Or. Admin. R. 141-068-0020 - General Provisions

(1) Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 5(2) of the Oregon Constitution, the State Land Board has a constitutional responsibility to manage all land (Trust and Non-Trust) under its jurisdiction "with the object of obtaining the greatest benefit for the people of this state, consistent with the conservation of this resource under sound techniques of land management."

(2) Pursuant to Oregon law as defined in ORS 274, all tidally influenced and title navigable waterways (referred to as state-owned submerged and submersible land) have been placed by the Oregon State Legislature under the jurisdiction of the State Land Board and the Department, as the administrative arm of the State Land Board.

(3) State-owned submerged and submersible lands are managed to ensure the collective rights of the public, including riparian owners, to fully use and enjoy this resource for commerce, navigation, fishing, recreation and other public trust values. These rights are collectively referred to as "public trust rights."

(4) All references in these rules to "state-owned submerged and submersible lands" include state-owned submerged lands or submersible lands or both.

(5) The Department recognizes that uncertainty exists as to the extent of the State's interest in historically filled lands. Actions to determine and assert the State's interest, if any, in historically filled lands should be done in a prompt and orderly manner and as funding allows. The State Land Board authorizes the Department to negotiate settlements in lieu of litigation, when and where appropriate, with regard to the ownership of historically filled lands.

(6) The State Land Board authorizes the Director to issue land sale contracts, deeds or conveyances as are necessary to carry out the land transactions approved by the State Land Board in conformance with these rules. Such instruments shall include, but not be limited to quitclaim deeds, and be drawn in a manner to transfer any and all rights and interests (excluding mineral and geothermal resource rights) to the buyer/exchange partner that the Department may hold or has agreed to convey.

(7) Administrative fees delineated in these rules shall be adjusted on January 1 of every year based on Portland-Salem, OR-WA Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for All Items as published by Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor. The calculated adjustment shall be rounded up to the nearest dollar.

(8) The real market valuations described in OAR 141-068-0070(9), (10), and (11) rules shall be adjusted on January 1 of every year based on Portland-Salem, OR-WA Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for All Items as published by Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor. The calculated adjustment shall be rounded up to the nearest $10 dollars.

(9) The State Land Board authorizes the Director to (without further State Land Board approval) issue land sale contracts, deeds or conveyances as are necessary to carry out the land transactions, in conformance with these rules, for:

(a) Historically filled lands where no State interest is determined to exist; and

(b) Historically filled lands that are determined to be of low value and low public interest values are present per OAR 141-068-0080(5)(d).

(10) The State Land Board shall recognize and adhere to all terms and conditions of valid existing leases and easements as they affect proposed land sales or exchanges.

(11) The State Land Board shall retain all mineral and geothermal resource rights (as defined) except as allowed under OAR 141-067-0320.

(12) It is the policy of the State Land Board that public access to a waterway shall be preserved to the extent practicable. The Department may require a public easement to, or along the waterway, as a condition of a land sale.

(13) Pursuant to ORS 274.950, the State Land Board shall not assert title to historically filled lands after December 31, 2025 unless the Board had made a declaration of State's interests prior to the date.

(14) Excluded from OAR141-068-0020(13) are:

(a) Historically filled lands over which the State Land Board asserted title prior to January 1, 2016;

(b) Historically filled lands fronting upon the Pacific Ocean; or

(c) Lands in the portion of the Lower Willamette River that includes the Portland Harbor Superfund Site as delineated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Notes

Or. Admin. R. 141-068-0020

DSL 2-2016, f. 5-13-16, cert. ef. 6/1/2016; DSL 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 1/12/2017

Stat. Auth.: ORS 183, 273 & 274

Stats. Implemented ORS 274.905-274.956