Oregon Chapter 526

TITLE 44

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TITLE 44

FORESTRY AND FOREST PRODUCTS

 

Chapter     526.     Forestry Administration

                  527.     Insect and Disease Control; Forest Practices

                  530.     State Forests; Community Forests

                  532.     Branding of Forest Products and Booming Equipment

 

_______________

 

Chapter 526 — Forestry Administration

 

2007 EDITION

 

FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION

 

FORESTRY AND FOREST PRODUCTS

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

526.005     Definitions

 

STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY; STATE FORESTER; STATE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT

 

526.008     State Forestry Department

 

526.009     State Board of Forestry; chairperson; terms; vacancies; confirmation; qualifications; removal

 

526.016     General duties; limits; compensation and expenses; meetings; rules

 

526.031     State Forester; deputy and assistants; compensation

 

526.036     Fidelity bonds

 

526.041     General duties of State Forester; rules

 

526.046     State Forester to cooperate with other agencies and persons; contracts for supervision; costs

 

526.052     Credits for former forest protective association employees

 

526.054     Authority of department to require fingerprints

 

FUNDS AND FINANCES

 

526.060     State Forestry Department Account; subaccounts

 

526.065     Authority to accept gifts and other donations for management of state forests and forest legacy programs; use of moneys in subaccount

 

526.090     Acceptance and use of moneys under Agricultural Act of 1956 (soil bank and reforestation provisions)

 

526.095     Clarke-McNary Act accepted; State Forester is agent of state

 

526.105     Disposition of receipts under ORS 526.090 and 526.095

 

526.111     State Forestry Department Revolving Account; purposes

 

526.121     Reimbursement of revolving account; keeping records

 

526.125     Tillamook Forest Interpretive Center Fund; sources; use of moneys in fund

 

MANAGEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY

 

526.131     Purchase or acceptance of federal surplus property

 

526.135     Leasing departmental equipment to federal agency

 

526.142     Definition for ORS 526.142 to 526.152

 

526.144     Equipment pool; participation

 

526.146     Charges

 

526.148     Leasing communication equipment

 

526.152     Disposition of equipment; termination of pool

 

526.156     Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee; membership; advisory function

 

ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF REAL PROPERTY

 

526.162     Taking title in fee simple

 

526.164     Exchange of property

 

526.166     Acquisition of real property by purchase, agreement or donation

 

526.168     Acquisition of real property by eminent domain

 

526.178     Going upon private property

 

526.192     Attorney General to conduct proceedings

 

526.194     Disposition or leasing of property

 

FOREST RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION

 

526.215     State Board of Higher Education to conduct research and experimentation programs

 

526.225     Forest Research Laboratory; cooperative programs; advisory committee

 

FOREST TREE SEEDLINGS

 

526.231     Findings

 

526.233     Application of antitrust laws

 

526.235     State forest nursery; securing seedlings; sale of seedlings and stock; disposition of sales receipts

 

526.237     Acquisition of forest tree seedlings; agreements with grower cooperatives; fees

 

MANAGEMENT REPORTS

 

526.255     Long range management, marketing and harvest report

 

526.265     Hearings to publish report and receive testimony; management regions

 

FOREST HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES

 

(Federal Forest Management)

 

526.271     Findings

 

526.274     Authority to participate in federal forest management

 

(Forest Health)

 

526.277     Findings; definitions for ORS 526.277 and 526.280

 

526.280     Responsibilities of State Forester; woody biomass utilization; report

 

COUNTY FORESTLAND CLASSIFICATION

 

526.305     Definitions for ORS 526.305 to 526.370

 

526.310     County classification committees; rules

 

526.320     Investigation of forestlands by committees; determination of adaptability for particular uses

 

526.324     Classification of forestland by committee; publication

 

526.328     Hearing; final classification; reclassification

 

526.332     Appeal

 

526.340     Classification by State Forester

 

526.350     Policy in administering forest and fire laws; contracts for care of forestland

 

526.360     State Forester to assist in developing forestland for agricultural uses; supervision of certain burning; refusal of supervision or permit; Certified Burn Manager program; rules; liability for damage

 

526.370     Seeding agreements as condition of supervision of burning on forestlands; seeding at owner’s expense on breach; lien; foreclosure

 

NONINDUSTRIAL PRIVATE LANDOWNER ASSISTANCE

 

(Generally)

 

526.425     Management assistance to nonindustrial private forest landowners; rules

 

(Woodland Management Act of 1979)

 

526.450     Short title

 

526.455     Definitions for ORS 526.450 to 526.475

 

526.460     Policy to manage forests to maximize benefits

 

526.465     Purpose of ORS 526.450 to 526.475

 

526.470     Forest tree seed bank; sale to recover costs; disposition of funds; use of funds for research and development activities

 

526.472     Forest tree seed orchard; purposes; cooperative agreements; recovery of costs; revenues

 

526.475     Appeal of decisions by State Forester

 

526.490     Afforestation of certain idle lands; harvest requirements; inspection fees; lands subject to Oregon Forest Practices Act; rules; fees

 

URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY

 

526.500     Definitions for ORS 526.500 to 526.515

 

526.505     Policy

 

526.510     Department to provide technical assistance to governmental units

 

526.515     Gifts, grants and donations; fees for services

 

OREGON FOREST RESOURCES INSTITUTE

 

(Generally)

 

526.600     Definitions for ORS 526.600 to 526.675

 

526.605     Findings

 

526.610     Oregon Forest Resources Institute; board of directors; eligibility

 

526.615     Qualifications of voting members

 

526.620     Terms of voting members; vacancies

 

526.625     Effect of failure to maintain qualification; removal of member

 

526.630     Expenses of members and staff

 

526.632     Employees not subject to certain personnel regulation

 

526.635     Officers

 

526.640     General authority of institute

 

526.645     Additional powers

 

(Financial Administration)

 

526.650     Expenditure of funds restricted

 

526.655     Acceptance of grants, donations and gifts

 

526.660     Application of budget and expenditure control laws

 

526.665     Exemption from certain financial administration laws

 

526.670     Books and records; audit

 

526.675     Oregon Forest Resources Institute Fund; use of moneys; rules

 

FOREST RESOURCE TRUST

 

526.695     Definitions for ORS 526.695 to 526.775

 

526.700     Forest Resource Trust; purpose; trustees; advisory committee; rules; duties

 

526.703     Cost share program; purpose; advance of moneys and assistance

 

526.705     Loan program; financial assistance terms and conditions; rules

 

526.710     State Forestry Department to assist board

 

526.720     Forest Resource Trust Fund

 

526.725     Agreements with private, governmental or other organizations; land acquisitions; investment of funds; forestry carbon offsets; trust on governmental agencies or officers not created

 

526.730     Report to legislature

 

526.740     Lien for moneys payable to trust by forestland owner; attachment to severed forest products and accounts receivable

 

526.745     Notice of lien; filing

 

526.750     Recording of notice; fee

 

526.755     Foreclosure; costs

 

526.760     Priority; lien survives land foreclosure proceedings

 

526.765     Payment of funds advanced; release of lien

 

526.770     Notice of forest products harvest; contents; forest products purchasers

 

526.775     Execution of judgment against other property when forest products and accounts not subject to lien

 

FORESTRY CARBON OFFSETS

 

526.780     Agreements for forestry carbon offsets; requirements; creation; disposition of revenues

 

526.783     Development of forestry carbon offset accounting system

 

526.786     Rules relating to forestry carbon offsets; rules advisory committee

 

526.789     Effect of state forestry carbon offset program

 

TIMBER EXPORT REGULATION

 

526.801     Definitions for ORS 526.801 to 526.831 and 526.992

 

526.806     Prohibition against export of unprocessed timber; prohibition against certain public timber purchases

 

526.811     Exemption from export prohibition

 

526.816     Certification by bidders for public timber

 

526.821     Political subdivisions to establish rules

 

526.826     Barring timber export violators from unprocessed public timber purchases

 

526.831     Contract cancellation for timber export violation

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

526.900     Review of state regulations and policies affecting implementation of conservation strategies

 

526.905     Management plans or policies to reduce risk of loss of forest resources

 

PENALTIES

 

526.990     Criminal penalty

 

526.992     Criminal and civil penalties for timber export violation

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

      526.005 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

      (1) “Board” means the State Board of Forestry.

      (2) “Certified Burn Manager” means an individual, other than the forester, who is currently certified under a program established pursuant to ORS 526.360 (3).

      (3) “Department” means the State Forestry Department.

      (4) “Forester” means the State Forester or the authorized representative of the forester.

      (5) “Forestland” means any woodland, brushland, timberland, grazing land or clearing, which, during any time of the year, contains enough forest growth, slashing or vegetation to constitute, in the opinion of the forester, a fire hazard, regardless of how the land is zoned or taxed.

      (6) “Forestry carbon offset” means a transferable unit based on a measured amount of carbon storage expressed as a carbon dioxide emission equivalent, or other equivalent standard, and accruing on forestland as live or dead matter in trees, shrubs, forest litter and soil.

      (7) “Nonindustrial private forest landowner” means any forest landowner who does not own a forest products manufacturing facility that employs more than six people.

      (8) “Nonindustrial private forestland” means any forestland owned by a nonindustrial private forest landowner. [Amended by 1961 c.123 §3; 1965 c.253 §1; 1977 c.893 §14; 1997 c.274 §41; 1999 c.101 §1; 2001 c.752 §6]

 

STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY; STATE FORESTER; STATE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT

 

      526.008 State Forestry Department. The State Forestry Department consists of the State Forester and the deputy, assistants and employees of the forester, acting under direction of the State Board of Forestry. [1961 c.123 §1; 1965 c.253 §2]

 

      526.009 State Board of Forestry; chairperson; terms; vacancies; confirmation; qualifications; removal. (1) There is created a State Board of Forestry consisting of seven members appointed by the Governor. The members appointed to the board shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate as provided in ORS 171.562 and 171.565. The Governor shall designate one member of the board as chairperson to hold that position until that member’s term expires or until relieved by the Governor as provided in subsection (6) of this section. The chairperson shall have such powers and duties as are provided by the rules of the board.

      (2) The term of office of a member of the board is four years. A member shall be eligible for reappointment, but no member shall serve more than two consecutive full terms. In case of a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall make an appointment as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

      (3) Appointments made by the Governor under subsection (1) of this section shall include appointment of at least one member from each of the forest regions established under ORS 527.640 and the rules adopted thereunder by January 1, 1987.

      (4) No more than three members of the board may derive any significant portion of their income directly from persons or organizations that are subject to regulation under ORS 527.610 to 527.770, 527.990 (1) and 527.992.

      (5) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, no member of the board shall have any relationship or pecuniary interest that would interfere with the member representing the public interest.

      (6) The Governor may at any time remove any member of the board for inefficiency, incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, unfitness to render effective service or failure to continue to meet the criteria of appointment pursuant to this section. [1965 c.253 §4; 1973 c.230 §1; 1979 c.394 §1; 1983 c.759 §5; 1987 c.919 §6]

 

      526.010 [Amended by 1953 c.68 §19; 1953 c.372 §22; 1957 c.654 §1; 1959 c.571 §1; 1963 c.63 §1; 1965 c.253 §5; 1967 c.429 §51; 1973 c.230 §2; 1973 c.792 §22; 1975 c.94 §1; 1979 c.394 §2; 1983 c.759 §6; repealed by 1987 c.919 §30]

 

      526.015 [1957 c.654 §3; repealed by 1965 c.253 §153]

 

      526.016 General duties; limits; compensation and expenses; meetings; rules. (1) The State Board of Forestry shall supervise all matters of forest policy and management under the jurisdiction of this state and approve claims for expenses incurred under the statutes administered by the board except as otherwise provided by law. Advisory committees may be appointed by the board to make recommendations concerning any function vested by law in the board. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the board shall not supervise or direct the State Forester in matters relating to the geographic scheduling, annual volume and species allocation, appraisals and competitive timber sale techniques used in the sale of forest products from lands managed under the provisions of ORS chapter 530.

      (2) The members of the board are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495.

      (3) The board shall meet on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January, March, June and September, at places designated by the chairperson of the board or the State Forester. The board may meet at other times and places in this state on the call of the chairperson or the State Forester. A majority of the voting members of the board constitutes a quorum to do business.

      (4) In accordance with the applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183, the board shall adopt rules to perform the functions defined by statute. [1965 c.253 §6; 1969 c.314 §62; 1973 c.230 §3; 1983 c.759 §8; 1987 c.919 §8]

 

      526.020 [Amended by 1953 c.68 §19; 1955 c.117 §1; repealed by 1965 c.253 §9 (526.041 enacted in lieu of 526.020)]

 

      526.030 [Amended by 1953 c.23 §2; 1955 c.27 §1; 1961 c.123 §4; 1965 c.253 §11; renumbered 526.046]

 

      526.031 State Forester; deputy and assistants; compensation. (1) The State Board of Forestry shall appoint a State Forester, who must be a practical forester familiar with western conditions and experienced in organization for the prevention of forest fires. The forester shall be the chief executive officer of the State Forestry Department. The forester shall hold office at the pleasure of the board, and shall act as its secretary.

      (2) With the approval of the board and subject to applicable provisions of the State Personnel Relations Law, the State Forester may appoint a Deputy State Forester, assistant state foresters and other employees of the department. During the State Forester’s absence or disability, all authority shall be exercised by the Deputy State Forester or by the assistant whom the State Forester or the board, by written order filed with the Secretary of State, has designated as Acting State Forester.

      (3) The board shall fix the compensation of the State Forester. In addition to their salaries, the forester, the deputy and assistants shall be reimbursed, subject to the limitations otherwise provided by law, for their actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. [1965 c.253 §7; 1983 c.759 §13]

 

      526.036 Fidelity bonds. (1) Before entering upon the duties of office, the forester shall furnish a fidelity bond in favor of the State of Oregon in the penal sum of $100,000 issued by one or more corporate sureties authorized to do business in the State of Oregon, conditioned upon the faithful and honest handling and disposition of the moneys in the State Forestry Department Account and any other moneys in the hands of the forester. The bond and sureties are subject to approval by the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services as provided in ORS 291.011.

      (2) The premium for the bond shall be paid from the appropriation of the State Board of Forestry.

      (3) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the board may require a fidelity bond, with one or more corporate sureties authorized to do business in this state, of any officer or employee of the State Forestry Department. The board shall fix the amount of the bond, which otherwise is subject to subsections (1) and (2) of this section. [Formerly 526.070; 1967 c.419 §16]

 

      526.040 [Repealed by 1953 c.43 §2]

 

      526.041 General duties of State Forester; rules. The forester, under the general supervision of the State Board of Forestry, shall:

      (1) In compliance with ORS chapter 183, promulgate rules consistent with law for the enforcement of the state forest laws relating directly to the protection of forestland and the conservation of forest resources.

      (2) Appoint and instruct fire wardens as provided in ORS chapter 477.

      (3) Direct the improvement and protection of forestland owned by the State of Oregon.

      (4) Collect data relative to forest conditions.

      (5) Take action authorized by law to prevent and extinguish forest, brush and grass fires.

      (6) Enforce all laws pertaining to forestland and prosecute violations of such laws.

      (7) Cooperate with landowners, political subdivisions, private associations and agencies and others in forest protection.

      (8) Advise and encourage reforestation.

      (9) Publish such information on forestry as the forester determines to be in the public interest.

      (10) Enter into contracts and cooperative agreements pertaining to experiments and research in forestry.

      (11) Sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any real property heretofore or hereafter acquired by the board for administrative purposes and no longer needed.

      (12) Coordinate any activities of the State Forestry Department related to a watershed enhancement project approved by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board under ORS 541.375 with activities of other cooperating state and federal agencies participating in the project.

      (13) Prescribe uniform state standards for certification of wildland fire training courses and educational programs. [1965 c.253 §10 (enacted in lieu of 526.020); 1969 c.249 §2; 1975 c.605 §27; 1987 c.734 §13; 1993 c.415 §5; 1997 c.413 §5; 2003 c.539 §38]

 

      526.046 State Forester to cooperate with other agencies and persons; contracts for supervision; costs. (1) Under the direction of the State Board of Forestry, the forester:

      (a) Shall, upon request, and whenever the forester deems that it is in the public interest, assist and cooperate with any federal or state department or any institution, political subdivision or person owning or controlling forestland within this state, in the preparation of plans for their protection, management, replacement or extension. Unless otherwise provided by law, the parties obtaining such assistance shall pay the necessary costs of travel, subsistence and other field expenses incurred by the forester or the assistants of the forester in the preparation and execution of these plans.

      (b) May enter into contracts with the applicants under which the forester will supervise the execution of the plans. However, the costs of carrying out the plans shall be paid by the applicants.

      (2) In carrying out this section the forester may require the applicant to deposit in one or more installments the moneys needed to cover the cost of preparing and executing the plans. These deposits shall be placed in the State Treasury, credited to the State Forestry Department Account and used exclusively for the purposes of this section. [Formerly 526.030]

 

      526.048 [1977 c.893 §16; renumbered 526.425]

 

      526.050 [Repealed by 1953 c.23 §2]

 

      526.052 Credits for former forest protective association employees. (1) For purposes of this section, “forest protective association” or “association” has the meaning for that term provided in ORS 477.001.

      (2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, a person employed by a forest protective association at a time when the association was under contract or cooperative agreement with the forester or State Board of Forestry by authority of ORS chapter 477 and this chapter, with specific reference to ORS 477.406 to 477.412, or predecessor statutes, shall receive the following credits when transferring directly from association employment to employment by the State Forestry Department:

      (a) Sick leave accrual earned during employment as an association employee.

      (b) Rate of accumulating annual leave based on years of service as an association employee.

      (c) Credit for current service under the Public Employees Retirement System equal to periods of service as an association employee as determined by the Public Employees Retirement Board, if the person, before the effective date of retirement of the person as a member of the system, applies in writing to the retirement board for that credit or any part thereof and pays to the retirement board in a lump sum for credit to the member account of the member an amount determined by the retirement board to be equal to the total amount of employee and employer contributions with interest that would have accumulated had the person been a member of the system as an employee of the State Forestry Department in a position equivalent to that held by the person for the periods of service or part thereof as an association employee.

      (3) The credits granted by subsection (2) of this section shall be granted if the employee makes an immediate transfer from association employment to state employment, and if the person earned employment credits as an association employee under standards comparable to laws and rules of the State of Oregon governing similar credits in state employment.

      (4) Unless the employee transferring to employment with the State Forestry Department first becomes a member of the Public Employees Retirement System before January 1, 2000, as described in subsection (6) of this section:

      (a) The employee may acquire credit under subsection (2)(c) of this section only after the employee has been a member of the Public Employees Retirement System for at least 60 calendar months; and

      (b) The maximum number of years of retirement credit that a person may acquire under subsection (2)(c) of this section is five years.

      (5) If a person subject to the limitation imposed by subsection (4)(b) of this section is also eligible for credit under ORS 238.145, and the person is subject to the limitation imposed by ORS 238.145 (4), the total years of credit that the person may acquire under this section and under the provisions of ORS 238.145 may not exceed five years.

      (6) A person becomes a member of the Public Employees Retirement System before January 1, 2000, for the purposes of this section if:

      (a) The person is a member of the system on January 1, 2000; or

      (b) The person was a member of the system before January 1, 2000, ceased to be a member of the system under the provisions of ORS 238.095, 238.265 or 238.545 before January 1, 2000, but restores part or all of the forfeited creditable service from before January 1, 2000, under the provisions of ORS 238.105 or 238.115 after January 1, 2000. [1969 c.249 §5; 1973 c.46 §6; 1987 c.617 §14; 1999 c.317 §13; 2001 c.945 §67]

 

      526.054 Authority of department to require fingerprints. For the purpose of requesting a state or nationwide criminal records check under ORS 181.534, the State Forestry Department may require the fingerprints of a person who:

      (1)(a) Is employed or is applying for employment by the department; or

      (b) Provides services or seeks to provide services to the department as a contractor or volunteer; and

      (2) Is, or will be, working or providing services in a position:

      (a) That provides forest education or recreation programs for persons under 18 years of age; or

      (b) In which the person investigates or fights wildland fires and the criminal records check is requested to search for crimes associated with arson. [2005 c.730 §75]

 

      Note: 526.054 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 526 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

 

FUNDS AND FINANCES

 

      526.060 State Forestry Department Account; subaccounts. (1) Excepting the sinking fund moneys designated in ORS 530.280 and reimbursements for the revolving account under ORS 526.121, all assessments, federal apportionments or contributions, and other moneys received by the forester or State Board of Forestry, shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the State Forestry Department Account, which is established separate and distinct from the General Fund. All moneys in the State Forestry Department Account are appropriated continuously, and shall be used by the forester, under the supervision and direction of the board, for the purposes authorized by law.

      (2) The forester shall keep a record of all moneys deposited in the State Forestry Department Account. The record shall indicate by separate cumulative accounts the source from which the moneys are derived and the individual activity or program against which each withdrawal is charged. All moneys in the account received pursuant to ORS 527.610 to 527.770 and 527.992 shall be used only for carrying out the duties, functions and powers of the State Forestry Department in administering ORS 527.610 to 527.770 and 527.992.

      (3) The Urban and Community Forestry Subaccount is established as a subaccount of the State Forestry Department Account. Moneys in the Urban and Community Forestry Subaccount are appropriated continuously to the State Forestry Department to be used for urban and community forest activities described in ORS 469.634 and 469.652.

      (4) The State Forest Enhancement Donation Subaccount is established as a subaccount to the State Forestry Department Account. Moneys in the State Forest Enhancement Donation Subaccount are continuously appropriated to the State Forestry Department to be used for the purposes described in ORS 526.065.

      (5) The State Forest Nursery Subaccount is established as a subaccount to the State Forestry Department Account. Moneys in the State Forest Nursery Subaccount are continuously appropriated to the State Forestry Department to be used for the purposes described in ORS 526.235.

      (6) The State Forest Tree Seed Bank Subaccount is established as a subaccount to the State Forestry Department Account. Moneys in the State Forest Tree Seed Bank Subaccount are continuously appropriated to the State Forestry Department to be used for the purposes described in ORS 526.470.

      (7) The State Forest Tree Seed Orchard Subaccount is established as a subaccount to the State Forestry Department Account. Moneys in the State Forest Tree Seed Orchard Subaccount are continuously appropriated to the State Forestry Department to be used for the purposes described in ORS 526.472.

      (8) Notwithstanding ORS 291.238, the moneys credited to the subaccounts established under subsections (5), (6) and (7) of this section shall be continuously available on a revolving basis. [1957 c.83 §1; 1965 c.253 §12; 1975 c.224 §7; 1989 c.966 §58; 1993 c.388 §5; 2001 c.159 §1; 2007 c.248 §4]

 

      526.065 Authority to accept gifts and other donations for management of state forests and forest legacy programs; use of moneys in subaccount. (1) The State Forestry Department may receive gifts