Item A: Options to address field burning

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Options on Field Burning Meeting Date: January 22, 2008 Agenda Item Number: A Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Brenda Wilson www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-8441 ISSUE STATEMENT This item has been placed on the Council’s agenda at the request of Councilor Bettman who requested a work session on the topic. Since the failure of both field burning bills (HB 3000 and SB 966) during the 2007 Regular Legislative Session, there has been much discussion over what next steps should be taken to address this issue. Over the past several months, staff met with various parties to gather information regarding the issue and have researched any actions that have been discussed or which have occurred since the end of the last legislative session. This work session is to discuss various options which may be available to the City of Eugene to address this issue. BACKGROUND Legislative action – 2007 Regular Session Last session, two bills were introduced in the Oregon State Legislature to ban field burning: SB 966 and HB 3000. SB 966, sponsored by Senator Prozanski and Representative Holvey and co-sponsored by Senator Walker, did not receive a hearing. HB 3000, sponsored by Representative Holvey and co- sponsored by Representatives Barnhart and Nathanson and Senators Morrisette and Walker was assigned to the Health Care Committee with a subsequent referral to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. In the Health Care Committee, the bill received one public hearing and a work session. The Health Care Committee Chair required all testimony before his committee to focus on the health effects of field burning. Testimony supporting the bill focused on the detrimental health effects of people in the Southern Willamette Valley, giving specific examples of people who had suffered at times of field burning. The opposition noted that if field burning had significant health effects on people, seed growers would be suffering too and there was no evidence of that. They also noted that the federal standards include a standard which takes into account sensitive populations – like children, the elderly, and people with asthma. The bill passed out of the Health Care Committee with a “Do-Pass” recommendation on a party-line vote. The bill then went to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Although the Chair had opened F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080122\S080122A.doc