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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
class=329521017-21012009>Oregon Department of Forestry</SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
class=329521017-21012009>NEWS RELEASE</SPAN></FONT></B></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></B> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Public hearing scheduled on proposed Forestry rule
modifications<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>January 21, 2009</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Contact: Kevin Weeks, (503) 945-7427</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has scheduled a public hearing to
receive comment on proposed rule modifications regarding the use of stewardship
agreements on privately-owned forestlands in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The proposed rule amendment delegates authority from the Oregon Board of
Forestry to the State Forester to allow limited statutory modifications and
waivers as terms within a forest stewardship agreement. Current law permits
modifications or waivers to stewardship agreements in four specific instances
identified in Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 527. </FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>No fiscal or economic impacts on businesses have been identified as
result of the proposed rule amendment. Copies of the proposed rule amendment, as
well as text of the existing statute, are available upon request from
ODF.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>A public hearing on the proposed rule amendment has been scheduled for
Wednesday, January 28<SUP>th</SUP> beginning at 9:00am at the Oregon Department
of Forestry headquarters, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">2600
State Street</st1:address></st1:Street> (Building D, Santiam meeting room) in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Salem</st1:City></st1:place>.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Questions about the hearing, including requests for special
accommodations to participate in the hearing or for copies of the proposed rule,
may be directed to (503) 945-7427. Requests for accommodations should be
received by Noon on Monday January 26.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>March 5, 2009 is the final day for written public comment to be received
by the ODF Rules Coordinator at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Salem</st1:City></st1:place> headquarters of ODF.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is
available on ODF’s web site, </FONT><A href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>www.oregon.gov/ODF</FONT></A></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
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