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1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary February 10, 2014 Orange County Solid Waste Management Administration Building, Chapel Hill _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ PRESENT: Jan Sassaman (Chair), May Becker, Loren Hintz, Donna Lee Jones, David Neal, Steve Niezgoda, Jeanette O’Connor, Rebecca Ray, Gary Saunders, Lydia Wegman, David Welch ABSENT: Peter Cada STAFF: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis GUESTS: Gayle Wilson, Eric Gerringer, Tom O’Dwyer _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. Call to Order – Sassaman called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. II. Ad ditions or Changes to Agenda – There were no changes or additions. III. Approval of Minutes – Sassaman asked for comments on draft minutes for January 13. Neal motioned to approve as written; O’Connor seconded. Approved unanimously. IV. Industrial Hemp Film – Tom O’Dwyer (former CFE member) presented information about the benefits of growing industrial hemp as an agricultural crop. He began by quoting from a Forbes on-line magazine article from 2013. He noted that since growing hemp was outlawed in 1971 seventeen states have passed some kind of law in support of growing or experimenting with hemp. O’Dwyer said the Farm Bureau has changed its position such that it also now supports hemp production. He also noted that hemp can be a more profitable crop than corn, and provided some figures from Canada. Neal said O’Dwyer’s information is persuasive, and noted that Congress recently passed a Farm Bill that allows the study of hemp production in the United States. Welch cautioned that increased hemp production could spur farmers to grow hemp in previously uncultivated areas of ecological significance, which is what happened when corn prices rose to high levels in Midwestern states. Sassaman asked O’Dwyer what he wanted from the CFE. O’Dwyer said he would like the CFE to indicate its support of industrial hemp production in North Carolina in light of the environmental benefits of growing hemp. He would like the CFE to co-sponsor a showing of the film, “Bringing It Home” along with other county advisory boards, such as the Agricultural Preservation Board and the Economic Development Commission. Hintz said it may be worthwhile for the CFE to co-sponsor a film event, but he would like to see more definitive information, including the findings of published studies, about the environmental benefits of growing hemp on farmland. Neal agreed, because if the CFE co-sponsors the film it would appear that the CFE was supportive of growing hemp. O’Dwyer said he had provided some documentation earlier, but would re-send to CFE members. Jones referred members to the Congressional Research Service publication O’Dwyer had provided. Sassaman thanked O’Dwyer for his presentation.