Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 629 - DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
Division 48 - SMOKE MANAGEMENT
Section 629-048-0310 - Fees for Prescribed Burning

(1) Any prescribed burning on forestland subject to level 1 regulation (OAR 629-048-0100) requires payment of a non-refundable registration fee of $.50/acre and upon accomplishment (see section (3) of this rule), a burn fee as further described in sections (2), (3), (5), (6) and (8) below.

(2) Burn fees for all forms of prescribed burning, including but not limited to, broadcast burning and burning of piles (whether in-unit, on landings, or from rights-of-way) shall be assessed (where required) against the total acres in the unit from which the forest fuels were accumulated, as described in the burn registration.

(3) The first time that fire is applied to a prescribed burn unit, regardless of actual accomplishment, payment of a burn fee is required. Burn fees shall be charged according to the following schedule:

(4)

(5) Areas burned as a result of escaped fires that are outside the description of the registered burn area shall not be assessed fees if the fire outside of the described area is immediately attacked for wildfire suppression. If the fire outside of the described area is managed as a prescribed fire then every additional acre burned shall incur a registration fee of $.50 per acre and a burn fee of $3.10 per acre.

(6) Notwithstanding section (3) of this rule, forest health maintenance burning on forestland subject to Level 1 regulation, where significant fuel reduction has been accomplished through underburning within the last five years and where there are no piled forest fuels on the site, shall be charged a burn fee of $.50 per acre.

(7) The forester shall prepare monthly billings to collect the appropriate registration and burn fees from the operator, federal land manager, landowner or timber owner whose name is recorded on the registration form for billing purposes.

(8) Notwithstanding sections (1) and (3) of this rule, each burn unit requires a minimum combined registration and burn fee of $30. To reduce processing costs, the forester may elect to collect both registration and burn fees prior to accomplishment, for landing, right-of-way, or maintenance units less than 30 acres on one combined billing. The forester may elect to collect both registration and burn fees prior to accomplishment, for broadcast, underburning, or in-unit piles units less than 9 acres on one combined billing.

(9) Notwithstanding sections (1), (3) and (7) of this rule, in accordance with ORS 477.562(6), a federal land management agency may enter into a cooperative agreement with the forester for payment of registration and burn fees at an annual flat rate. The rate shall be based on estimated acres to be treated as a percentage of total acres on all ownerships, applied against the overall annual estimated operating cost of the Smoke Management Plan. Any such agreement shall have a provision that allows for periodic adjustment of the rate based on actual experience.

(10) Notwithstanding section (7) of this rule, any person or entity described in ORS 477.406(1) with a prior record of timely payment may, at the discretion of the forester, enter into a cooperative agreement for the efficient administration and payment of registration and burn fees provided all payments equal no less than the registration rate described in section (1) of this rule times the number of acres registered plus the burn fee rate in sections (3) or (6) of this rule, as appropriate, times the number of acres accomplished.