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<br />- <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />M I NUT E S <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL <br />May 9, 1979 <br /> <br />Adjourned meeting from May 2, 1979, of the City Council of the City of <br />Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller at 11:50 <br />a.m., Council Chambers, with the following Councilors present: Jack Delay, <br />Eric Haws, Scott Lieuallen, D. W. Hamel, Gretchen Miller, and Emily Schue. <br />Councilors Betty Smith and Brian Obie were absent. <br /> <br />I. Items from Mayor and Council <br /> <br />A. Consideration of SB 915 Emission Offset Legislation <br /> <br />Mr. Delay noted that he had brought his concern about SB 915 to <br />the Council previously. Thursday, May 10, 1979, the Legislature <br />would like Council comments on this bill. Mr. Delay introduced <br />Terry Smith to speak to the bill. <br /> <br />Mr. Smith said there are a number of serious problems with the <br />language of the bill as it now is written. The problems will have <br />serious effects on the entire state for the long run and for <br />planning abilities in this area. He said one problem is that <br />most sources today are operating at below permitted levels. As <br />soon as these procedures are enacted, a lot of paper offsets will <br />be created. The people are hoping these emissions will never <br />occur in the air shed but, if ownership of these emissions is <br />established and sold to companies coming into the area, the air <br />quality will decline. Another problem is the question of who owns <br />the air shed. The original statement on the bill says that the <br />air shed shall remain in the public domain but there are enough <br />loopholes that this might be circumvented. The last problem is the <br />lack of discussion of the relationship between traditional sources <br />of emissions (power plants) and nontraditional sources (roads, <br />field burning, and slash burning). If increased field burning <br />legislation passes, this bill will become null and void. The <br />field burning will absorb the total allowable emissions and <br />industry will not be able to operate in order to offset field <br />burning. Because of these serious consequences, Mr. Smith <br />suggests opposition to this bill. <br /> <br />Mr. Delay felt this bill would produce a windfall to potential <br />polluters in paper offsets and would not improve air quality. It <br />would preempt local control and local planning ability. <br /> <br />Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Mr. Hamel, that the Council oppose <br />SB 915. The motion carried unanimously. <br /> <br />Gretchen Miller arrived. <br /> <br />5/9/79--1 <br /> <br />~9 <br />