BEND, OR -- OSU-Cascades says it needs more state funding to develop more of the Bend campus. "Right now, we’re working on preparing land for our future Innovation District, so we’re working on remediation and reclamation for that," says OSU's Jarrod Pentilla, "Also, looking at remediating and reclaiming another section of our campus, preparing more land."

Pentilla oversees development projects at the Bend campus. He recently told KBND News, "The site where we’re at is the Deschutes County construction and demolition landfill. And part of expanding the campus is remediating that landfill, so it’s a great opportunity to develop land right in the center of Bend." Remediation makes the land developable, "The waste that was there, we’re separating that into the waste and the reusable soil. And that waste we’re re-landfilling, using modern practices, in one corner. And we’re taking that reclaimed soil from the landfill and using that to build up the lower elevations of what was previously the pumice mine, here on campus. All of that will end up being part of the long-term view of the campus." Pentilla adds, "Where the waste will be in the long-term will end up being recreation fields; that’s a safe thing we can build on top of waste. And also where the pumice mine was will end up being structural fill that we can build buildings on top of."

OSU-Cascades is located on 128 acres in Bend; 118 of which are on top of the former landfill and mine. HB-5201 would send $24 million to the school to expedite the remediation of 24 more acres. Officials say that's enough space for up to seven more buildings. "As our campus grows, we’re seeing our freshman class increase, and actually starting to run out of housing in the next 3-5 years," says Pentilla, "So, we’re looking at where we’ll put the next residence hall for students on campus."

The head of OSU-Cascades, Chancellor Sherm Bloomer, testifies in Salem Friday in support of the bill.