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Legislative Updates 2007Sierra Club 2007 Legislative Update #15 “In politics, you have your word and your friends; go back on either and you're dead.” — Morton C. Blackwell, "LAWS" OF POLITICS April 13, 2007 Hello Conservation Friends! The session continues to move along ever so slowly, but for the first time I started thinking, they may actually finish before late May. Of course, nothing real has happened on the budget, at least not publicly, so it is difficult to tell. The water bills are all still stalled and it is not because they are making them better. The air bill still needs work, but looks like it will get some more substance in conference committee. The state trust land measures have to be addressed and there are still a few bad bills hanging around that should be deep-sixed. Please call the Governor and ask her to veto HB2369 NOW: temporary signage; preemption; abatement (Robson). It passed out of the House 31-27-2 and the Senate 17-12-1. The bill preempts municipalities from regulating these advertising schemes via sign walkers on and along our public rights-of-way while at the same time mandating a permitting system whose proceeds would not cover the cost of the service delivery but would be deposited in a "beautification" fund. Sign regulation is a local zoning issue, so this is a total pre-emption. There are public safety issues associated with these signs and this is another step toward pre-empting all sign and billboard regulation. OPPOSE. To send an email message to the governor email azgov@az.gov. Call 602-542-4331 or outside the Phoenix area 1-800-253-0883. You can also contact the governor via mail at: The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona, 1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007, fax 602-542-1381. Please continue to urge your Arizona State Representatives to oppose SB1119 overlapping service area providers (C. Gray, Aguirre, Harper, et al.). It will undercut water conservation efforts in many cities and towns, but is particularly aimed at Gilbert. If this passes, it means that anyone who is part of the irrigation district is not subject to any of the city or town’s ordinances or regulations relative to water. It is a terrible bill and bad precedent. OPPOSE. To contact your representatives, go to http://www.azleg.gov/memberRoster.asp?Body=H or in the Phoenix area call (602) 926-4221, in Tucson you can call (520) 398-6000 or for any area outside the Phoenix area, call toll free 1-800-352-8404 and ask to be connected to your legislator’s office. In Tucson, you can call (520) 398-6000. Ask Arizona State Senators to oppose SB1311 channelization districts; formation (Flake) on Final Read. It passed out of the House 33-23-4 and by 17-12 the first time it was voted on in the Senate, so the vote could again be close. This measure is totally unnecessary and just continues the ongoing power grab by the sand and gravel companies via the Arizona Rock Products Association the entity which has been pushing for formation of these districts. It removes the requirement that allows a county to form a channelization district that includes a city or town, only if that city or town has also approved it. It replaces it with a notification requirement and allows a city or town to disapprove only the portion of a district located within its boundaries within 90 days of the notice. If the governing body does not disapprove within 90 days the formation is deemed approved. Cities have more power to regulate these entities than do counties, so they want to further limit their impact. This bill also does not consider the impacts of these districts downstream. OPPOSE. Go to http://azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=S to email Arizona Senators or to find their direct office phone number. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your Senator’s office toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602) 926-3559 and ask to be connected to your Senator. In Tucson, you can call (520) 398-6000. Here are a few bill updates: HB2443 NOW: user fee; off-highway vehicles (JP Weiers) awaits action by the Senate Committee of the Whole. It establishes a user fee for off-road vehicles. While we support increasing funding for law enforcement and the safety provisions in the bill as well as the language that prescribes where these vehicles are allowed and where they are not allowed, we still have some concerns about the allocation of the 60 percent of the dollars that will go to grants administered by Arizona State Parks. Our main concern is that these grants will be used to open new areas to off-road vehicle activities and to promote a use on the land that is decimating wildlife habitat, destroying vegetation, and promoting soil erosion. We would like to see the dollars for these grants targeted to restoration and used for trails only in areas that are currently used and appropriate for ORV use. HB2491 solar energy tax credit; application (Mason, Boone: Anderson, et al.) awaits action by Senate Rules. It is merely a technical correction bill to clarify the commercial solar energy tax credit program established last year, so the credit can be claimed by a third party who finances the solar installation. This will help to support installation of more solar on state buildings, schools, etc. SUPPORT. HB2496 schools; energy and water savings (Mason, J. Burns, Aboud, et al.) awaits action by Senate Rules. It creates an energy and water savings mechanism which allows schools to use the cost savings in maintenance and operations portion of their budgets to pay for capital investments in energy or water saving measures and to use dollars from utility companies to pay for water and energy saving measures. This provides an opportunity for schools to invest in cost-effective measures that save money, energy, and water over time. SUPPORT. HB2638 local energy plans (Cajero Bedford, Bradley, Mason, et al.) also awaits action by Senate Rules. It adds an energy element to cities’ general plans and counties’ comprehensive plans to encourage and reward efficient use of energy. SUPPORT. HCM2008 urge protection; Kofa herd (JP Weiers, Nelson, Aguirre, et al) passed out of the Senate 19-9-2. This is a “postcard” to congress asking it to affirm that Game and Fish should be able to kill mountain lions in the KOFA National Wildlife Refuge. They are trying to once again blame the decline in bighorn sheep on lions, despite no evidence to support that. This “postcard” to congress is inaccurate and inappropriate. OPPOSE. HB2692 water supply development revolving fund (Mason, Ableser, Saradnik, et al.) awaits action by the Senate Committee of the Whole. It establishes a water development revolving fund for the purpose of providing financial assistance to water providers for water supply development. This bill is another mechanism for fueling urban, suburban, and rural sprawl. It does not provide any protections for stream or river flows and therefore could be used by Prescott or Prescott Valley to pipe from the Big Chino and dry up the upper portion of the Verde River. OPPOSE. HB2693 water adequacy provisions (Mason, Ableser, Saradnik, et al.) and SB1575 water adequacy amendments (Arzberger, Aguirre, Landrum Taylor, et al.) await final action in the House. These bills authorize cities and counties outside of active management areas to adopt by a unanimous vote an ordinance requiring a determination of water adequacy from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) before a subdivision may be approved. They define “adequate water supply” as sufficient groundwater, surface water or effluent of adequate quality to satisfy the needs of the proposed use for at least 100 years. The water supply must be continuously, legally and physically available. There are numerous exceptions for these water adequacy requirements including for developers who have made a substantial capital investment when the adequacy provisions are adopted. The bills allow counties, cities or towns to provide an exemption for subdivisions that will be served by projects under construction provided the construction will be completed within a twenty year timeframe, if the current supplies can sustain the subdivision for that time period. They provide exemptions for subdivisions that will be hauling water by truck or train these are commonly referred to as “Dry lot subdivisions.” While the bills provide additional consumer protection, they do not provide any additional protection for surface water rivers, streams, springs, etc. HB2019 county insurance; technical correction (McClure) S/E Upper San Pedro Water District and SB1001 general election ballots; technical correction (Bee) S/E: Upper San Pedro Water District are supposed to help the San Pedro River. One of them is likely to be revived this week. We have not seen the language, however. Both establish a district for a portion of the upper San Pedro groundwater basin, but neither actually mentions the San Pedro River, nor do they include specific language to protect the river flows. OPPOSE. HCR2039 NOW: state trust lands; public use (Nelson) awaits action by Senate Rules as people continue to meet to see if the differences can be addressed. The Arizona Education Association is still opposed to the measure and would like to see some stronger oversight, including from representatives from the beneficiaries. It refers to the ballot a constitutional amendment to conserve some of the urban state trust lands, including lands in Scottsdale, Pima County, Coconino County, etc. It includes about 195,000 acres, all of which would have to be bought at true value (appraised value), but without auction. This measure would not be comprehensive reform or address rural lands, but would provide the opportunity to conserve the urban state trust lands that communities have been trying to protect. The pre-1968 easements can be conveyed without the trust receiving any compensation per this measure. New rights-of-way could also be conveyed without auction. There is also some language relating to leases and nonmonetary value that we are evaluating. HB2312 state air quality rules; hearing (Barnes) also awaits action in Rules. The strike everything amendment on state trust land conservation lands moves the specific lands addressed in HCR2039 into session law. SB1112 toxic fire response (Landrum Taylor, Miranda, Rios, et al.) sets up the Arizona Chemical Fire Response Coordination Task Force in order to better limit the exposure of the public and first responders to hazardous chemicals during an emergency. It requires that the task force establish a hazardous material tracking process program for municipalities to identify buildings that use or have hazardous materials on site. It requires coordination of public health protection and risks associated with a chemical or other toxic fire event. The bill passed out of the Senate with overwhelming support (26-4) and awaits Third Read in the House. SUPPORT. SB1531 vehicle emissions inspection; sunset extension (Allen) continues the vehicle emissions inspection program in both Area A (Phoenix and surrounding area) and Area B (Tucson) through January 1, 2017. It was heard in the House Committee of the Whole this week and awaits a Third Read. SUPPORT. SB1552 air quality program (Allen, Huppenthal) passed out of the House 35-21-4. It will go to conference committee where some additional measures to curb dust and ozone will be added, including requiring a dust coordinator for construction sites, a dust training program, cleaner burning gasoline in parts of Pinal County, and more Best Management Practices for agriculture. It is looking very likely that a special session will be required to really address air quality issues. The measure currently includes limited provisions to improve air quality including some minimal regulation of leaf blowers, expanding alternative work hours, and no burn expansion. It includes a dust-free development certification program and to limit off-road vehicle activities on high pollution days. We support adding an amendment that will protect public health by expanding the nonattainment area, requiring developers to do more to limit dust via indirect emissions impact fees, requiring agriculture to limit tilling on bad air days, and placing further limitations on leaf blowers; as well as measures limiting ozone pollution. We also would like to see a cumulative impacts analysis included in this bill to address issues with sand and gravel operations. Some of these issues will likely be addressed in a special session and not this year. SUPPORT. For more information on bills we are tracking, go to http://arizona.sierraclub.org/political_action/tracker/. To email legislators go to http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp. If you are not sure who your legislators are, please go to http://www.vote-smart.org (You will need your 9-digit zipcode.) or call the House or Senate information desks. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislators’ offices toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602) 926-3559 (Senate) or (602) 926-4221 (House). Correspondence goes to 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890. For more information on legislation go to http://www.azleg.gov. ************************************************************************ Youth in Service for Peace on Earth Days,” April 20th through 22nd, honoring both Global Youth Service Days and Earth Day. On Friday, April 20th, our kick-off event is a call to action to raise awareness about environmental and humanitarian issues in our neighborhoods and around the globe. Participants will be empowered by learning how to take action and make a difference through hands-on service projects, active participation in the democratic process, and mindful living. The event will take place from 4:00 until 7:00 pm at Phoenix Country Day School. If you have a presentation or service to offer at this event, please contact Melanie Sainz at (602) 955-8200 ext. 2286. On Saturday, April 21st, youth will engage in service projects statewide. If your non-profit organization has a service project developed that can utilize youth volunteers on that day, please contact Douglas Wilkey of the Volunteer Center of Maricopa County, at 602-263-9736 ext. 892. On Sunday, April 22nd, the Peace on Earth Day Festival at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix will celebrate all that has been accomplished and learned during the previous two days, and provide more opportunities for concerned individuals, business, and non-profits to network and share opportunities, ideas, and dreams to create a more sustainable future and peace on Earth. Attached please find the vendor application to participate in “Peace on Earth Day.” For more information or to suggest a speaker or musician, please contact Faith Bencomo of One Planet Magazine at 602-237-6872. Check out http://www.peaceonearthday.info/ for more information. ********************************************************************** EARTH DAY 2007 - Earth Day - Saturday, April 21 Granite Creek Park in Prescott 10-4 PM Please visit the Yavapai Group table for information about climate change, Cool Cities, clean water, and our Water Sentinel's work on Prescott's creeks and the Verde River. Sierra Club is a sponsor of the annual "Granite Creek Cleanup" which will take place from 8-10 AM, before the Earth Day Celebration in Granite Creek Park. You'll be able to clean the creeks in the morning and then celebrate the planet! At 8 AM participants will receive directions, a T-shirt and refreshments and then be directed to a section of Granite Creek or one of the local creeks flowing into it. For more information, contact Doris Cellarius at doris.cellarius@sierraclub.org. ********************************************************************** April 21st - Earth Day Flagstaff From 10am till 4pm, the City of Flagstaff's Sustainability Commission will host Earth Day 2007 in Wheeler Park, downtown Flagstaff. Earth Day 2007 will focus on education and outreach that builds environmental and sustainable awareness. Informational tables and speakers from the Sierra Club will be on hand. Music will be provided from Second Childhood and the Voluntary String Band and the music will be powered by a biodiesel generator. ********************************************************************** April 21 & 22 - Arizona Trail near Camp Geronimo - Maintenance Come Celebrate Earth Day with VOAz and the Sierra Club! VOAz has been working on rehabilitating sections of the Arizona/Highline Trail around the Geronimo Trailhead since 1999. For this event, VOAz is partnering with the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, segment steward for this section of the Arizona Trail. Camp Geronimo is once again offering their comfortable campground for our base. The work will be near the Geronimo Trailhead, which is only a short distance from Camp Geronimo. Recent fires came though this area and it has also been hit hard by bark beetles. The loss of vegetation has caused some serious erosion. We will rebuild three turns (switchbacks) and improve drainage along about 1,200 feet of trail. Minimum age: 14 - Volunteers needed: 25+ - Level of Difficulty: Moderately Hard To register for this event, click on http://voaz.org/voaevents.htm#April_21_&_22_ ************************************************************************ Celebrate Earth Day! Make a Difference in the Phoenix Mountains Preserves And have fun with the Sierra Club and the new Phoenix Weedwackers! Celebrate Earth Day Sunday, April 22, 2007 7am-11am with the Sierra Club a new volunteer group. We are removing buffel grass, an invasive non-native species that is taking over and crowding out our desert vegetation, plus causing a fire hazard. Help make a difference and save our desert. Join us for lunch afterwards or just head out and enjoy the rest of your day. Piestewa Peak -- The entrance is on Lincoln (Glendale Ave) -2 lights east of Route 51. Parking is in the Hopi parking lot. Carpooling is encouraged and appreciated. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. The Sierra Club will provide lunch! For more information or to R.S.V.P. contact Sandy Bahr at (602) 253-8633 or sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org or Claudia at (480) 641-7449 or greytdogs@cox.net
Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |