75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 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 3441
 
                         House Bill 3249
 
Sponsored by Representative DEMBROW; Representatives BAILEY,
  CANNON, D EDWARDS, Senator BONAMICI
 
 
                             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.
 
  Allows State Board of Forestry to designate and manage areas on
state forestlands as natural resource conservation areas.  Allows
board and Department of State Lands to designate and manage areas
on Common School Forest Lands and Elliott State Forest Lands as
natural resource conservation areas. Imposes requirements and
restrictions on management of natural resource conservation
areas.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to natural resource conservation areas.
  Whereas the state-owned forestlands in this state contain
natural resources that deserve conservation; and
  Whereas population and development pressures in this state are
expected to grow significantly in coming decades; and
  Whereas the state-owned forestlands in this state contain some
of the best habitat and most intact forest between metropolitan
areas and the Pacific coast; and
  Whereas the residents of this state want increased
opportunities for outdoor and wildland experiences; and
  Whereas the residents of this state have made significant
contributions to the cost of managing state-owned forestlands for
the past 50 years; and
  Whereas residents of this state have a strong economic interest
in mitigating climate change and halting global warming; and
  Whereas healthy populations of salmon and trout are important
to the culture and economy of this state; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) As used in this section, 'low-impact public
uses' means recreational uses that do not adversely affect the
resource values of the area, do not require modification of the
natural setting and do not detract from long-term ecological
processes.
  (2) The State Board of Forestry may designate areas on state
forestlands as natural resource conservation areas. The board and
the Department of State Lands may designate areas on Common
School Forest Lands and Elliott State Forest Lands as natural
resource conservation areas. The State Forester shall direct the
management of lands designated as natural resource conservation
areas under this section for the purposes of:
 
  (a) Protecting high-quality fish and wildlife habitat, drinking
water sources and mature and old-growth forest;
  (b) Storing carbon; and
  (c) Allowing low-impact public uses.
  (3) Management activities in natural resource conservation
areas shall include, but need not be limited to:
  (a) Restoring, enhancing and maintaining ecological systems;
  (b) Maintaining scenic landscapes;
  (c) Maintaining critical habitat for endangered, threatened or
sensitive species;
  (d) Enhancing sites for low-impact public uses; and
  (e) Offering outdoor environmental education.
  (4) Management activities in natural resource conservation
areas may include limited harvesting and other forest resource
management activities if:
  (a) The activities are consistent with the purposes of the
natural resource conservation area;
  (b) The activities do not degrade the suitability of the
natural resource conservation area for low-impact public use; and
  (c) A detailed environmental impact statement is conducted for
the area where the activities are to occur and opportunity is
given for public comment.
  (5) Management activities in natural resource conservation
areas may not include:
  (a) Harvesting or other forest management activities, except as
provided in subsection (4) of this section;
  (b) Road construction; or
  (c) The use of motorized vehicles, other than motorboats. + }
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