OLCV Outlines Green Priorities For The Special Session
The Oregon League of Conservation Voters says its focusing on three environmental bills on the upcoming special session of the Legislature.
They include a ban on BPA, a ban on offshore oil and gas exploration, and a plan to help Oregon’s largest metro communities reduce greenhouse gases.
Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban
SB 1032 is designed to protect children from being exposed to bisphenol A, which is commonly found in plastic bottles and metal food containers. It bans the sale and manufacture of BPA lined containers, if they’re designed primarily for use by children under three years old. It also bans the sale of food and liquid to children under the age of three, if it’s been stored in a BPA lined container.
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration issued new guidelines about the chemical and the impacts it could have on young children. FDA says it has some concerns that even low levels of exposure might effect the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.
See our earlier story: Bill Will Protect Oregon Children From Exposure To BPA
Oil and Gas Exploration
It’s not like there’s a rush to explore for oil and natural gas off the Oregon coast. But if HB 3613 passes, energy companies won’t ever get have opportunity to explore the ocean near our coastline. The bill makes permanent, a ban on energy leases in Oregon’s territorial waters. The most recent ban expired January 2. The bill won’t prevent the federal government from awarding leases further out in the ocean. But supporters say it sends a message to federal regulators and the energy industry that Oregonians don’t like the idea.
See our earlier story: New Report Documents The Threat Of Oil To Oregon’s Coast
Climate Friendly Communities
SB 1059 was introduced to help some of the state’s largest metropolitan areas get started on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. They include Salem-Keizer, Eugene-Springfield, Bend, Medford and Corvallis. A similar law written for the Portland metro area was passed last year.
The bill sets transportation greenhouse gas reduction targets for each area, requires each area to come up with a plan to meet those targets, and provides them with information on how to achieve the goals.
Supporters hope the metro regions will develop land use plans to limit sprawl, encourage mass transit, and make it easier for more Oregonians to get around with using the family car.
