate Bill 1537 (Legislative Concept 19), proposes housing production with $500 million funding pared down from $600 million she proposed in December for housing and homelessness. That list included another $247.2 million for things like shelters, rent assistance, addiction treatment, child care, overtime for ODOT during the winter, and property tax for state buildings in Salem. Those items aren't off the table, just not in the Governor's bill.

The Governor is focusing on housing in SB 1537. Key provisions include:

• Housing Accountability and Production Office - Creates the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) to support housing production in local communities with a more definitive structure and process to address complaints, concerns, and issues from local governments and developers about compliance with state housing law. This office will enhance opportunities to collaborate with local governments in lieu of enforcement actions.
  
  
• Land Supply - Provides a one-time tool for cities in need of land and affordable housing to add land for housing to their urban growth boundary (UGB). Any land added would need the consent of the property owner and could only be urban reserve, non-resource land, or exception land – not high value farm or forest land except land in urban reserves already designated for future urban development. A city must meet land and affordability eligibility metrics in order to qualify to use this tool.
  
  
• Housing Affordability - Requires a portion of new development to be affordable. Within any expansion areas, 30% of all housing units must be legally restricted for affordable housing. Affordability requirements exist in over 800 jurisdictions and 25 states, but most programs require between 10-20% of units as affordable. A 30% requirement in Oregon would be one of the strongest requirements in the country. Oregon has a critical need for guaranteed affordability, as existing land within UGBs (outside of Portland) has no affordability requirement.
  
  
• Climate-Friendly Homes - Funds grants for new affordable housing construction to incorporate energy-efficient design, reduce energy costs for low-income residents, and stabilize operational costs for owners. These incentives will help reduce the energy burden for low-income Oregonians across the state.
  
  
• Funding for Housing Production Tools - Includes a $500 million investment package from existing state resources requested by Governor Kotek. Here is an initial breakdown of that funding:
  1. Housing infrastructure financing: $200 million
  2. Moderate-income housing financing: $200 million
  3. Site acquisition: $40 million
  4. Climate-friendly incentive funding: $20 million
  5. Site mitigation and readiness funding: $10 million
  6. Local housing planning technical assistance funding: $10 million
  7. Local housing infrastructure planning capacity: $5 million
  8. Housing Accountability and Production Office: $5 million.

“Decades of underbuilding have left Oregon with a severe housing shortage that is driving up rents, home prices, and worsening our homelessness crisis,” Governor Kotek said. “People that are ready to transition out of homelessness struggle to find housing. Meanwhile, employers – both public and private – in Oregon struggle to hire due to a lack of workforce housing for rent or purchase, harming local economies across the state. That’s why SB 1537 is my top priority in the short session, and I look forward to working with legislators to make progress this year.”

Bills, including SB 1537 (LC 19), will be publicly posted on the Oregon legislative website before the session starts February 5.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-17 20:04:45

Last Update: 2024-01-17 22:14:37

Oregon Fourth Congressional District Candidate Monique DeSpain announced the first fundraising results of her campaign from the fourth quarter of 2023- raising over $100,000 in just 45 days.

“I am excited to announce that we have raised over $100,000 in the first 45 days of our campaign, I am humbled by the outpouring of support we have seen from Oregonians right out of the gate,” said Monique DeSpain. “We are building strong momentum and support in the early days of our campaign to bring bold new leadership to Washington, D.C.”

“I entered this race because I see a need that I can meet. Countless Oregonians have told me they want more from their government. Oregonians are looking for a bold leader who will fight for public safety, a secure border, lower inflation, and a transparent, accountable government. It is very humbling and inspiring to hear the confidence voters have in me and to receive so many expressions of gratitude from donors all across Oregon,” DeSpain added. “Our fundraising results are just another reflection of the early momentum we have built to give voters a real choice in this election.”

The incumbent, Val Hoyle (D-Eugene) has come under fire for accepting money from La Mota, and diverting government money to a non-profit named ENDVR. Many analysts are projecting that DeSpain's fundraising coupled with Hoyle's ethical troubles is making Oregon's 4th Congressional District more competitive.

Oregon's 4th Congressional district contains the counties of Lincoln, Benton, Lane, Coos, Curry and parts of Douglas. Monique DeSpain is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, mother of twin boys, and public policy advocate who resides in Eugene, Oregon.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-16 15:19:22

Last Update: 2024-01-16 18:01:20

Editor's note: State Representative Jami Cate (R-Lebanon) represents Oregon House District 11.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed plans to lethally remove 470,000 barred owls in our West Coast forests to try and help the spotted owl species survive. If the spotted owl sounds familiar, it's probably because this problem was already supposed to have been solved—back in the 1980's.

The spotted owl was the catalyst of environmental activists crippling our logging industry. They leveraged the plight of the spotted owl to result in drastic reductions of our ability to log and proactively manage our forests—all in the name of preserving owl habitat, and thus saving the species. Or so we were led to believe.

But decades later, those devastating measures which have decimated the economies of logging and mill towns throughout the Pacific Northwest, and lead to our current reality of mega-fires scorching our landscape and threatening our communities every summer, has in fact done nothing to “save” the spotted owl. Hence the latest drastic measure being proposed by USFWS.

This trend of drastic measures, guided solely by a unilateral prioritization of one species at the complete dismissal of any other consequences, is one we see far too often as our court system continues to side with extreme activists and fails to adequately consider a comprehensive balance of priorities for our communities. The recent deep drawdowns of Green Peter Dam and Lookout Point Dam are no exception.

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Chinook Salmon were leveraged under the Endangered Species Act to result in an injunction forcing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct drawdowns throughout the Willamette River Basin dams. Despite the USACE's grave concerns about the devastating impacts to human health and safety, to communities' economies and clean water supply, and even the survival of numerous other species, the State of Oregon joined those plaintiffs and offered staunch support of the remedies demanded by activists.

As a result, our rivers have turned to mud, thousands of Kokanee are dead, the survival of other fish and aquatic species living in our rivers remain threatened, and communities downstream from our dams are enduring tens of millions in unexpected costs to try and maintain their water supplies. And the long-term damages of flushing decades of sediment down our waterways and drastically decreasing our stored water to bolster summer flows, are yet to be seen.

Yet Governor Kotek is trying to blame this mess on the failure of the USACE to predict such problems, while ignoring her own agencies' critical role in dismissing such concerns and helping making the mess in the first place. The State vowed that these drawdowns would actually result in cleaner water, and promised that “the potential for conflicts have been considered and addressed.” But no mitigation plan for the numerous negative consequences cautioned by the USACE was ever included in the orders.

It is easy to wonder what all these devastatingly high costs will benefit us. And if this latest drawdown strategy turns out to be anything like the over $9 billion in restoration efforts invested in the Columbia River Basin, the answer is likely to be: nothing.

According to a recent study by Oregon State University, though fish populations have increased thanks to fish collection and hatchery efforts, the billions spent on increasing wild Chinook salmon have had no measurable effect. Kind of like the non-existent benefits to the spotted owl populations by crippling our timber industry.

These extreme measures always demand an equally extreme price from our communities, but their promises of immense benefits to a single species never seem to materialize. We need to stop living in the land of good intentions, and start realizing that this broken record of unilateral prioritization of any single species will always result in failure. Oregonians deserve balanced solutions that consider all the priorities necessary for our communities to thrive. The only way to achieve that is take these decisions out of the hands of a select few far-removed individuals, and finally allow our communities to have a seat at the decision-making table.


--State Representative Jami Cate (R-Lebanon)

Post Date: 2024-01-15 16:08:56

Last Update: 2024-01-15 16:18:33

House Republicans today introduced legislation to end the crises of drugs, homelessness, and crime that have been exacerbated by the failed Measure 110.

The bill takes bold action to end Measure 110 as we know it to restore accountability and provide pathways to treatment for addicts so that they can become healthy, productive members of society.

The bill classifies possession of deadly drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and meth as a Class A Misdemeanor, mandates treatment to avoid jail time, bans public use, and requires evaluation and treatment as part of probation for certain drug and property crimes. It requires prison sentences for drug dealers and manufacturers with multiple convictions and increases the penalties for drug dealers who sell drugs that result in the death of a person.

The chief sponsors of the bill are Rep. Rick Lewis (R-Silverton), Republican House Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River), Rep. Tracy Cramer (R-Gervais), Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem), Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Stayton) and Rep. Christine Goodwin (R-Canyonville).

“The citizens of Oregon understand the failures of Measure 110. We see the results on the streets, in the unacceptable overdose death rate, and in the catastrophic consequences to our communities, to public safety, and to livability,” said Lewis. “Change is needed, and we can’t afford to take small steps that fail to adequately address the problem. We filed the bill today. A great deal of thought has gone into it, and we have the opportunity to do the right thing for Oregon, for public safety, and for the drug addicted. The bill creates accountability, but it also provides the tools and the resources needed to get us on the road to recovery. We cannot wait any longer.”

“While the majority party talks endlessly about drug prevention, their policies opened the floodgates to drug access. Failing to end Measure 110 is to embrace the status quo of death, drugs, and decline. The people of Oregon have seen enough. House Republicans are answering their call for substantial, meaningful reforms to get drugs off the streets, put drug dealers behind bars, and get addicts into treatment. The legislature must deliver this short session by passing our bill,” said Helfrich.

"Enabling people to live on the streets and poison themselves is not compassionate, but that is exactly what Measure 110 is doing," said Cramer. "As a mother, we see hard drugs infiltrating our schools and it's caused overdose deaths among our teenagers to skyrocket to nearly 700% and third in the nation in teen addiction. We cannot settle for the bare minimum. It breaks my heart that Measure 110 is putting so many of our children’s futures at risk.”

“Oregonians are demanding drug addiction treatment and recovery. Our bill delivers on the failed promise of Ballot Measure 110 by incentivizing people to seek treatment and supporting them on the road to recovery. There is dignity in each individual human being. This is the compassionate thing to do for those suffering from drug addiction and for all Oregon communities,” Diehl said.

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“This bill reflects the unanimous position of our House Republicans that we need to return to significant accountability for the use of street drugs. This requires official authority to intervene in a serious way so we can assure society that we are pressing forward on a system covering both public safety and the provision of compassionate rehabilitation services to addicted persons,” said Mannix, who serves on the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety.

“Measure 110 is sucking the life from our communities. They’re overrun with drugs, crime, and homelessness. People do not feel safe. Businesses are leaving. People are afraid to do business in our state. We must change direction, and this bill begins to put us on the right track,” said Goodwin, who serves on the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-11 15:32:55

Last Update: 2024-01-11 16:04:17

Oregon House Republican members of the Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem) and Rep. Christine Goodwin (R-Canyonville) and Republican House Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) issued the following statement regarding the recent audit of Measure 110. Measure 110 was passed with the promise that resources would be dedicated to treatment while making substance abuse legal, but the audit revealed structural failures in the way Oregon responded to the increasing waves of those addicted that the Measure created.

“This audit provides us with a roadmap as to how we need to navigate reforms to measure 110. We need to treat this as a serious challenge to the established system and an opportunity to truly fulfill the will of the voters in dealing with addiction. This supports the need to hold people accountable for their use of street drugs. We need to be able to intervene both for reasons of compassion as to the addicted individual but also the safety of our communities,” said Mannix.

“Measure 110 is a failure on many fronts, but today’s hearing confirmed that it directs too few of its resources to prevention and recovery. As a former teacher I was especially shocked to hear from parents who say even those scarce resources never make it to youth users or schools. Children who use drugs are significantly more at risk of lifelong addiction and mental health issues, but the majority party has neglected to invest in preventing addiction or recovery programs. We need to substantively reform Measure 110 from top to bottom to tackle Oregon’s drug addiction crisis,” said Goodwin.

“This audit confirms that Measure 110 is failing the people of Oregon and will continue to do so without significant and fundamental reforms -- like the return of criminal justice accountability and mandatory treatment for those possessing dangerous drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and meth,” said Helfrich. “More of the same from the majority party will yield the same failed results. The people of Oregon have called for change, and the legislature must answer their call in the upcoming short session.”

House Republicans have offered solutions to the failures of Measure 110 that include repealing failed and ineffective aspects of the law and instituting actions widely supported by the people of Oregon, including banning the public use of hard drugs, instituting penalties for those who possess deadly drugs like fentanyl, making treatment mandatory for those arrested on drug-related crimes in order to avoid jail, and directing resources to the county level so local entities can better address areas of acute need.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-10 20:06:47

Last Update: 2024-01-10 20:33:09

In a letter addressed to the Oregon State Land Board, Oregon State University President Jayathi Y. Murthy shook up the state's plans by not recommending to the University's Board of Trustees that they participate in management of the Elliott State Research Forest.

President Murthy has chosen not to ask the Board of Trustees to authorize OSU participation in management of the forest at this time due to Tribal and other concerns about the current strategy, including the increasing constraints being placed on the forest’s management and research activities that is believed will compromise achieving the mutually agreed goals. Those constraints come in the form of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).

In 2022, the Oregon Legislature passed SB 1546 which established the Elliott State Research Forest consisting of lands formerly constituting the Elliott State Forest and created a new state agency, the Elliott State Research Forest Authority (ESRFA), which would contract with OSU to manage and conduct research on the forest.

The legislature extended the deadline for completion to December 31, 2023. The additional time was to allow for adjustments to the HCP based on public comment and input from the ESRFA Prospective Board and the Services (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service). The extended timeline also allowed for any adjustments to be reflected in the forest management plan and financial plans.

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) seems to be at odds with ESRFA with their mission to lock up over 250,000 acres of public state forest lands, preventing harvesting and active forest management on about 40% of Oregon's state forests. ODF wants HCP as the desired strategy to meet the requirements of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The ODF believes that the HCP will increase the populations of certain species listed under the ESA, such as the Northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and the Oregon Coast and Lower Columbia River coho. ODF hopes that the HCP will achieve ESA compliance over the next 70 years. However, the spotted owl population in the Northwest has declined in every forest service study area including protected areas. The primary reason is that the critical habitat for this bird is also the desired habitat for its apex predator, the barred owl. No HCP restrictions on timber harvesting will correct this imbalance.

Representative Ed Diehl sees the reduced harvest as fiscally irresponsible and endangers rural counties that rely on the funding. He says, "the HCP is doubling down on failed forest policies of the last 30 years. Two guiding goals of our current forest policy are increasing spotted owl populations and reducing global carbon emissions. The theory is that we can achieve these goals by increasing forest habitat and curtailing timber harvesting, the two guiding policies that continue with the HCP. The evidence shows that these goals have not, and will not, be achieved with these policies. And what is indisputable is that these policies have devastated the communities that live, work, hunt, and recreate in these forests. I’ve seen it first-hand in my district; the loss of jobs, the loss of revenue to these once-thriving rural communities, and the raging wildfires. These policies have robbed people of their livelihoods and their dignity. These policies have cost the state billions in revenue and turned our forests from an asset into a liability."

The HCP report also highlights, as an added benefit, an increase in carbon storage. The theory is that Oregon can achieve environmental goals by increasing forest habitat and curtailing timber harvesting. However, there is mounting evidence that shows it won’t happen. Carbon storage and/or carbon sequestration is mentioned multiple times in the report, and described as an important environmental outcome. The underlying assumption in the model is that locking up Oregon state forest lands in Harvest Conservation Areas, and stretching out harvest cycles to 90 plus years in other areas, are important strategies for carbon storage. Forestry researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pacific Northwest Research Station have consistently found the opposite will occur. Locking up forests ends up emitting more CO2 than sustainable harvests. The science shows that a 45-50 year timber harvest cycle is optimal for carbon storage – you grow a tree through its highest carbon storing years, harvest and ‘sequester’ that carbon in lumber to build homes, and plant another tree to repeat the cycle.

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Rep. Diehl says the HCP will continue these failures under false pretenses, reducing annual timber harvests by about 40% of current levels for the next several decades. The heart of the HCP is establishing Habitat Conservation Areas, and as the report highlights, after 30 years, no harvesting inside the Habitat Conservation Areas is assumed in some of the model scenarios.

"Implicit in the HCP model is that this carbon storage policy provides a net global benefit," Diehl states. "The opposite is true, however. Whether Oregon cuts another tree down or not, the United States will continue to utilize wood products to meet growing demand for homes, paper products, and packaging. In fact, the US is a net importer of softwood lumber. And as imports from Canada continue to decline, we are left importing lumber from overseas. What this means is simple: Every tree that Oregon takes out of a sustainable harvest cycle is one more tree that must be processed overseas and transported on a diesel guzzling, carbon spewing freight ship halfway around the world. Or, homes will be built with more steel and concrete, two building products that are extremely carbon intensive. In other words, every tree that Oregon takes out of a harvest cycle is, in fact, increasing the global carbon footprint."

The ESRF was created to serve as a living laboratory for vital research on landscape-scale approaches to sustainable forest management, climate resilience, biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and eco-cultural social benefits over the long-term. The research forest can also provide Oregonians with access to forest education and recreation, as well as jobs in forest products, forestry and forest research. If ODF is set against existing research, what use is ESRF doing more research? Oregon Natural Resource Industries (ONRI), has joined ESRF against HCP and has taken the lead to stop HCP.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-10 12:19:43

Last Update: 2024-01-10 16:56:11

On December 14, 2023, the Biden Administration announced a historic agreement to work in partnership with Pacific Northwest Tribes and States to restore wild salmon populations, expand Tribally sponsored clean energy production, and provide stability for communities that depend on the Columbia River System.

Building on President Biden’s direction to Federal agencies, the agreement, when combined with other funding, will invest $300 million over 10 years to restore native fish and their habitats throughout the Columbia River Basin, with added measures to increase the autonomy of States and Tribes to use these funds. The Administration will also facilitate the build-out of at least one to three gigawatts of Tribally-sponsored renewable energy production, increased flexibility for the hydro-system, and studies of dam services. Of this $300 million, $100 million would be provided to the four Lower River Treaty Tribes, Washington, and Oregon to use for fish restoration projects, and $200 million would be provided for hatchery modernization, upgrades, and maintenance.

“In the agreement signed today, BPA sought to provide our ratepayers operational certainty and reliability while avoiding costly, unpredictable litigation in support of our mission to provide a reliable, affordable power supply to the Pacific Northwest,” said John Hairston, Administrator and CEO of the Bonneville Power Administration. The agreement keeps energy affordable by avoiding potentially significant rate increases from court ordered dam operations. The Bonneville Power Administration estimates that today’s agreement will have an annual average rate impact of 0.7 percent.

The biggest challenge came from environmental plaintiffs and Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “This agreement charts a new path to restore the river, provide for a clean energy future and the jobs that come with it, and live up to our responsibilities to Tribal Nations.” Federal investments to wild fish restoration over the next decade will enable an unprecedented 10-year break from decades-long litigation against the Federal government’s operation of its dams in the Pacific Northwest.

The agreement was filed in the Federal District Court in Oregon and sets commitments made by the Federal Government and implemented through a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States; the States of Oregon and Washington; the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Yakama Tribes; and environmental non-profit organizations.

Implementation of the agreement will diversify and develop affordable, clean, and reliable energy options for the region. Investments under this agreement will help to ensure continued energy reliability and affordability, transportation, recreation, irrigation, and other key services, including in the event that Congress decides to authorize breaching of the four Lower Snake River dams. The four hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River provide multiple benefits to Idaho and the region including $686 million in jobs, movement of wheat, irrigation and 95% emission-free power generated by BPA. Where is Idaho in this partnership?

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Proposals include upgrading rail infrastructure and grain storage, and developing energy output to protect grid and ratepayers along with recreational activities. This agreement honors Tribal treaty rights, honoring and respecting Tribal sovereignty, protecting Tribal homelands, and incorporating Indigenous knowledge and robust Tribal consultation into planning and decision-making.

Oregon Governor Kotek stated, “The Pacific Northwest's iconic salmon and steelhead are essential to our ecological and economic wealth, and a sacred part of tribal ceremonial, spiritual, and subsistence practices since time immemorial. The Columbia River treaty reserved tribes exemplify steadfast leadership in salmon restoration and stewardship, forging a strong partnership with our states in a shared commitment to comanaging this precious natural resource for generations to come. This successful and unprecedented partnership between the six sovereigns and the United States government has established a shared vision and pathway forward for restoration in both the lower and upper Columbia River Basin. Oregon looks forward to continued collaboration on a successful restoration.”

Washington Governor Jay Inslee added, “This agreement between the U.S. government and the Six Sovereigns and NGO plaintiffs is that path forward. It is a durable, comprehensive product of determined leadership by all parties to help secure the long term economic, energy, and salmon recovery needs of our region.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-05 23:22:17

Last Update: 2024-01-06 00:02:18

Two years ago, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) adopted the Climate Protection Program, which creates limits on greenhouse gas emissions from oil and natural gas companies, with a target of 90% reduction by 2050. The program also allows for fossil fuel suppliers to reduce emissions through the program’s Community Climate Investment (CCI) credit program (cap-and-trade). NW Natural must purchase CCIs because the company, which only sells fossil fuel gas, must offset its carbon emissions enough to meet state-required climate goals.

This regulation is putting oil and natural gas companies at a disadvantage to even service their customers fairly, despite plans to convert to renewables using biogas from decomposing organic matter. They argued that DEQ exceeded its authority, and the Oregon Court of Appeals agreed stating DEQ failed to comply, or even substantially comply, with disclosure requirement when adopting rules under the federal Clean Air Act.

The court opinion goes into the authority for the rule: “In 2020, recognizing the danger posed to Oregonians by GHG, then Governor Brown issued Executive Order 20-04, in which she directed EQC and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to develop rules establishing a sector specific GHG “cap and reduce program.” Specifically, Governor Brown directed EQC and DEQ to “take actions necessary” to “cap and reduce” GHG emissions from large stationary sources, from transportation fuels, and from all other liquid and gaseous fuels. In accordance with that directive, EQC and DEQ engaged in an extensive and public process to develop the CPP rules. As adopted, the rules aim to, among other things, “reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sources in Oregon.” OAR 340 -271- 0010(3).”

DEQ contends the court decision only applies to an administrative error and does not deny them authority, and are working on the next step with the Department of Justice.

Perhaps the question should go back to 2019 and 2020 when the Oregon House and Senate Republicans used their veto power and walked out to stop the cap-and-trade bill. That didn't stop Governor Kate Brown. Frustrated, she dictated cap and trade as "cap and invest" by Executive Order 20-04 that directed state agencies to draft carbon reduction rules that would achieve the same goals. Since state agency administrators are appointed by the governor to work at her pleasure, the cap and trade program has never returned to the legislature for confirmation, but legislation has built up EO 20-04, boot strapping it in as if it were passed with full public input and support.

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This week's ruling that the Oregon DEQ’s Climate Protection Program failed to comply with disclosure requirements during rules adoption, seems to be systematic of the real issue. The program is one of the most radical regulations of energy in the nation. And worldwide, the reality is China and India are going to use more and more coal. China is building more than 50 new coal plants and the Indian Ministry of Coal stated that "the share of coal in India's energy mix is significant to ensure affordable energy availability, accessibility, & energy security."

“Most Oregonians, regardless of party affiliation, believe in the rule of law. I think a state agency rushing to implement a draconian regulatory scheme without following the law is irresponsible and bad governing,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend). “This week’s ruling highlights the importance of our nation’s system of checks and balances, which limit absolute power of unelected bureaucrats and politicians who abuse their power. I hope the courts continue to hold lawlessness accountable.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-04 16:51:33

Last Update: 2024-01-04 02:03:04