Chapter 472 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

HB 2118

Relating to weed control emergencies.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Noxious weeds are currently invading agricultural land and natural environments and causing severe production losses, increased control costs, negative impacts on native flora and fauna, decreased utilization of recreational areas and decreased value of farm, range and forest lands. Some of those noxious weeds are poisonous or harmful to humans or animals.

(2) Noxious weed control programs are carried out by private and public landowners, counties and state agencies.

(3) The economic and environmental impacts of noxious weeds in Oregon have not been quantified. Although 92 weeds have been listed by the State Department of Agriculture as restricted noxious weeds or prohibited noxious weeds, only tansy ragwort has been studied for economic and environmental impact. A comprehensive evaluation of other noxious weeds is necessary to determine in which areas, if any, the invasion of noxious weeds is sufficiently severe to justify a declaration by the Director of Agriculture of a weed control emergency.

(4) The overall effectiveness and efficiency of the various noxious weed control programs of this state have never been evaluated. Evaluating and coordinating those programs could reduce the need for the director to declare weed control emergencies.

SECTION 2. (1) The State Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Weed Board, shall implement a study on the impact of noxious weeds and the effectiveness of current weed control programs. The department shall assemble a group of persons affected by noxious weeds to guide the development and implementation of the study. The study shall, at a minimum, evaluate:

(a) The current economic and environmental impacts of noxious weeds and projections for future impacts, including but not limited to the need for declaring weed control emergencies.

(b) The effectiveness and efficiency of current weed control programs, including those carried out by private landowners and public entities.

(2) The study shall make recommendations for creating a comprehensive long-term strategy to control noxious weeds in Oregon. The long-term strategy shall include ways to reduce the number and severity of weed control emergencies.

(3) The department shall report the results of the study to an appropriate committee of the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly as provided under ORS 192.230 to 192.250.

Approved by the Governor July 6, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 6, 1999

Effective date October 23, 1999

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