| OREGON REVISED STATUTES |
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| 477.552 Policy. |
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477.552 Policy. It is the policy of the State of Oregon:
(1) To improve the management of prescribed burning as a forest management and protection practice; and
(2) To minimize emissions from prescribed burning consistent with the air quality objectives of the Federal Clean Air Act and the State of Oregon Clean Air Act Implementation Plan developed by the Department of Environmental Quality under ORS 468A.035. [1989 c.920 s.2]
477.554 Program establishment; content.
(1) With the advice and assistance of the advisory committee established under ORS 477.556, and subject to the review of the State Board of Forestry, the State Forester shall adopt and implement programs for meeting the objectives set forth in ORS 477.013 and 477.552 to 477.562. The programs shall include:
(a) Collection, analysis and distribution of information regarding prescribed burning and other alternative slash management techniques;
(b) Assistance to landowners wanting to evaluate alternative burning and nonburning slash management strategies and the collection of data regarding fuel conditions existing before and after slash treatment;
(c) Aerial monitoring of prescribed burning activity;
(d) Distribution of information to the Department of Environmental Quality on progress toward meeting federal and state air quality standards; and
(e) Establishment of a system to track forest burning on a geographically specific basis.
(2) The programs shall be administered by the State Forestry Department. [1989 c.920 s.3; 1997 c.274 s.50]
477.556 Advisory committee; membership; terms; staff.
(1) An advisory committee shall be created by the State Forester to advise and assist the State Forester in carrying out the programs required by ORS 477.013, 477.515 and 477.552 to 477.562. The advisory committee shall consist of five members as set forth in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
(2) The following three members shall be appointed by the State Forester:
(a) One member representing a nonindustrial forest landowner;
(b) One member representing an industrial forest landowner; and
(c) One member representing the public.
(3) In addition to the members designated in subsection (2) of this section, representatives of the following federal agencies shall be invited to serve as members of the advisory committee:
(a) A representative of the United States Forest Service.
(b) A representative of the United States Bureau of Land Management.
(4) Each member of the advisory committee shall serve for a term of two years.
(5) Members of the advisory committee are entitled to compensation as provided in ORS 292.495.
(6) A vacancy for any cause occurring before the expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person appointed by the State Forester.
(7) A staff member of the State Forestry Department shall be designated by the State Forester to serve as secretary for the committee. [1989 c.920 s.4; 1997 c.274 s.51]
477.558 Functions for advisory committee. The advisory committee created under ORS 477.556 shall:
(1) Advise the State Forestry Department in collecting information about prescribed burning operations;
(2) Advise the State Forestry Department on the collection, analysis and distribution of information required under ORS 477.554; and
(3) Review and comment on the report required under ORS 477.560. [1989 c.920 s.5]
477.560 Oregon Forest Smoke Management Account; moneys paid to account; use. (1) The Oregon Forest Smoke Management Account is established separate and distinct from the General Fund in the State Treasury.
(2) The following moneys shall be credited to the Oregon Forest Smoke Management Account:
(a) Nonrefundable registration fees received by the State Forestry Department for Class 1 forestland under ORS 526.324 to be burned lying within the restricted area described under ORS 477.013.
(b) Fees received by the State Forester for Class 1 forestland under ORS 526.324 treated by a prescription burn method under ORS 477.515 (1).
(c) Fees for federal forestland included within the restricted area under ORS 477.013 to be treated by any prescription burn method subject to the provisions of the State of Oregon Clean Air Act Implementation Plan and the Federal Clean Air Act received by the State Forester.
(3) The moneys in the Oregon Forest Smoke Management Account are appropriated continuously for and shall be used by the State Forester exclusively for the administration of the smoke management program approved under ORS 477.013 and 477.554. [1989 c.920 s.7; 1997 c.274 s.52]
477.562 Registration fee; exemption.
(1) The State Forestry Department shall collect a nonrefundable registration fee for forestland to be burned lying within the restricted area described under ORS 477.013. However, the State Forester, by rule, shall provide an exemption from payment of the fee for burning of understory materials that occurs on forestland for which regular, periodic burning of understory materials is required for forest health.
(2) Any owner of Class 1 forestland under ORS 526.324 and any agency managing Class 1 forestland under ORS 526.324 lying within the restricted area as described in the plan required under ORS 477.013 shall register with the State Forester, in accordance with rules adopted by the State Forester, the number of acres to be burned prior to December 31 of the same year.
(3) The State Forester shall establish by rule the amount of fees to be collected under this section. The fees shall not exceed:
(a) Fifty cents per acre for registration.
(b) $5 per acre for forestland classified as Class 1 under ORS 526.324 that has been treated by any prescription burn method authorized by the issuance of a permit under ORS 477.515 (1).
(4) Federal lands included within the restricted area under the provision of the smoke management plan approved under ORS 477.013 shall also be subject to the fees authorized under subsection (3) of this section for forestland to be treated by any prescription burn method subject to the provisions of the State of Oregon Clean Air Act Implementation Plan and the Federal Clean Air Act.
(5) Notwithstanding ORS 291.238, moneys collected under this section shall be deposited in the Oregon Forest Smoke Management Account established under ORS 477.560. [1989 c.920 s.8; 1991 c.919 s.15a; 1997 c.274 s.53]
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