Or. Admin. Code § 603-090-0000 - Preamble

(1) ORS 568.900 to 568.933 authorizes the Oregon Department of Agriculture to develop and carry out an agricultural water quality management area plan for agricultural and rural lands where a water quality management plan is required by state or federal law. In executing this responsibility, the department develops, adopts, and periodically modifies programs to effectuate agricultural water quality management area plans in the applicable geographic areas.

(2) These administrative rules establish policies, guidelines, and specific requirements for the development and content of agricultural water quality management area plans and rules, requirements of agricultural water quality management area plans and rules for applicable geographic areas, the process of landowner appeal of specific required actions, and enforcement procedures to be followed by the department.

(3) Agricultural water quality management area plans are plans that comprehensively outline measures that will be taken to prevent and control water pollution from agricultural activities and soil erosion on agricultural and rural lands located in a management area which requires such a plan and for which boundaries have been established by the department.

(4) Agricultural water quality management area rules are adopted by the department to implement an agricultural water quality management area plan. Area rules are the only enforceable aspect of an agricultural water quality management area plan.

(5) It is the policy of the department that:

(a) Cooperation between private and public entities be encouraged during the development and implementation of water quality management area plans;

(b) To the full extent possible, pollution prevention activities be the focus of water quality management area plans;

(c) Voluntary adoption of land management activities be encouraged through education and demonstration programs to achieve the goals and objectives of water quality management area plans;

(d) Enforceable mechanisms be available to address water pollution problems where voluntary compliance is not achieved;

(e) Enforcement action be pursued only when reasonable attempts at voluntary solutions have failed; and

(f) Measures required of individual landowners under agricultural water quality management area rules provide as much flexibility as reasonably possible.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 603-090-0000

AD 9-1994, f. & cert. ef. 7-26-94; DOA 16-2006, f. & cert. ef. 9-15-06

Stat. Auth.: ORS 561 & 568.900 - 568.933

Stats. Implemented: ORS 568.900 - 568.933