News & Events

February 2008 - SPECIAL EDITION

 

In this edition:

*        Announcing the Formation of the Natural Nebraska Coalition
*        Legislative Digest Service Begins
*        Action Alert on the Platte River Recovery Program

 

Announcing the Formation of the Natural Nebraska Coalition and the Common Agenda for 2008

A new day is dawning for conservation, sporting and wildlife groups with the formation of the Natural Nebraska and the 2008 Agenda for Natural Nebraska!

Many Nebraska organizations have contributed over several months to identify the most critical issues facing state resources, and conferred to develop processes to maximize the results of combined effort.  The priority issues of the 2008 Agenda include:

*        Renewable Resources for Energy Independence
*        Landowner Conservation Incentives
*        The Platte River Recovery Program
*        Nebraska Healthy Waters Initiative

Endorsed by 10 organizations to date, the Common Agenda for Natural Nebraska sets renewable energy generation as the number one priority of the coalition for this legislative session.  Other priorities include a landowner conservation incentive package, the Platte River Recovery program, and the Nebraska Healthy Waters Initiative.  The Nebraska League of Conservation Voters is coordinating the efforts of the Coalition.

The Natural Nebraska Coalition was formed to focus greater attention on good resources policy in public debate, and to encourage more vigorous
stewardship at the state and local levels of government.  Members of the Coalition include Audubon Nebraska, Ducks Unlimited, Friends of Heron Haven, Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities, Nebraska League of Conservation Voters, Nebraska State Recycling Association, Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club--Missouri Valley Group, Wachiska Audubon and The Wildlife Society.

 

The Coalition will work to support elected officials who make good
legislation a priority, and to inform voters about the performance of their senators and others.  Voter education and engagement will be key to the work of the Coalition.

 

"Our organizational resources are as precious as the natural resources we work to protect," said Mary Harding, Executive Director of the League. "We know that by coordinating our efforts, we will be stronger and more effective as a community.  If we can simplify the process of becoming well-informed and of making our opinions count in the legislature, we will tap into a common interest that ties Nebraskans together across geographic and political boundaries."

 

Working groups are forming to address each of the four priority areas of the agenda, and have identified leaders to coordinate joint efforts. 

* Ken Winston, legislative lobbyist for the Nebraska Chapter of the
Sierra Club is coordinating efforts on Renewable Resources for Energy
Independence.  This is the top issue for passage of legislation this year. Ken can be reached at kwinston@inetnebr.com for more information.

* Steve Donovan, state biologist for Ducks Unlimited, will be
coordinating the Landowner Conservation Incentives program.  Contact Steve at info@nlcv.org.

* Duane Hovorka, Executive Director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation is leading the Platte River Recovery Program working group.
Dan's email is HovorkD@NWF.org.

* Kara Harbert of the Great Plains Environmental Law Center will be leading the Nebraska Healthy Waters Initiative. greatplains_elc@yahoo.com is Kara's email address.

The complete Common Agenda for Natural Nebraska can be found on line on our agenda page.

Legislative Digest Service Begins

NLCV has identified the following bills this session that relate to the
Common Agenda. 
As a subscriber to the NLCV newsletter, you will receive a weekly update on the status of legislation until the 18th of April, when the Unicameral adjourns.  (If you don't want to receive the digest, you can contact us.

Future digests will include more detail about the bills and discussion in the legislature. You can find all of the bills online at
http://nebraskalegislature.gov/web/public/home. Just type the number of the bill into the "Quick Search" box in the upper right hand corner.

2008 Common Agenda for Natural Nebraska

Legislative Digest February 5, 2008

 

Bill Number
Sponsor
Committee
Hearing Date
Status
Topic
 

Renewable Resources for Energy Independence

921
Dubas
Government
2/6/2008
In Committee
Energy Independence Act
Support

1066
Louden
Natural Resources
2/1/2008
In Committee
Permit renewable generation
Support

1133
Dierks
Natural Resources
2/13/2008
In Committee
Permit renewable generation
Support

Landowner Conservation Incentives

488
Wallman
Natural Resources
2007
General File
Provide a tax incentive
Support

Platte River Recovery Program

751
Christensen
Agriculture
2/5/2008
In Committee
Expand width to manage streambank vegetation
Support

924
Fischer
Natural Resources
2/7/2008
In Committee
Streamflow depletion offsets
Oppose

959
Flood for the Governor
Appropriations Bill
2/4/2008
In Committee
Program funding
Action Now

Nebraska Healthy Waters Initiative

726
Committee
Natural Resources
1/23/2008
General File
Municipal Wastewater Assistance
Support

790
Erdman
Agriculture
1/22/2008
Advance to E&R Initial
Increase payments for buffer strips
Support

Also watch:

Recycling in Nebraska

766
Cornett
Priority
Natural Resources
1/23/2008
In Committee
Scrap metal management
Monitor

986
Priester
Natural Resources
1/31/2008
In Committee
Electronics recycling
Monitor

1061
Louden
Natural Resources
1/31/2008
In Committee
Electronics recycling
Monitor

 

Energy Conservation and Net Metering

579
Louden
Natural Resources
2007
IPP (killed)
Net metering
Monitor

581
Priester
Natural Resources
2007
In Committee
Net metering
Monitor

1001
White
Natural Resources
2/7/2008
In Committee
Low income housing energy efficiency
Support

1065
Louden
Natural Resources
2/1/2007
In Committee
Net metering
Monitor

 

Sustainable Buildings

725
Committee
Natural Resources
1/23/2008
General File
Deconstruct buildings in small towns
Support

For more information on the bills listed to monitor, contact the following individuals:

Recycling In Nebraska
 
Steve Andrews
sandrews@nsra.omhcoxmail.com
 

Energy/Net Metering
 
Ken Winston
kwinston@inetnebr.com
 

Platte River Recovery Program
 
Duane Hovorka
HovorkD@NWF.org
 

Nebraska Healthy Waters
 
Kara Harbert
greatplains_elc@yahoo.com
 

Action Alert on the Platte River Recovery Program:  The Good and the Ugly

 

The Good:  The Nebraska Wildlife Federation has praised Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee action to approve the Platte River Recovery Program, but said inaction by the state to meet its commitments under the agreement could jeopardize the program.
      On January 30, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
approved HR 1462, legislation that would provide federal authorization for the Platte River Recovery Program. All five members of Nebraska's
Congressional delegation have co-sponsored legislation to approve the
program, and the House passed HR 1462 last year.
      "This is welcome news, and we hope the full Senate will take quick action to approve this legislation," said Federation executive director Dan Stahr. The legislation is needed to authorize $157 million in federal funding over the next 13 years for the program.
      "However, we are very concerned that Nebraska may not meet its
commitment to have our state depletion plan operational by the end of this year," said Stahr. The Nebraska depletions plan is needed to offset the impact of the many wells and other water users put in place since 1997, on Platte River flows deemed critical for fish and wildlife.

 

The Ugly:  Governor Dave Heineman did not ask for any new money to implement the depletions plan in his budget request to the Legislature.   Nebraskans are called to write to Governor Heineman and their legislators:  Nebraska must fund the Platte River Depletions Plan!
     
For details, go to:
http://www.nebraskawildlife.org/policy_Platte_Alert.html.

Please forward this newsletter to your circle of friends who would appreciate the opportunity to get involved and build the Nebraska League of Conservation Voters.