Legislative Policies for the 2007 Oregon Legislative Session

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City of Eugene Legislative Policies for 2007 Oregon Legislative Session City of Eugene Legislative Policies for 2007 Oregon Legislative Session agency has also authorized Oregon's DEQ to extend the requirement to any city it deems with local governments to identify and share pesticide data, and to betterassist with appropriate. salmon recoveryand waterqualityplanningefforts atthe locallevel. ~ Support legislative proposals and recommendations that address salmon protection. Officials from Oregon cities have acknowledged their responsibility for maintaining and and recoveryin a comprehensive manner. Support efforts to develop endangered. improving water quality and have developed measures to reduce discharges from city species recoveryplans within the contextofa comprehensive watershed health facilities. plan, and specificallyaddress salmon recoveryneeds in urban areas. Over the next 10 years, for example, Oregon's Phase I cities and Corvallis will spend more B4. Notice for Spraying Pesticides/Insecticides than $10 billion on measures to reduce stormwater pollutants. While urban areas area The City of Eugene supports changes to ORS 634.057 to allow localities to use home rule significant source of stormwater pollutants, it is estimated that non-point sources are authority to require advance notice of spraying of pesticides or insecticides. responsible for more than half of the pollutants in water systems. However, regulatory requirements focus almost exclusively on discharges from point source and urban runoff. The City supports legislation which requires advance written notification to the Ciry and recognized neighborhood organizations of pesticide and insecticide spraying along If the objective is to remove pollutants from Oregon's waterways, then all sources of non- railroad tracks to the extent allowed by Federal law. point source discharges need to assume an equitable share of responsibility. Local taxpayers should not be expected to continue funding water clean-up while rural non-point 65. Expansion of Forest Legacy Program Beyond Urban Growth Boundaries sources are exempt from responsibility. In 2005, the Legislature authorized Oregon to participate in the Federal Forest Legacy Program, designed to direct funds to state and local governments to preserve rare and Recommendations threatened forest habitat. The South Eugene Hills and Coburg Hills have been identified ~ Supportan increase in industrial wastewaterfees and require DEQ to be together as one of the top national priority project areas. The 2005 legislation, however, accountable as to how the fees are being used by the agency, restricted Forest Legacy applications to only land parcels within an urban growth boundary, ~ Support the use of State revolving funds fornon pointsources and advocate for The highest and best use of Forest Legacy funds is most frequently just outside urban increased funds for the State Revolving Loans Fund program. development B3. Salmon Recovery and Watershed Health The City of Eugene strongly urges the legislature to allow for Forest Legacy applications In March 1999, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA) Fisheries outside of urban growth boundaries; Service listed the Upper Willamette Spring Chinook as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Upper Willamette Spring Chinook spends part of its life in the Willamette River, including areas within the city of Eugene, The protective rules for this species, known as Section 4(d) rules, became effective on January 8, 2001, and prohibit any activity that harms the listed fish or their habitat. Following legal challenges to ESA listing of various salmon populations around the Northwest, NOAA Fisheries Service reviewed salmon listings throughout the region, including the Upper Willamette Spring - Chinook. NOAA Fisheries Service has recently proposed to maintain the listing of the Upper Willamette Spring Chinook as threatened. On April 10, 2000 the Eugene City Council adopted a resolution directing the City to support recovery of upper Willamette Spring Chinook through an integrated, City-wide effort. The resolution directs the City to work in partnership with local, state and federal agencies to develop regional recovery plans. Recommendations ~ Support efforts to preserve the ability of local go vernments to pursue reco very of salmon populations through a mix of regulatory compliance, restoration projects, community outreach and involvement. ~ Support state and federal salmon recovery efforts that are responsive to and coordinated with locallyadopted and developed recoveryplans. ~ Suport the restoration and full implementation of the Pesticide Tracking Bill passed by the 1999 Legislature. The City encourages the State of Oregon to work closely 38 39