OAR 660-023-0030: Inventory Process

(1) Inventories provide the information necessary to locate and evaluate resources and develop programs to protect such resources. The purpose of the inventory process is to compile or update a list of significant Goal 5 resources in a jurisdiction. This rule divides the inventory process into four steps. However, all four steps are not necessarily applicable, depending on the type of Goal 5 resource and the scope of a particular PAPA or periodic review work task. For example, when proceeding under a quasi-judicial PAPA for a particular site, the initial inventory step in section (2) of this rule is not applicable in that a local government may rely on information submitted by applicants and other participants in the local process. The inventory process may be followed for a single site, for sites in a particular geographical area, or for the entire jurisdiction or urban growth boundary (UGB), and a single inventory process may be followed for multiple resource categories that are being considered simultaneously. The standard Goal 5 inventory process consists of the following steps, which are set out in detail in sections (2) through (5) of this rule and further explained in sections (6) and (7) of this rule: (a) Collect information about Goal 5 resource sites; (b) Determine the adequacy of the information; (c) Determine the significance of resource sites; and (d) Adopt a list of significant resource sites. (2) Collect information about Goal 5 resource sites: The inventory process begins with the collection of existing and available information, including inventories, surveys, and other applicable data about potential Goal 5 resource sites. If a PAPA or periodic review work task pertains to certain specified sites, the local government is not required to collect information regarding other resource sites in the jurisdiction. When collecting information about potential Goal 5 sites, local governments shall, at a minimum: (a) Notify state and federal resource management agencies and request current resource information; and (b) Consider other information submitted in the local process. (3) Determine the adequacy of the information: In order to conduct the Goal 5 process, information about each potential site must be adequate. A local government may determine that the information about a site is inadequate to complete the Goal 5 process based on the criteria in this section. This determination shall be clearly indicated in the record of proceedings. The issue of adequacy may be raised by the department or objectors, but final determination is made by the commission or the Land Use Board of Appeals, as provided by law. When local governments determine that information about a site is inadequate, they shall not proceed with the Goal 5 process for such sites unless adequate information is obtained, and they shall not regulate land uses in order to protect such sites. The information about a particular Goal 5 resource site shall be deemed adequate if it provides the location, quality and quantity of the resource, as follows: (a) Information about location shall include a description or map of the resource area for each site. The information must be sufficient to determine whether a resource exists on a particular site. However, a precise location of the resource for a particular site, such as would be required for building permits, is not necessary at this stage in the process. (b) Information on quality shall indicate a resource site's value relative to other known examples of the same resource. While a regional comparison is recommended, a comparison with resource sites within the jurisdiction itself is sufficient unless there are no other local examples of the resource. Local governments shall consider any determinations about resource quality provided in available state or federal inventories. (c) Information on quantity shall include an estimate of the relative abundance or scarcity of the resource. (4) Determine the significance of resource sites: For sites where information is adequate, local governments shall determine whether the site is significant. This determination shall be adequate if based on the criteria in subsections (a) through (c) of this section, unless challenged by the department, objectors, or the commission based upon contradictory information. The determination of significance shall be based on: (a) The quality, quantity, and location information; (b) Supplemental or superseding significance criteria set out in OAR 660-023-0090 through 660-023-0230; and (c) Any additional criteria adopted by the local government, provided these criteria do not conflict with the requirements of OAR 660-023-0090 through 660-023-0230. (5) Adopt a list of significant resource sites: When a local government determines that a particular resource site is significant, the local government shall include the site on a list of significant Goal 5 resources adopted as a part of the comprehensive plan or as a land use regulation. Local governments shall complete the Goal 5 process for all sites included on the resource list except as provided in OAR 660-023-0200(2)(c) for historic resources, and OAR 660-023-0220(3) for open space acquisition areas. (6) Local governments may determine that a particular resource site is not significant, provided they maintain a record of that determination. Local governments shall not proceed with the Goal 5 process for such sites and shall not regulate land uses in order to protect such sites under Goal 5. (7) Local governments may adopt limited interim protection measures for those sites that are determined to be significant, provided: (a) The measures are determined to be necessary because existing development regulations are inadequate to prevent irrevocable harm to the resources on the site during the time necessary to complete the ESEE process and adopt a permanent program to achieve Goal 5; and (b) The measures shall remain effective only for 120 days from the date they are adopted, or until adoption of a program to achieve Goal 5, whichever occurs first.