The Department of State Lands (DSL) will be providing information about the one ownership transfer plan received for the 82,500 acres of Common School lands within the Elliott State Forest at the State Land Board’s Dec. 13 public meeting. The meeting will be held in a different location to accommodate the public: Dec. 13, 2016, 10:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m., Keizer Community Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE, Keizer, OR. In the spring of 2014, after more than a decade of trying to resolve declining Common School Fund revenues from the Elliott, and confronted with a projection of ongoing deficits, DSL began a broad outreach effort to solicit public input into resolving the dilemma. The results of this outreach and related technical analyses were presented to the Land Board, and in August 2015 the Board approved moving forward with an approach — the Elliott State Forest Ownership Transfer Opportunity Protocol — to identify a new owner for the Elliott property. Over the past 16 months, DSL has been implementing the Protocol, engaging the public and about 50 entities that expressed interest, and completing extensive due diligence on the property. By the deadline of Nov. 15, 2016, DSL had received one ownership plan for the Elliott. The plan was submitted by Lone Rock Timber Management Company, in cooperation with two federally recognized Indian tribes: The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, and with support and advice from additional organizations and tribes. The plan was reviewed by the Department of State Lands and Department of Justice, and deemed responsive to the criteria outlined in the Protocol: * The plan demonstrates adequate equity investment and financing to acquire the Elliott Property at the established fair market value price of $220.8 million, in cash at closing. * The plan proposes enhanced public benefits as required by the Protocol that exceed those which are already provided under applicable law. * The plan recites enforceable mechanisms required for providing the enhanced public benefits in perpetuity. While deemed responsive, the plan includes some gaps, uncertainties and ambiguities that will need to be addressed during negotiations with the potential ownership transferee and possible additional partners. The general areas needing further clarification include details regarding: * Public access rights, and compliance and means of public enforcement. * Expectations related to Harvest Protection Areas. * Allowable activities in Riparian Management Areas. * Enforceable mechanisms, including third-party enforcement rights in the conservation easement. At the Dec. 13 meeting, DSL Director Jim Paul will provide the Land Board a summary of the background on the Elliott State Forest and an update on the status of the Protocol. He will present a summary of the proposed acquisition plan received, DSL’s rationale for deeming the plan responsive, and additional details on concerns to be addressed through development of an offer of direct sale. The Land Board will be asked to provide input and direction on proceeding with the development of an offer of direct sale, and on exploring options with the potential new owner and additional partners. Public testimony will be accepted at the meeting. All speakers will need to sign in when they arrive. The Department anticipates a maximum of two minutes will be allotted to each speaker. It is possible that the time will be shorter if needed to accommodate the public requesting to speak. People are encouraged to bring written copies of their comments in case time constraints prevent everyone from speaking. All oral and written comments will be made part of the official record. The meeting will be held in a facility that is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you need assistance to participate in this meeting due to a disability, please notify Lorna Stafford at (503) 986-5224 or lorna.stafford@state.or.us at least two working days prior to the meeting. Elliott agenda item: http://www.oregon.gov/dsl/SLB/docs/2016_docs/slb_dec2016_item2.pdf The State Land Board consists of Governor Kate Brown, Secretary of State Jeanne P. Atkins and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.
