OAR 629-680-0420: Process to Inventory a Biological Site

(1) A technical site report is used to propose a biological site for listing on the inventory. The report is written by an individual, a landowner, an agency, or an organization. The report shall: (a) Identify the key components of the biological site, such as physical features, vegetation, and wildlife; (b) Identify how or why the biological site meets the criteria in OAR 629-680-0430; and (c) Include written evidence of the landowner’s permission for any on-site evaluations that may have been conducted. (2) The State Forester shall review the technical site report and other available information. The review may include an evaluation by technical experts appointed by the State Forester. The review shall: (a) Consider the ecological and scientific significance of the site as presented in the technical site report; (b) Identify forest practices that conflict with the maintenance of the key components; (c) Evaluate the consequences of the identified conflicts; and (d) Propose protection or management requirements for the biological site. (3) The State Forester shall submit a report of the review to the Board. (4) Using the State Forester’s report, the technical site report and other available information for the biological site, the Board shall confirm whether the biological site meets the criteria in OAR 629-680-0430. If the Board determines that the biological site is ecologically and scientifically significant, the Board shall: (a) Identify the forest practices that conflict with the key components; (b) Evaluate the consequences of those conflicts; and (c) Adopt protection or management requirements necessary to meet the protection goal. (5) The State Forester shall maintain a resource site inventory of biological sites adopted by the Board. (6) If a biological site on the resource site inventory is no longer ecologically and scientifically significant, a site report recommending removal of the resource site from the inventory may be submitted, by any party, to the State Forester. (a) The State Forester shall review the report as described in section 2 of this rule and submit a recommendation to the Board. (b) Using the State Forester’s recommendation, and any other information, the Board shall determine if the biological site should be removed from the inventory.