Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 352 § 352.829 — Oceangoing Research Vessel Program

Oceangoing Research Vessel Program. (1) The Oceangoing Research Vessel Program is established at Oregon State University in order to assist in the research and study of the waters of the Pacific Coast. Potential areas of research include, but are not limited to: (a) Mapping the seabed in Oregon’s territorial sea, as defined in ORS 196.405; (b) Analyzing marine ecosystems, including but not limited to existing marine reserves, existing marine protected areas, proposed marine reserves and proposed marine protected areas; (c) Analyzing the potential effects of climate change, including but not limited to ocean acidification; (d) Compiling comprehensive assessments of overall ocean health; (e) Understanding ocean dynamics, including but not limited to natural hazards such as tsunamis; and (f) Installing instruments to effectively monitor the impact of wave energy systems, marine reserves and marine protected areas on marine ecosystems and fish populations. (2) The Oceangoing Research Vessel Program shall solicit from state agencies and from students and faculty of public universities listed in ORS 352.002 proposals for the use of a research vessel operated under the program. (3) In order to effectively allocate the use of research vessels operated under the Oceangoing Research Vessel Program, there is established a Research Vessel Council, consisting of seven members appointed by the President of Oregon State University. The president shall appoint to the council: (a) At least one member who is a trained scientist with at least five years of marine research experience; (b) Upon request from the agency, at least one member from each of the following agencies: (A) State Department of Fish and Wildlife; (B) State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries; (C) Department of Land Conservation and Development; and (D) Department of Environmental Quality; and (c) At least one member who has expertise in marine operations or marine education. (4) The Research Vessel Council shall evaluate proposals submitted under subsection (2) of this section on the basis of the: (a) Proposal’s geographical area of study; (b) Quality of the submitted management, research or educational rationale; and (c) Feasibility of accommodating the proposed work within the schedule of federally funded projects for the research vessel. (5) The Research Vessel Council shall schedule the use of a research vessel for selected proposals as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System ship scheduling process. [Formerly 352.252]