Hello John,

Our innovative land-use laws have protected all the things we love about Oregon – our communities, wildlife, water, and economies across the state. The Major Threat Port Exemption bill (HB 3382 with the -3 and -4 amendments) would essentially override all protections, including our land-use laws, in and around three ports: Astoria, Coos Bay, and Newport. Our lawmakers are meeting today for a possible vote on this bill in committee. We need to urge our lawmakers to vote NO on HB 3382 and its amendments now.

If passed, three major Oregon ports would be subject to extensive dredging and other environmentally harmful activities without input from the communities nearby. The current -3 and -4 amendments as proposed set a dangerous precedent, allowing corporate interests to fast-track development and bypass land-use laws. This bill would render the efforts of local elected leaders, the voices of community members, and relevant protections such as Estuary Management Plans adopted by the local government nearly meaningless.

For our communities in the South Coast, Coos Bay Estuary is the backbone of their economy, which has depended on industries like fishing and recreation for generations. Estuaries provide homes for a wide variety of fish and wildlife species, including our iconic salmon. They also play an important role in reducing climate change, acting as natural climate solutions and sequestering carbon 10x more efficiently than forests. Instead of creating shortcuts for corporate profit, coastal communities are urging our lawmakers to do everything they can to sustain the regenerative local industries that allow the South Coast to thrive. All of this would be threatened if major ports were exempt from our land-use laws and environmental protections. 

As we increasingly face the impacts of climate change, it is all hands on deck to uphold state and local environmental and land-use laws, balancing conservation with quality of life and economic growth. The Port Exemption Bill (HB 3382) would fast-track port development for the sake of profit without protections for the essential cultural and ecological resources that are essential to Oregon’s coastal ecosystems and economies. If developers want to expand our ports, they need to comply with our land-use laws. Add your voice to stop HB 3382 with its -3 and -4 amendments now.

Thank you for taking action,

Julia DeGraw

Coalition Director, OLCV