OAR 629-670-0015: Enforcement Policy

Effective administration of the Oregon Forest Practices Act and forest practice rules is a balance of technical design, education and enforcement. The forest practice rules require compliance with a practice specified in a rule unless a plan for an alternate practice has been approved in writing by the State Forester. However, it is very difficult to write rules which deal with every conceivable situation and unlikely that the State Forester can monitor every forest operation in Oregon. The board recognizes that it is appropriate that the State Forester exercises judgment in not enforcing compliance with practices in a rule where the practice is clearly not necessary to accomplish the purpose of the rule. At the same time, without written approval for an alternate practice, such a recognition by the board shall not be a defense for an operator who has not complied with a practice.