71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 1856
 
                         Senate Bill 234
 
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, SALMON,
  AND WATER (at the request of Senator Mae Yih)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Authorizes Natural Resources Institute at Oregon State
University to conduct certain studies regarding Willamette River
Basin. Requires institute to consult with certain agencies and
make information available to certain groups. Requires institute
to report to legislature.
  Appropriates moneys to Emergency Board from General Fund for
allocation to university for institute.
  Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2001.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the Willamette River Basin; appropriating money; and
  declaring an emergency.
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that it is a high
priority of the State of Oregon to protect the health and safety
of the citizens of the Willamette River Basin and promote the
health and economic well-being of the entire state; and
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly seeks to ensure the most
effective approach to restoring the health of the Willamette
River Basin, including the water quality of the Willamette River;
and
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly seeks to ensure that efforts
to restore the health and water quality of the Willamette River
Basin are based on the best available science; and
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly seeks to ensure that the best
use is made of scientific information through the integration to
the greatest extent possible of all scientific studies, research
and data-collection efforts; and
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly declares that in its
continuing efforts to improve the water quality of the Willamette
River and to restore the health of the Willamette River Basin, it
is essential to identify additional information to be collected
and analyzed to meet the state water quality and watershed
objectives for the Willamette River Basin; to work closely with
the scientific community, local governments, state agencies and
federal agencies to design studies of and apply the findings of
those studies in developing strategies to restore the health of
the Willamette River Basin; and to consider and incorporate the
findings, conclusions and models resulting from completed or
ongoing scientific studies either commissioned or reviewed under
this 2001 Act; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) To assist the rapid development of
practical strategies to address problems relating to the physical
and biological functioning of Willamette River Basin stream
systems and water quality in the Willamette River Basin, the
Legislative Assembly places the highest priority on gathering
data about and improving the scientific understanding of:
  (a) The role of riparian transition zones in providing water
quality and fish and wildlife habitat benefits, especially in low
elevation, low gradient streams, including the impacts from
agriculture and urban development;
  (b) The extent and cause of fish deformities;
  (c) The extent and cause of toxic contamination, including
persistent bioaccumulative toxics; and
  (d) The function of floodplains.
  (2) The Legislative Assembly places a high priority on
gathering data about and improving the scientific understanding
of:
  (a) Channel formation, erosion, maintenance and modification;
and
  (b) The historic and current range of water temperature and the
causes of changes in temperature regimes.
  (3) The Natural Resources Institute at Oregon State University
is authorized to manage and allocate funds for the conduct of
studies described in subsection (4) of this section.  The
institute shall seek additional funding from federal sources to
match the allocation by section 2 of this 2001 Act. The institute
shall also seek additional funding from private and other public
sources to match the allocation by section 2 of this 2001 Act.
  (4) The institute shall:
  (a) Examine existing scientific and technical resources to
determine what scientific information has not been collected or
studied.
  (b) Consistent with the legislative priorities described in
subsections (1) and (2) of this section, give priority to studies
where information is insufficient or nonexistent.
  (c) Ensure that past studies are integrated and current and
future studies are coordinated and integrated to the greatest
extent practicable and that current and future studies are
designed to assist development of practical strategies.
  (d) Consult with:
  (A) The Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team created by
ORS 541.409;
  (B) The Department of Environmental Quality on matters relating
to water quality;
  (C) The State Department of Fish and Wildlife on matters
relating to fish and wildlife habitat; and
  (D) Any other state agency, federal agency or regional body
responsible for implementation of the Oregon Plan described in
ORS 541.405, as requested by the agency or determined necessary
by the institute.
  (5) The institute may designate a Willamette Basin Scientific
Studies Advisory Committee consisting of scientists or
technically proficient persons who represent:
  (a) Local, state and federal agencies that require scientific
and technical information about the Willamette River Basin to
carry out their duties;
  (b) Public and private entities that conduct scientific or
technical studies of the Willamette River Basin;
  (c) State universities; and
  (d) Watershed councils and soil and water conservation
districts.
  (6) The institute shall make all data, study reports and
conclusions readily available to the public, local, state and
federal governments, and the organizations described in
subsection (4)(d) of this section.
  (7) The institute may contract with an appropriate public or
private entity that specializes in scientific research or data
collection and that has a demonstrated knowledge and capacity to
collect the scientific data described in this section.
  (8) The institute shall report on its progress at least every
six months to the appropriate legislative committee or
committees.  Reports shall include written summaries of study
status or results. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Emergency Board, for
the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, out of the General Fund, the
amount of $500,000, which shall be allocated to Oregon State
University for the purpose of carrying out section 1 of this 2001
Act. The Emergency Board shall authorize the expenditure of the
amount allocated by this section upon submission of a budget and
detailed implementation plan that includes but is not limited to
a specific timeline by the Natural Resources Institute of Oregon
State University. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1,
2001. + }
                         ----------