ODF release – SALEM, Ore.—A series of three meetings of a rulemaking advisory committee on updating the statewide wildfire hazard map have been scheduled. The committee’s focus will be to provide input on whether irrigation for farmland and agricultural crops might be incorporated into the calculations for wildfire hazard assessments. The first meeting is set for Thursday, March 7 from 9 a.m.–noon via Zoom. Two additional meetings are scheduled for March 28 and April 18—also from 9 a.m.–noon. All meetings will be held virtually and are open to the public. Anyone can access the Zoom meeting at the following link: https://odf.zoom.us/j/8829567607?omn=94409353162. A post-meeting recording will be posted on the ODF YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/oregondepartmentofforestry. For special accommodations, please contact ODF Public Affairs at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at forestryinformation@oregon.gov. Public outreach meetings will soon be scheduled and announced to discuss the mapping process and related wildfire programs. Outreach will occur during the months of April through June. To subscribe to information related to updates on the statewide wildfire hazard map, visit the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/aboutodf/Pages/email-updates.aspx. Background: The 2021 Legislature passed Senate Bill 762 that required the Oregon Department of Forestry to develop and maintain a comprehensive statewide map of wildfire risk that included wildland-urban interface boundaries and five fire risk classes by June 30, 2022 in collaboration with Oregon State University. After the initial version of the map was rescinded August 4, 2022, ODF and OSU began gathering feedback and incorporating it into future mapping efforts. The 2023 Legislature passed Senate Bill 80 that made several changes to the map including changing the name from a “risk” map to a “hazard” map, reducing the number of hazard classes from five to three, and changing the appeal and notification requirements. The current rulemaking effort is to address policy tradeoffs about irrigated agriculture, and how irrigation may affect wildfire hazard designations. Written comment or questions about any aspect of the implementation of Senate Bill 762 and Senate Bill 80 may be submitted by email at any time to odf.wildfirehazardmap@odf.oregon.gov. All rulemaking advisory committee meetings have an opportunity for public input.
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