Oregon Code § 197.428·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Navigational channel improvements.
(1) Deep draft navigational channel improvements are a reason a local
government may adopt an exception under ORS 197.732 (2)(c)(A) to a land use
planning goal related to estuarine resources in order to redesignate or rezone
natural and conservation estuary management units within a deep draft
development estuary, provided that the improvements are:
(a) Carried out
in a manner that includes mitigation, as defined in ORS 196.800, of adverse
impacts to ensure no net loss of estuarine resources and the affected aquatic
and shore areas and habitats;
(b) Of the
location, design and minimum extent necessary for the use;
(c) Applied for
by a public port or an eligible Indian tribe, as defined in ORS 285C.306;
(d) Within the
jurisdiction of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay;
(e) Not including
or relying upon the commercial processing, importing or exporting of fossil
fuels, other than existing facilities providing fuel storage or distribution;
(f) Applied for
by an applicant that has issued a report that sets forth:
(A) The
identification of anticipated financing sources for the deep draft navigation
channel improvements; and
(B) An estimate
of the number of jobs that will be created as a result of the improvements; and
(g) Conducted in
accordance with a plan that:
(A) Is developed,
in consultation with local Indian tribes, for:
(i)
Archaeological objects, human remains, funerary objects and sites of archaeological
significance, as those terms are defined in ORS 358.905; and
(ii)
Archaeological sites identified on an inventory of the State Parks and
Recreation Department, a tribal historic preservation officer or local
government;
(B) Avoids or, if
avoidance is not practicable, mitigates adverse impacts to such remains, sites
or objects, including by preservation in situ or recovery with permanent
protection; and
(C) Identifies
procedures and requirements to occur should an inadvertent discovery of such
remains, sites or objects occur.
(2) As used in
this section:
(a) Deep draft
navigation channel improvements means dredging for the purposes of:
(A) Deepening or
widening the existing federal navigation channel as necessary to accommodate
vessels that would use the proposed water-dependent uses;
(B) Establishing
a new access channel, or modifying an existing access channel, that is directly
between the federal navigational channel and any of the following structures
identified in the application for which the exception is adopted under this
section:
(i) Navigation
support structures; or
(ii) Docks,
wharfs or similar ship berthing structures;
(C) Establishing
a turning basin necessary for the safe navigation of vessels utilizing the
federal navigation channel or access channel; or
(D) Enabling the
construction or maintenance of necessary structural support for docks, wharfs
or similar ship berthing facilities or navigation aids.
(b) Deep draft
navigation channel improvements does not include:
(A) Dredge
material disposal; and
(B) Fill to
create new upland areas. [2023 c.544 §2]
(Temporary provisions
relating to transfer of development rights pilot program)
Note:
Sections 6 to 8, chapter 636,
Oregon Laws 2009, provide:
Sec. 6.
(1) There is established the
Oregon Transfer of Development Rights Pilot Program in the Department of Land
Conservation and Development. Working with the State Forestry Department, the
State Department of Agriculture and local governments and with other state
agencies, as appropriate, the Department of Land Conservation and Development
shall implement the pilot program.
(2) The Land
Conservation and Development Commission shall adopt rules to implement the
pilot program. The commission, by rule, may:
(a) Establish a
maximum ratio of transferable development rights to severed development
interests in a sending area for each pilot project. The maximum ratio:
(A) Must be
calculated to protect lands planned and zoned for forest use and to create
incentives for owners of land in the sending area to participate in the pilot
project;
(B) May not
exceed one transferable development right to one severed development interest
if the receiving area is outside of urban growth boundaries and outside
unincorporated communities;
(C) May not
exceed two transferable development rights to one severed development interest
if the receiving area is in an unincorporated community; and
(D) Must be
consistent with plans for public facilities and services in the receiving area.
(b) Require
participating owners of land in a sending area to grant conservation easements
pursuant to ORS 271.715 to 271.795, or otherwise obligate themselves, to ensure
that additional residential development of their property does not occur.
(3) The
commission, by rule, shall establish a process for selecting pilot projects
from among potential projects nominated by local governments. The process must
require local governments t