[OR_Archaeology] Message from the Association of Oregon Archaeologists AOA

[POULEY John * OPRD]

Hello AOA members -

Many of you are likely aware of a bill that is making its way through the Oregon legislature - HB 2329 - about which I've emailed you previously this spring.  If you'll recall, this bill has the potential to eliminate the requirement for substantive review of the effects of large solar development projects on cultural resources by reducing the number of projects required to go through the EFSC process.  While changes have been made to the bill since I first alerted you about it back in April, the current version of the bill contains troubling language that still does not provide strong enough protections to cultural resources that may be impacted by large (up to 1,920 acres) solar projects.  HB 2329 was passed in the House last week, and we anticipate that it will come up for a vote in the Senate before the end of the legislative session this Sunday June 30.

What can you do?
Please take 5 minutes of your time to call or email your senator to express your concern about this bill.  I've attached a template for you to use if you'd like to email.  If you'd prefer to call, here are some talking points:

  *   Language in the bill is vague.  As currently written, it is unclear whether effects to previously unidentified cultural resources must be considered.  Without language requiring consideration of effects to previously unrecorded cultural resources, thousands of significant and irreplaceable archaeological sites may be damaged by future solar developments.
  *   As currently written, county permitting staff are tasked with determining whether county Conditional Use Permit applicants for large solar development projects have met cultural resources standards.  Few if any counties have cultural resources professionals on staff, and it is not appropriate for county permitting staff to determine if cultural resources standards were adequately complied with.  They do not have the expertise to do so.
It is critical that professional archaeologists make their voices heard and oppose this bill as soon as possible!  So please, take the time to call or email as soon as you can.  Contact information for your senator can be found here: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html.  And if you have any questions, please let me know!

Anna Neuzil
AOA Legislative Liaison
SAA Government Affairs Network State Representative
aneuzil at gmail.com<mailto:aneuzil at gmail.com>
520 240 9373

**thank you to Dave Ellis for the attached template document!!**

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