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Environmental panel works �the radical middle� By Paul Fattig Florida has nothing on Oregon when it comes to partisan bickering, says Jeff Allen. But the issue in the beaver state is the environment, not presidential politics, says the executive director of the Portland-based Oregon Environmental Council. "The environment has become a partisan issue here, and that�s not good for Oregon," he says. "It�s not like there is such a thing as a Democratic salmon or a Republican lung." Oregonians on both sides of the aisle need to work together to find solutions, Allen says during a recent stop in Medford. His group focuses on environmental issues involving state policy and the state Legislature. "If you have things dominated by either the folks on the right or the left who feel like they don�t have to listen to anyone else, that�s not a good environment to find solutions," he says. "I like to say we (OEC) are the radical middle." Earlier this week, the OEC proposed a conservation budget, backed by other environmental groups, that follows Gov. John Kitzhaber�s own budget proposal, albeit overlaps it slightly. It represents a more concerted effort by environmentalists to influence state spending. The money would go toward clean water, pesticide-use reporting initiatives, state park acquisition and maintenance, and stronger enforcement of anti-pollution laws, among other causes. Both Kitzhaber�s and the environmental groups� budgets seek full implementation of the pesticide-use reporting system, more funding for watershed councils, and more funding to the Oregon Department of Agriculture to monitor water quality management plans. The OEC proposal would also eliminate Oregon�s pollution control tax credit, which gives tax breaks to companies that install pollution controls. The OEC says the program effectively pays companies some $4 million a year for complying with the law. Kitzhaber�s budget would allow the 32-year-old tax credit program to sunset at the end of 2001. "We know there is not a lot of extra money in the budget," Allen says. "What we proposed is trying to be smarter on how we spend money." During the 2001 legislative session, the OEC plans to propose several bills, including one which provides incentives for companies to reduce pollution, Allen says. "A lot of my colleagues may not agree, but I think Oregonians have done a fairly good job at dealing with timber and uplands on public lands," he says, referring to changes made in timber management programs in recent years. "The area where we haven�t done a good job is where people live � urban areas, lowlands, agricultural lands." Oregon�s gained a national reputation for environmental protection by passing such laws as the Bottle Bill in 1971, the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1981 and the curbside recycling law in 1983, he says, noting that the OEC lobbied for all three laws. "Our focus as an organization is on clean water, clean air and building a sustainable economy," he says. "We�re looking at creating economic incentives to get people to do the right thing." The environment and the economy are closely linked, he stresses. "The environment and natural resources are capital," he says. "If you are undermining those beyond a point where they can be renewed, then you are eating capital. "People come here because of the environment and quality of life," he adds. "We need to protect that." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.