[PCA] FW: Arundo donax in Oregon

[Cliff Duke]

From: UnModerated List [mailto:NECIS at LISTS.NATIONALWILDLIFE.ORG] On Behalf Of Aviva Glaser
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2015 6:39 PM
To: NECIS at LISTS.NATIONALWILDLIFE.ORG<mailto:NECIS at LISTS.NATIONALWILDLIFE.ORG>
Subject: FW: Arundo donax in Oregon

Anyone able to help out with this request for scientists to submit testimony on Arundo donax in Oregon- either in person or (more likely) via written testimony? Note the very short turnaround here.

Thanks!

Aviva

From: Judi Sanders [mailto:judi.sanders at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2015 12:29 PM
To: Aviva Glaser
Cc: Billy Don Robinson; Kevin Weitemier
Subject: Arundo donax in Oregon

Hi Aviva,

We at NPSO are still fighting the battle against growing Arundo donax commercially in Oregon.  Last week Billy Don Robinson, Kevin Weitemier, and I testified before the Oregon House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on HB 2183 which essentially would require much larger bonds (than current Oregon Department of Agriculture-ODA- rules) for growing Arundo donax.  We definitely got their attention and several committee members expressed concerns about Arundo.  However, both Director Coba of ODA and Brendan McCarthy (of Portland General Electric) also testified indicating the risk of escape was low in northeastern Oregon (or low in general) and Director Coba's essential message was that they are neutral on the bill but we have plenty of rules.  (The rules require posting a $100 per acre bond; our bill is $1 million for 400 acres or less and $25,000 per acre above that).



The Committee held the bill over to hear from the "scientific community".  The next hearing will be next Tuesday, 3-10-15 at 8am.  We need scientists to be there to talk about the risk of invasion and the consequences.  If we don't have any scientists there, they will only hear from people like Wayne Lei (of PGE) and field staff from ODA or from the Hermiston Extension station who will all say it was hard for them to grow Arundo and they haven't had any escapes.  The Committee will form the inference that there are no risks.  We need some scientists come to the hearing or to submit written testimony.  The best witnesses would be people who have actually worked with Arundo (even if not in Oregon).  However, since the only people who've worked with Arundo here have been from ODA or funded by PGE, we may not have those folks.  Other people who have worked with similar plants and or invasives would be great.  Again, a person could appear in person or you could submit written testimony.

Written testimony should be submitted by 8 am Monday, March 9th to the committee administrator, chuck.gallagher at state.or.us<http://state.or.us>, and it should be identified as testimony on HB 2183.



Aviva, I'm wondering if you know anyone who might be willing to submit written testimony.  If you do, please pass this on to them or give them my contact information.



Please let me or Billy Don know if you would be willing to appear in person or submit written testimony.



Email Billy Don:  vice-president at npsoregon.org<mailto:vice-president at npsoregon.org> or bdmeme at gmail.com<mailto:bdmeme at gmail.com>

Email Judi:  judi.sanders at gmail.com<mailto:judi.sanders at gmail.com>



Thank you so much.



Judi Sanders

Native Plant Society of Oregon, Immediate Past President
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