HB3099 is the Oregon House Bill that Casey and I testified in support of a few weeks ago. Here’s an update I received today from another farmer:
Here is a quick update on HB 3099. This is the bill that amends several uses in the EFU zone and requires that aggregate applications on our best soils must demonstrate there are not good alternatives. Last Friday’s work session was not as productive as was hoped in that no legislators attended and the aggregate industry provided no suggestions for amendments other than to delete the section addressing aggregate. Contrary to some rumors the bill is still alive and aggregate is still included in the bill. If we can show that we have a little more bipartisan support in the next week then we have a very good chance of this bill becoming a law.
So, folks — here’s another great opportunity for you to voice your support of this bill, particularly the part concerning gravel quarries on prime farmland. As a reminder, this is something we here at Oakhill Organics have to face everyday. So far, one aggregate (i.e. sand & gravel) quarry has been approved to the north of us and others are always rumored for the future. When gravel is extracted, farmland is turned into a giant hole. The rock companies claim they can ‘restore’ the land to farmland or wetland, but that is farcical as far we’re concerned. Topsoil takes thousands of years to develop — topsoil is only a renewable resource when it is carefully preserved through land-use laws and conscientious farming practices. There ARE sources of aggregate that can be extracted without destroying prime farmland. We need to preserve our best land today, or we won’t have it in the future.
Please help this bill become law by writing to your own representative or to House Majority leader Mary Nolan.
