Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) Landowner must submit a written
application on a form provided by the Departments. Information required
includes:
(a) Name, contact information,
property location, total acres, county, etc.
(b) Name of watershed the property is located
in.
(c) Map and description of
property, land uses, habitats, and water features (this does not need to
include detailed or sensitive information about economic uses of property; the
purpose is to know property boundaries, what habitats are present, and the
general land use context.
(d)
Name(s) of plans and programs landowner is implementing or participating in (if
any) and how they contribute to meeting the criteria in 629-021-0500, including
a copy of current certification (if any) or other conservation
agreements.
(e) Identification of
state, regional, and local conservation goals that the stewardship agreement is
implementing.
(f) Description of
conservation efforts for fish, wildlife, and water quality that are being used
or are proposed.
(g) Identify
management plan subject to the application review and subsequent
audits.
(2) A written
management plan is required, which could be a combination of an existing plan
and/or a plan developed specifically for this program. The management plan
needs to be available to the Department(s) during the review process and for
subsequent audits, but landowners are not required to provide a copy for
retention by the Department(s).
(3)
A management plan will include:
(a)
Landowner's name and contact information, total acreage, acreage in agriculture
and forestry, legal description, watershed(s), date of plan, plan writer's name
and contact information.
(b)
Landowner goals and objectives.
(c)
Property description and inventory, including: vegetation, fish and wildlife
habitats, soils,
(d) Protection
and/or enhancement of resources that exceeds regulatory requirements through
land management practices and activities that are designed to achieve
conservation, restoration, and improvement of fish and wildlife habitat or
water quality.
(e) Maps, aerial
photographs, and other visual aids to illustrate the property description and
management activities.
(f) For land
and activities falling under the Oregon Forest Practices Act, specific sites or
resource sites that are inventoried and protected under ORS
527.710(3)(a)
and OAR 629-665-0000 to 0300, or that are listed under 629-605-0170(1).
Examples of these sites include sensitive bird nesting, roosting and watering
sites, resource sites used by threatened and endangered fish and wildlife
species, or significant wetlands.
(4) It is the policy of the Department(s) to
protect confidential information in its files. The Department(s) recognize that
a written management plan marked as "confidential" on the face of the document
is submitted to the Department(s) on the condition that the information will be
kept confidential. Any information voluntarily submitted to the Department(s)
in confidence and not otherwise required by law to be submitted should
reasonably be considered confidential. Such information in the management plans
that should reasonably be considered confidential includes information that
qualifies as a trade secret under ORS
192.345, that is, non-patented
information that is known only to certain people within the organization, has
commercial value, and would give its users a business advantage over
competitors. Other confidential information may include information submitted
in confidence that qualifies under any other public record exemption set forth
in 192.345.
(5) The handling of
confidential materials shall be as follows:
(a) The Department will make immediate
distribution to the appropriate personnel.
(b) Confidential material is stored in and
returned to files at end of day and protected from visual inspection by
unauthorized persons at all times.
(c) Confidential areas are kept secured after
working hours.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
541.973 & 526
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
541.973
