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Page 10 of 14 REPORT ID: CELEG3 LEGISLATIVE TRACKING PAGE: 6 BILLS AND RESPONSE DETAIL RL DATRU4~ TIME: 5:1 PM BILLS SENT DUE DATE SUBJECT PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION COMMENTS: A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN HAS BEEN VOICED STATEWIDE OVER THE INABILITY TO FUND HIGH-PRIORITY TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. OTIA III WAS REALLY INTENDED TO GENERATE MONEY FOR STATE PRIORITIES SO IT WOULD STAND TO REASON THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST AN INITIAL EFFORT TO ADD TO THE STATE'S PRIORITY LIST (I.E., THE MAY 2002 OTC PROJECT LIST). IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE ARE SEVEN PROJECTS ON THE OTC LIST, NONE IN LANE COUNTY AND NONE OF DIRECT BENEFIT TO EUGENE. THERE IS, OF COURSE, THE ISSUE OF CAPITAL PRESERVATION AND WE SHOULD MAKE THE PITCH BUT IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT POLITICALLY FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL SHIFT IN THAT DIRECTION GIVEN THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE BILL. STILL, IT MAY BE WORTHWHILE TO LOBBY FOR AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD TRANSFER UNEXPENDED BRIDGE MONEY TO CITIES AND COUNTIES FOR OMP. ADDITIONALLY, AN AMENDMENT COULD BE SOUGHT THAT BROADENS THE SET OF PROJECTS FROM THE MAY 2002 OTC LIST TO SOMETHING THAT MAY MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT CURRENT PRIORITIES, INCLUDING PROJECTS IN LANE COUNTY. RECOMMEND A NEUTRAL POSITION WITHOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO INCREASE THE LOCAL BENEFIT. -- REVIEWED BY KURT COREY SB 2/16/2005 3/2/2005 WATER QUALITY PRI 2 SUPPORT 0532 RELATING RELATING TO WATER QUALITY; AMENDING ORS 468B.048. CLAUSE TITLE PROHIBITS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION FROM ESTABLISHING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS THAT ARE LESS STRINGENT THAN STANDARDS PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED. POL CONTACT RESPONDENT DEPARTMENT UPDATED PRIORITY POLICY Ni3MRECOI~ENDATION PETER PETER PWW 3/1/2005 PRI 2 YES VIII.B.1.E OPPOSE RUFFIER RUFFIER COMMENTS: THIS BILL PROHIBITS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION FROM ESTABLISHING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS THAT ARE LESS STRINGENT THAN STANDARDS PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED. MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO OPPOSE THIS BILL BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DEQ TO REVISE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS BASED UPON NEW DATA OR SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANISMS AND ACTIONS OF TOXICITY AND POLLUTION IMPACTS. THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER REGULATIONS MANDATE THAT THE STATES REVIEW AND UPDATE THEIR WATER QUALITY STANDARDS ON A TRIENNIAL BASIS. THIS REVIEW IS COMPLEX AND TIME CONSUMING, AND CONSIDERS ANY ADDITIONAL DATA GENERATED FROM TOXICITY STUDIES OR BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THE U.S. EPA REVISES http://ceonline/celeg/reports/BillsDetail.asp 4/29/2005