Bill Text: OR HB3350 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to downed trees.
Sponsorship: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 12-1)
Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB3350 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2011-HB3350-Introduced.html
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 3298
House Bill 3350
Sponsored by Representative WEIDNER; Representatives CONGER,
FREEMAN, HUFFMAN, JENSON, PARRISH, RICHARDSON, SCHAUFLER,
SHEEHAN, THATCHER, THOMPSON, WAND, WINGARD
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
Requires State Forestry Department and other state agencies to
support expeditious harvesting of downed trees as part of state
forest recovery and restoration plans and policies. Requires
State Board of Forestry to identify areas deserving priority in
harvesting of downed trees based on fire danger, disease, insects
or other considerations. Requires State Board of Forestry to
adopt rules under state forest management plans to provide for
expedited harvesting of downed trees. Requires State Forester to
use opportunities for state involvement in development of federal
policy to advocate for expedited harvesting of downed trees on
federal forestlands in state.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to downed trees; creating new provisions; and amending
ORS 527.630.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) The State Forestry Department, the State
Parks and Recreation Department, the State Department of Fish and
Wildlife, the Department of State Lands and any other state
agency with oversight responsibilities for state forestlands
shall amend and administer their forest recovery and restoration
policies and plans necessary to support the expeditious
harvesting of downed trees from state forestlands. The Oregon
Department of Administrative Services may assist state agencies
described in this section with the development of contracts and
other procedures that support the expeditious harvesting of
downed trees as part of forest restoration and recovery efforts.
The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall provide
appropriate contracting assistance and exceptions as may be
necessary to support the harvesting described in this section.
(2) In administering a harvest program for downed trees under
this section, the State Forestry Department shall cooperate with
communities to identify wildfire-prone areas that merit priority
for hazardous fuel removal. The department shall also identify
priority areas for addressing drought-induced mortality and
severe insect and disease outbreaks and identify areas for the
general improvement of forest health, the protection of
infrastructure and the stabilization of soils within critical
watersheds.
(3) The State Forester shall actively utilize the statutory
provisions of the National Forest Management Act of 1976, the
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974,
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 that allow the state to participate in
federal policy development for the purpose of advocating for the
expedited harvesting of downed trees on federal lands in this
state. + }
SECTION 2. ORS 527.630 is amended to read:
527.630. (1) Forests make a vital contribution to Oregon by
providing jobs, products, tax base and other social and economic
benefits, by helping to maintain forest tree species, soil, air
and water resources and by providing a habitat for wildlife and
aquatic life. Therefore, it is declared to be the public policy
of the State of Oregon to encourage economically efficient forest
practices that ensure the continuous growing and harvesting of
forest tree species and the maintenance of forestland for such
purposes as the leading use on privately owned land, consistent
with sound management of soil, air, water, fish and wildlife
resources and scenic resources within visually sensitive
corridors as provided in ORS 527.755 and to ensure the continuous
benefits of those resources for future generations of Oregonians.
(2) It is recognized that operations on forestland are already
subject to other laws and to regulations of other agencies which
deal primarily with consequences of such operations rather than
the manner in which operations are conducted. It is further
recognized that it is essential to avoid uncertainty and
confusion in enforcement and implementation of such laws and
regulations and in planning and carrying out operations on
forestlands.
(3) To encourage forest practices implementing the policy of
ORS 527.610 to 527.770 and 527.990 and 527.992, it is declared to
be in the public interest to vest in the State Board of Forestry
exclusive authority to develop and enforce statewide and regional
rules pursuant to ORS 527.710 and to coordinate with other state
agencies and local governments which are concerned with the
forest environment.
(4) The board may adopt and enforce rules addressing scenic
considerations only in accordance with ORS 527.755.
(5) The board shall adopt and enforce forest practice rules to
reduce the risk of serious bodily injury or death from a rapidly
moving landslide only in accordance with ORS 527.710 (10). As
used in this subsection, 'rapidly moving landslide' has the
meaning given in ORS 195.250.
{ + (6) The board shall adopt and enforce forest practice
rules to promote the expeditious harvesting of downed trees from
state forestlands, as provided in section 1 of this 2011 Act. + }
{ - (6) - } { + (7) + } The State of Oregon should provide
a stable regulatory environment to encourage investment in
private forestlands.
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