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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2019)
in other words march21 2019 3 Salem Report By State Representative Brad Witt In recent legislative news, I carried HB 2294 on the House floor. This bill deals with deer attractants and mandates that attractants be derived from cervids that are certified to be Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) free. CWD is one of the most horrid terminal diseases known to wildlife officials and is now found in 26 states and two Ca- nadian Provinces. There is no treatment for CWD, and once a deer, elk, or moose contracts this disease it is terminal. I sponsored HB 2294 to protect deer, elk, and moose in our state, and much like an invasive species, we are better off to prevent the introduction of the CWD disease than try to eradicate it once it is in the state. I’m happy to report that the bill received a unanimous vote in the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration. Dams and dam safety was a top- ic of concern in the Natural Resources Committee where a Public Hearing was held on HB 2085. Water storage is essen- tial to meet Oregonians’ water needs for drinking, agriculture, recreation, and is critically needed during the summer months and in drought conditions. The consequences of dam failure include risk to life, property, and infrastructure, and potential water shortages. The Oregon Water Resources Department has been working with stakeholders in drafting HB 2085 to en- sure safety and minimize risk to lives, property, and infrastructure, while bal- ancing landowners’ need for water. Proper maintenance and safe operation is necessary to keep the benefits of wa- ter storage and prevent failures. Factors contributing to dam failure include lack of maintenance, deterioration, design or construction, spillway failure, opera- tional errors, and natural disasters such as landslides, floods, and earthquakes. HB 2085 would replace Oregon law that was adopted in 1929 and applies only to non-federally regulated dams, water, and wastewater. The past 90 years have brought advances in dam design, and greater understanding of floods and earthquakes, as well as best practices policies. This new legislation will also address policy gaps and integrate 10 rec- ommendations from the 2017 integrated water resource strategy. Owning a dam comes with inherent responsibilities and the legislation will clarify those respon- sibilities, while establishing a process to ensure that removal of high or sig- nificant hazard dams are done safely to protect people, property, and infrastruc- ture. The Department has identified the need for additional amendments to the bill and is continuing to work with in- terested stakeholders to craft workable legislation. Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Chip Bubl Korina Buehrer Nancy Burch Tobie Finzel Shannon Romtvedt David Spackman Representative Brad Witt Photography Scott Laird Tsubaki Photo Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Email: Rep.BradWitt@oregonlegis- lature.gov Phone: (503) 986-1431 Address: 900 Court St NE, H-382, Salem, OR, 97301 Website: http://www.oregonlegisla- ture.gov/witt Where do you read the Voice? Show us where you have traveled. Submit your photo by email to: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscription (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 “BIKER FRIENDLY” EVENTS • Specialty hamburgers • 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks • 5 Craft beers on tap • Pool tables & satelite TV • Free Wi-fi • Beer & Kegs to go Sat, March 23 Texas Hold ‘em Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 Cedar Side Inn Need more room? Full Dish Sports Package Big Screen, featuring Pac 12 games See us for the lowest prices GUARANTEED! Debit/Credit now accepted 5x10 $39 10x10 $69 10x20 $99 Taco Tuesday from opening until 4pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell 54.25 Ladies’ Night RV Storage $149 Outside storage available Totally fenced and gated Padlocks available 58605 Nehalem Hwy South • P.O. Box 292 Vernonia, Oregon 97064 (503) 429-7867 every Thursday 6pm-close • Free Pool • Free WiFi • Specialty Pizzas 10-6 Tue-Sat 12-4 Sun iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841