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Proposed Rulemaking

Rules may be adopted, amended, repealed, suspended, or renumbered through a process known as rulemaking. The rulemaking process is designed so there are several opportunities for communities to provide feedback on a proposed rule: 
  • A Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC), representing those who are likely to be affected by the rule, is convened to give input on the draft rules, fiscal impact statement, and racial equity statement.
  • Tribal governments are invited to be involved with rulemaking that may affect Tribal members or resources of interest. 
  • Community members are invited to attend RAC meetings and to weigh in on the rule, and may provide written comment or testify during a public hearing.

Attend a RAC meeting

Rulemaking Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Community members may attend committee meetings as observers but not to actively participate on the agenda items. The committee may designate time on the agenda to hear comments from the public as time allows. At a later date, after the RAC has concluded, DSL will invite public comments on the proposed rules and will hold a public hearing, prior to consideration and adoption. See here for guidance on public participation in advisory committee meetings.

Rules under consideration

Current Status: The public comment period concluded December 1, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

On August 8, 2023, the Department requested and received approval from the State Land Board to initiate a rulemaking process, within OAR 141-088, to explore permanently restricting vehicle use and discharge of firearms. This restriction is regarding public use of state lands at Sandy River Delta, including approximately 50 acres of natural area east of the Sandy River, the Sandy River riverbank from mile 0 to 2.5, and the Columbia River Side Channel riverbank. Sandy River Delta partners support both the emergency restrictions and DSL exploring permanent restrictions. Learn more in the memo prepared for the Land Board's approval to initiate the rulemaking process on August 8, 2023.

Proposed Rule Language
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Sandy River Delta Restriction/Closure Map

​​​Public Comment Period
The public comment period closed December 1, 2023.​ 

Public Hearing and Information Session
A hybrid public hearing was held November 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.


​Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC)
The RAC meeting was held online on October 2, 2023.

RAC Agenda​​​
Draft Rule Text​​​
Draft Need for the Rules​​​
Draft Racial Equity Statement​​​
​Draft Fiscal Impact Statement
RAC Meeting Presentation
RAC Meeting Summary
Post-RAC Draft Rule Text
​RAC Meeting Recording
RAC Roster

Current Status: The Rulemaking Advisory Committee has completed their review of the proposed rule language. 

Work requiring the addition or removal of materials from wetlands and rivers, streams, lakes, or other waters usually requires a removal-fill permit. Projects with minimal anticipated impacts to wetlands or waters may be eligible for a general authorization without a permit. Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Division 141-089 outline the issuance and enforcement of general authorizations within waters of this state. 

Pursuant to Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 196.850, the Department is required to review each general authorization adopted by rule every five years, modifying, reissuing, or rescinding the general authorizations as needed. During its most recent review, the Department determined that revisions of the rules in Division 141-089 were necessary to promote habitat improvement, reflecting current scientific research; modify the existing general authorizations to increase usability; and remove general authorizations that are not being used or are duplicative.

Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC)

RAC Meeting #6
A RAC meeting was held on October 26, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 

RAC Meeting #5
A RAC meeting was held on September 14, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 

RAC Meeting #4
A RAC meeting was held on August 17, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 

RAC Meeting #3
A RAC meeting was held on July 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 
RAC Meeting #2
A RAC meeting was held on June 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 

Current Status: Administration of the proposed rule language is under review with the Department of Justice. This page will be updated with more information regarding next steps for Land Board review.

DSL's administrative rules for authorizing special uses (OAR 141-125) on state-owned land have not been thoroughly updated since 2008. However, due to rapid advancements in technology, there is a need to break out two categories, Communications Sites and Renewable Energy, into two separate rule divisions.

The Department is undergoing rulemaking for new administrative rules that authorize communication site facilities on state-owned lands (Division 126). These leases include towers and infrastructure supporting the following communication service types: cellular phone, VHF radio, seismic monitoring, Wi-Fi broadband, amateur radio (HAM), emergency services communications and television.
 
The rule change seeks to address some of the following issues commonly experienced across communication site leases: fluidity in equipment ownership and lease assignments, need to establish a modern fee structure in keeping with the industry, high frequency of sublessees, subcontractors, and complexity with co-locating at communication sites.  The new rules will allow a higher level of detail and adaptability in managing communication sites.​​

Final Rule Language
DSL issued changes to proposed rule language, pursuant to public comment, in March 2023. 

Proposed Rule Language
DSL filed two notices of proposed rulemaking with the Secretary of State on June 17, 2022.
- Proposed OAR 141-126 rules establish seperate administrative rules for communication site facility leases.
- Proposed amendments to OAR 141-125 remove management of communication sites under these rules as communications sites will be managed under OAR 141-126 once the rules are adopted. 

Public Comment Period
The public comment period was open from July 1, 2022, through July 31, 2022. View public comment received by the agency.

Changes to Draft Rule Language​ Pursuant to Public Comment
(March 2023)​

Public Rule Hearing and Information Session

On July 21, 2022, staff provided an informational overview of the proposed rulemaking and heard testimony. View the meeting recording. ​

Reference materials

Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings

RAC Meeting 3 was held via Zoom on October 27, 2021. 

RAC Meeting 1 was held via Zoom on August 24, 2021. 

Contact

Danielle Boudreaux
Rulemaking Coordinator
503-798-6846
dsl.rules@dsl.oregon.gov
Subscribe to receive updates on rulemaking comment opportunities:


Resources

   Public Meetings Calendar

   Submit public comment online

   Current and past rulemaking advisory committee meetings

   Secretary of State: Administrative Rules

   Learn about the accessibility of our documents and meetings.