Endangered Species - Protections and Prohibited Actions - Oregon

(1) Except as otherwise provided pursuant to ORS 564.105, no person shall take, import, export, transport, purchase or sell, or attempt to take, import, export, transport, purchase or sell any threatened species or endangered species.

(2) No person shall take or attempt to take any threatened species or endangered species without first having obtained permission from the person who owns or leases the land upon which the species is growing. When land is owned by the State of Oregon and leased for private use, permission to take or attempt to take a threatened species or endangered species must first be obtained from the Director of Agriculture.

Citation: O.R.S. § 564.120.

...(6) “Take” means to collect, cut, damage, destroy, dig, kill, pick, remove or otherwise disturb...

Citation: O.R.S. § 564.100.

(1) In developing protection and conservation programs pursuant to ORS 564.105 (3), the State Department of Agriculture shall consult with other states having a common interest in particular threatened species or endangered species and with other affected state agencies.

(2) In furtherance of programs to conserve or protect threatened species or endangered species under ORS 564.105 to 564.115, state agencies shall consult and cooperate with the department and any other state agency that has established programs to conserve or protect threatened species or endangered species. Before a state agency takes, authorizes or provides direct financial assistance to any activity on land owned or leased by the state, or for which the state holds a recorded easement, the state agency, in consultation with the department, shall:

(a) Determine that the action on land owned or leased by the state or for which the state holds a recorded easement is consistent with a program established by the department pursuant to ORS 564.105 (3); or

(b) If no program has been established for the listed species, determine whether such action has the potential to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of any species of plant that is threatened or endangered...

Citation: O.R.S. § 564.115.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no person shall take, import, export, transport, purchase or sell, or attempt to take, import, export, transport, purchase or sell, any threatened species or endangered species, or the skin, hides or other parts thereof, or any article made in whole or in part from the skin, hide or other parts of any threatened species or endangered species.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section is intended to prevent the taking, importation, transportation or sale of any threatened species or endangered species in such manner as may be authorized in ORS 496.172, 497.218 to 497.238, 497.298 or 497.308.

(3) Nothing in this section applies to the resale of used skins, hides or other parts of a threatened species or endangered species or an article made in whole or part thereof if the seller acquired the item sold prior to October 5, 1973.

Citation: O.R.S. § 498.026.

(1) Notwithstanding ORS 192.410 to 192.505, the director of the appropriate agency may hold confidential, and refuse to disclose, information concerning the location of a threatened or endangered wildlife or plant species upon a determination that, based on prior experience, unlawful taking is likely to occur if the location is disclosed.

(2) In no instance shall the director of the appropriate agency refuse to disclose information concerning the location of a threatened or endangered wildlife or plant species to the owner of lands on which the species is known to exist.

Citation: O.R.S. § 564.130.

...(2) The Legislative Assembly finds that the efforts of many Oregonians have resulted in the creation of the Oregon Plan, and recognizes that the Oregon Plan is guided by the following mission and goals:...

(b) The goals of the Oregon Plan that guide the citizens of Oregon in achieving the mission of the Oregon Plan are the:...

(G) Production of populations of threatened or endangered species to achieve levels of natural production consistent with overall restoration goals...

(7) The Oregon Plan shall focus on aiding the recovery of species listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act or under ORS 496.171 to 496.192 until such time as recovery is achieved. Once recovery has been achieved for any species listed as threatened or endangered under ORS 496.171 to 496.192, the Governor shall direct the State Fish and Wildlife Commission to begin rulemaking, as provided in ORS 496.176, to remove the species from the list created pursuant to ORS 496.172. Upon recovery, adequate measures pursuant to the Oregon Plan shall remain in place, as necessary, to help a species avoid a return to threatened or endangered status.

(8)(a) The Governor, or the Governor's designee, shall negotiate with federal officials to obtain assurances to the effect that compliance with the Oregon Plan and the programs and policies found in the statutes listed in subsection (3) of this section and implementation of related state programs and policies will satisfy federal requirements imposed by the federal Endangered Species Act. Specifically, the Governor, or the Governor's designee, shall seek an exemption to the requirements of 16 U.S.C. 1533(d), shall seek to enter into a cooperative agreement pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1535(c) or shall seek to obtain a permit that allows the incidental taking of species under 16 U.S.C. 1539(a).

(b) State agencies responsible for implementing the programs and policies found in the statutes listed in subsection (3) of this section shall work with the Governor, or the Governor's designee, and with federal officials to provide the information necessary to obtain the exemptions, agreement or permit specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

Citation: O.R.S. § 541.898.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries may not modify an operating permit or reclamation plan without the consent of the operator.

(2) The department may modify an operating permit or reclamation plan without the consent of the operator if, because of changed conditions at the permitted site or because of information otherwise not available to the department at the time of permit issuance or reclamation plan establishment, the department finds, by substantial evidence, that a modification is justified due to the potential for:...

(b) Harm to threatened or endangered species...

(3) Modification of an operating permit or reclamation plan without the consent of the operator must be limited to the areas or matters affected by the changed conditions or new information.

(4) If the department modifies an operating permit or reclamation plan without the consent of the operator, the department must provide the operator with an opportunity for alternative dispute resolution in the manner provided in ORS 183.502.

Citation: O.R.S. § 517.831.

(1) Any person who applies to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a preliminary permit to operate a hydroelectric project shall, at the same time, apply for a state preliminary permit. An applicant for a state preliminary permit for a new hydroelectric project shall submit to the Water Resources Commission a complete copy of any application for the project filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or other federal agency. For preliminary permits, if the copy of the federal application is filed with the commission at the same time it is filed with the federal agency, at the commission's discretion, such copy may fulfill the requirements of ORS 543.210, except for the fee requirement in ORS 543.210 (4)...

(5) In addition to the project fee required under subsection (2) of this section, any applicant for a project to be sited at a location where anadromous fish or threatened or endangered species are present shall pay a surcharge of 30 percent of the total project fee. The surcharge shall be collected in conjunction with the project fee at each stage of the project review...

Citation: O.R.S. § 543.280.

Mining operations in Oregon shall comply with the following:

(1) Mining operations shall be undertaken in a manner that minimizes environmental damage through the use of the best available, practicable and necessary technology to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

(2) Protection measures for fish and wildlife shall be consistent with policies of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, including:

(a) Protective measures to maintain an objective of zero wildlife mortality. All chemical processing solutions and associated waste water shall be covered or contained to preclude access by wildlife or maintained in a condition that is not harmful to wildlife.

(b) On-site and off-site mitigation ensuring that there is no overall net loss of habitat value.

(c) No loss of existing critical habitat of any state or federally listed threatened or endangered species...

Citation: O.R.S. § 517.956.

...(3)(a) In addition to its rulemaking responsibilities under subsection (2) of this section, the board shall collect and analyze the best available information and establish inventories of the following resource sites needing protection: (A) Threatened and endangered fish and wildlife species identified on lists that are adopted, by rule, by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission or are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act of 19731 as amended...

(b) The board shall determine whether forest practices would conflict with resource sites in the inventories required by paragraph (a) of this subsection. If the board determines that one or more forest practices would conflict with resource sites in the inventory, the board shall consider the consequences of the conflicting uses and determine appropriate levels of protection.

(c) Based upon the analysis required by paragraph (b) of this subsection, and consistent with the policies of ORS 527.630, the board shall adopt rules appropriate to protect resource sites in the inventories required by paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(4) Before adopting rules under subsection (1) of this section, the board shall consult with other agencies of this state or any of its political subdivisions that have functions with respect to the purposes specified in ORS 527.630 or programs affected by forest operations....

(5) In carrying out the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, the board shall consider and accommodate the rules and programs of other agencies to the extent deemed by the board to be appropriate and consistent with the purposes of ORS 527.630...

Citation: O.R.S. § 527.710.

...(4) The holder of a water right permit may change the point of diversion, change the point of appropriation, change the point of diversion to allow the appropriation of ground water or use the water on land to which the right is not appurtenant if:

(a) The use of water on land to which the right is not appurtenant, the change of point of diversion or the change in point of appropriation does not result in injury to an existing water right; 

(b) For a proposed change in the place of use of the water, the land on which the water is to be used is owned or controlled by the holder of the permit and is contiguous to the land to which the permit is appurtenant; 

(c) All other terms of the permit remain the same, including but not limited to the beneficial use for which the water is used and the number of acres to which water is applied; 

(d) Prior approval is obtained from the district if the water is transported or conveyed by an irrigation district organized under ORS chapter 545, a drainage district organized under ORS chapter 547, a water improvement district organized under ORS chapter 552, a water control district organized under ORS chapter 553 or a district improvement company or a corporation organized under ORS chapter 554; 

(e) The holder of the permit provides written notice to the department at least 60 days before making any changes to the lands, point of diversion or point of appropriation described in the permit;

(f) The holder of the permit complies with the publication requirements of ORS 540.520 (5), if applicable;

(g) Diversion is provided with a proper fish screen, if requested by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife(,) and

(h) For a request to transfer the point of diversion to allow the appropriation of ground water, the proposed change meets the standards set forth in ORS 540.531 (2) or (3).

(5) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (4)(b) of this section, the holder of a water right permit may change the place of use of all or any portion of water under the permit to land that is not contiguous to the land to which the permit is appurtenant if:

(a) The change to noncontiguous land is in furtherance of mitigation or conservation efforts undertaken for the purposes of benefiting a species listed as sensitive, threatened or endangered under ORS 496.171 to 496.192 or the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 to 1544), as determined by the listing agency; and

(b) All other requirements of subsection (4) of this section are met...

Citation: O.R.S. § 537.211.

...(9) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for temporary dams constructed for crop or pasture irrigation purposes that are less than 50 cubic yards, provided the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The removal or filling is conducted during periods that minimize adverse effects to fish and wildlife in accordance with guidance provided by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife;

(b) The removal or filling does not jeopardize a threatened or endangered species or adversely modify or destroy the habitat of a threatened or endangered species listed under federal or state law...

Citation: O.R.S. § 196.905.

(1)(a) Any removal or remedial action performed under the provisions of ORS 465.200 to 465.545 and 465.900 shall attain a degree of cleanup of the hazardous substance and control of further release of the hazardous substance that assures protection of present and future public health, safety and welfare and of the environment.

(b) The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall select or approve remedial actions that are protective of human health and the environment. The protectiveness of a remedial action shall be determined based on application of both of the following:

(A) The acceptable risk level for exposures. For protection of humans, the acceptable risk level for exposure to individual carcinogens shall be a lifetime excess cancer risk of one per one million people exposed, and the acceptable risk level for exposure to noncarcinogens shall be the exposure that results in a Hazard Index number equal to or less than one. “Hazard Index number” means a number equal to the sum of the noncarcinogenic risks (hazard quotient) attributable to systemic toxicants with similar toxic endpoints. For protection of ecological receptors, if a release of hazardous substances causes or is reasonably likely to cause significant adverse impacts to the health or viability of a species listed as threatened or endangered pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. or ORS 496.172, or a population of plants or animals in the locality of the facility, the acceptable risk level shall be the point before such significant adverse impacts occur...

Citation: O.R.S. § 465.315.

(1)(a) Except as otherwise specifically permitted under ORS 196.600 to 196.905, a person may not remove any material from the beds or banks of any waters of this state or fill any waters of this state without a permit issued under authority of the Director of the Department of State Lands, or in a manner contrary to the conditions set out in the permit, or in a manner contrary to the conditions set out in an order approving a wetland conservation plan.

(b) Notwithstanding the permit requirements of this section and notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 196.800 (3) and (13), if any removal or fill activity is proposed in essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat, except for those activities customarily associated with agriculture, a permit is required. “Essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat” as defined under this section shall be further defined and designated by rule by the Department of State Lands in consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and in consultation with other affected parties.

(c) A person is not required to obtain a permit under paragraph (b) of this subsection for prospecting or other nonmotorized activities resulting in the removal from or fill of less than one cubic yard of material at any one individual site and, cumulatively, not more than five cubic yards of material within a designated essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat segment in a single year. Prospecting or other nonmotorized activities may be conducted only within the bed or wet perimeter of the waterway and may not occur at any site where fish eggs are present. Removal or filling activities customarily associated with mining require a permit under paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(d) A permit is not required under paragraph (b) of this subsection for construction or maintenance of fish passage and fish screening structures that are constructed, operated or maintained under ORS 498.306, 498.316, 498.326 or 509.600 to 509.645...

(g) As used in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection:

(A) “Bed” means the land within the wet perimeter and any adjacent nonvegetated dry gravel bar.

(B) “Essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat” means the habitat that is necessary to prevent the depletion of indigenous anadromous salmonid species during their life history stages of spawning and rearing.

(C) “Indigenous anadromous salmonid” means chum, sockeye, Chinook and Coho salmon, and steelhead and cutthroat trout, that are members of the family Salmonidae and are listed as sensitive, threatened or endangered by a state or federal authority.

(D) “Prospecting” means searching or exploring for samples of gold, silver or other precious minerals, using nonmotorized methods, from among small quantities of aggregate.

(E) “Wet perimeter” means the area of the stream that is under water or is exposed as a nonvegetated dry gravel bar island surrounded on all sides by actively moving water at the time the activity occurs...

Citation: O.R.S. § 196.810.

(1) The Energy Facility Siting Council shall adopt standards for the siting, construction, operation and retirement of facilities. The standards may address but need not be limited to the following subjects:...

(e) Effects of the facility, taking into account mitigation, on fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered fish, wildlife or plant species...

Citation: O.R.S. § 469.501.

The following public records are exempt from disclosure under ORS 192.410 to 192.505 unless the public interest requires disclosure in the particular instance:...

(13) Information developed pursuant to ORS 496.004, 496.172 and 498.026 or ORS 496.192 and 564.100, regarding the habitat, location or population of any threatened species or endangered species...

Citation: O.R.S. § 192.501.