Or. Admin. Code § 629-607-0200 - Program Participation

(1) Small forestland owners intending to implement minimum options as described in OAR 629-607-0100, exclusively available to small forestland owners, shall do the following:

(a) Notify the State Forester of intent by submitting a notification of operations and certify that they meet the definition of a small forestland owner in OAR 629-600-0100.

(b) Provide, at the request of the State Forester, additional information including but not limited to:

(A) Documentation of full land ownership or partial ownership, which affirms total ownership of forestland of less than 5,000 acres in Oregon;

(B) Records of harvests of board feet of merchantable forest products harvested from the Oregon owned forestlands removed in the last three years; and

(C) A statement of affirmation that the landowner does not expect to exceed an average yearly volume of 2 million board feet of merchantable forest products from the Oregon owned lands for the next 10 years, following the time of notification.

(c) At the discretion of the State Forester, the department may deem a landowner to qualify as a small forestland owner and allow that landowner access to options and incentives of the program even if they have an exceedance of harvest volumes in (1)(b)(B) or (1)(b)(C), if the small forest landowner provides documentation of a need for the funds to:

(A) Pay estate taxes;

(B) Pay for a court ordered judgment;

(C) Pay extraordinary medical expenses; or

(D) For a compelling or unexpected obligation.

(2) Small forestland owners wishing to access the incentives or minimum management options specifically afforded to them may register as a small forestland owner or complete a road condition assessment (OAR 629-625-0920) at any time prior to conducting a forest operation and may do so through the notification process or through other means as provided by the department.

(3) If a small forestland owner indicates intent to exercise a standard practice in lieu of the small forestland owner minimum option, they must receive notice from the department within the 15-day waiting period if the tax credit is not available in the current tax year.

(4) Small forestland owners that implement provisions specifically afforded to them as minimum management options or participate in an incentive program administered by the Small Forestland Owner Assistance Office, shall allow access to the department, or extension of the department, for project implementation inspections, rule compliance, and effectiveness monitoring.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 629-607-0200

DOF 7-2022, adopt filed 11/21/2022, effective 1/1/2024; DOF 1-2024, amend filed 01/03/2024, effective 1/3/2024

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 527.710, Section 2(1), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022 & Section 20, Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022

Statutes/Other Implemented: Section 2(2), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022 & Section 16(5), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022