|
Hello Friends,
Three
important water bills will be heard this Wednesday, March 22nd, in the House
Energy & Environment Committee.
My
main concern is that rural districts will pay a disproportionate unfair amount
of “tax” for ground water research that these bills propose. Furthermore, the
costs to implement, and the penalties involved, will further burden ranchers
and farmers just trying to make a living.
As
written, these bills may be interpreted to include domestic water wells. Now is
the time to send your comments! I strongly urge citizens to stand up for their
rights.
House
Bill 2705 would require measurement and annual reporting of all diversions of
water after 2020; HB 2706 would impose an annual $100 “management fee” on each
water right certificate, permit, decree, or groundwater registration; and HB
2707 would appropriate general fund dollars for ground water investigation and
study. These bills are sponsored by Rep. Ken Helm (D-Portland), Chair of the
House Energy & Environment committee.
Growing concerns that Oregon is suffering from a
shortage of water has lead Rep. Helm to introduce these bills. Sadly, two of
these bills (HB 2705 and HB 2706) as currently drafted do little to help,
except increase water user’s costs. Installation of measuring devices on
streams can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Daily maintenance can add up to
thousands of dollars in additional labor costs. The annual reporting, and more
often if the Oregon Water Resources Department requests, of “water amount,
rate, and duty” will add thousands of more dollars, annually, in time and
additional out-of-pocket expense. The inclusion of a $500 civil penalty
for each day of violation of the act, creates the threat of financial disaster
for those who make innocent errors while trying to comply with the reporting
requirements in HB 2705 because those errors might not be discovered for months
after the reports are filed.”
I
urge water rights holders to email, write, or call, each member of the Energy
& Environment Committee to share their thoughts and suggestions.
The best way to make an impact is to attend the hearing in-person, March 22nd, in Salem (900 Court St. NE, Hearing Room-D), at 3:00 p.m. (PDT). It is important for you to send your statements to each member of the committee AND send your statement for record to committee. Written testimony must be submitted prior to the hearing. Please state at the top whether you are for or against the bills and share your reasons why.
I serve on the House Energy & Environment
committee. Please notify my office if you are coming in person to testify.
Copies
of these bills can be found on the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS)
at:
We
need to stand together for rural life in Oregon. If we don’t, who will? Please
join me in opposition to these bills to be heard this Wednesday.
Your
LIBERTY First!
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-377, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke
| 
