With the 2015 Oregon Legislative Session in full swing, below is a list of water-related bills that may be of interest:
- HB 2207 Authorizes Environmental Quality Commission to adopt by rule procedures for implementing alternative ballast water management strategies for vessels with empty ballast tanks
- HB 2451 Extends maximum loan term for loans made from Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund to 30 Years. Allows Department of Environmental Quality to buy or refinance debt obligations of public agencies for all projects otherwise qualified for financial assistance through Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund.
- HB 2498 Prohibits Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Environmental Quality from adopting any rule or issuing any order concerning water quality that imposes requirements, standards or any other limitation that exceeds requirements, standards or any other limitation imposed under federal law.
- HB 2499 Prohibits Environmental Quality Commission from adopting any rule concerning air quality and water quality that imposes requirements, standards or any other limitation that exceeds requirements, standards or any other limitation imposed under federal law.
- HB 2517 Modifies definition “native fish” for purposes of salmon and trout enhancement program.
- HB 2589 Requires State Department of Agriculture to adopt rules prohibiting application of pesticide products containing nitro-group neonicotinoids.
- HB 2666 Establishes process for county to evaluate whether proposed mining use causes significant change or significant increase in cost when federal or state agency has not issued permit authorizing proposed mining use. Requires county to find that proposed mining use does not force significant change in accepted farm or forest practice or significantly increase cost of accepted farm or forest practices if mining use complies with applicable federal, state and local environmental standards.
- HB 3123 Prohibits application of pesticide by aircraft except under terms and conditions of pest emergency declaration issued by State Department of Agriculture or State Forestry Department.
- HB 3220 Eliminates authority of irrigation districts to condemn real or personal property outside boundaries of district.
- HB 3415 Imposes 10-year moratorium on use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production.
- SB 0191 Creates guidance document as new form for statement of state agency’s practice, policy or interpretation of law. Provides that issuance of guidance document is not subject to rulemaking procedures. [Although not 100% water-related, this bill relates to the way the Oregon Water Resources Department, Department of Environmental Quality, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife operate, as well as the other Oregon agencies.]
- SB 0204 Establishes Working Forests and Farms Advisory Committee to provide advice regarding three new programs for maintaining or restoring conservation benefits of working forests and farms.
- SB 0205 Creates Task Force on Innovations in Water Quality.
- SB 0261 Increases ballast water trip fee to $88.
- SB 0412 Defines conditions when rock, gravel, sand, silt and other similar material removed from waters of state are and are not solid waste.
- SB 0537 Establishes Task Force on Standing in Proceedings Regarding Water.
- SB 0744 Requires agencies to estimate costs borne by businesses and industrial sectors to comply with proposed rules. Prohibits adoption of proposed rule unless estimated cost of compliance with proposed rule is offset by estimated cost reductions from other proposed rule, amendment or repeal of existing rules or modifications of existing compliance with regulatory burden placed on business, as specified by agency proposing rule. [Although not 100% water-related, this bill relates to the way the Oregon Water Resources Department, Department of Environmental Quality, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife operate, as well as the other Oregon agencies.]
- SB 0829 Directs Environmental Quality Commission to adopt by rule methodology for Department of Environmental Quality to apply certain water quality standards in assessing waters of state.
Stay tuned to Schroeder Law Offices’ Water Law Blog for more news about these bills!
