141-067-0180 Public Interest Review Process; Public Meetings and Hearings (1) After an application has been accepted for further processing or at anytime the Department decides to sell or exchange land the Department will notify, in writing, all affected lessees (by registered or certified mail) and adjacent lessees of a potential land sale or land exchange. (2) Lessees affected by a land exchange proposal will be given notice that if a written protest is submitted by an affected lessee to the Department within 20 calendar days of the mailing a public hearing will be held on the exchange proposal. Such a hearing will be scheduled as described in OAR 141-067-0180(7). (3) The Department will notify, in writing, all adjacent landowners, and all affected school districts, city and county governments, including the county board of commissioners of a potential land sale or land exchange. The notice will offer all entities and persons an opportunity to comment on the proposal. (4) Notify, in writing, those individuals and public interest groups that have indicated, through prior contact with the Department, an interest in potential land sales or land exchanges. (5) Notify the Department of Administrative Services as described in OAR 141-067-0190. (6) The Department may hold a public meeting on any land sale or exchange proposal to solicit public comment and explain the proposal. The Department will give 45 calendar days notice of any such meeting(s) to adjacent land owners, lessees, interested parties, agencies and local governments by mail and press releases or public notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the county in which the proposal is located. The public meeting information will also be posted on the Department’s website. (7) The Department will hold a public hearing on the proposal if it receives a timely written protest of a land exchange proposal from an affected lessee. The hearing will be cancelled or not scheduled if, anytime after the lessee’s written protest is received, the Department rejects the land exchange proposal or the applicant withdraws the application. The hearing will be held at least 45 calendar days, but not more than 90 calendar days, after the written protest has been received by the Department. All affected lessees of land considered for exchange will be notified of the hearing by certified or registered mail. All others will be given notice in the same manner as described in OAR 141-067-0180(6). All comments by the lessees or their representatives and all other interested parties will be recorded and compiled in the hearing record for review by the State Land Board or Director. The affected lessee and all registered public hearing attendees will be notified of any decision of the Director or the State Land Board resulting from the public hearing. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 270.005 - 270.190, 273.045, 273.245 - 273.247, 273.251 - 273.311, 273.316 - 273.321, 273.413 - 273.456, 274.040, 274.905 - 274.940 & 274.960 - 274.985 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 270.005 - 270.190, 273.045, 273.245 - 273.247, 273.251 - 273.311, 273.316 - 273.321, 273.413 - 273.456, 274.040, 274.905 - 274.940 & 274.960 - 274.985 History: DSL 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 1-12-17 DSL 2-2016, f. 5-13-16, cert. ef. 6-1-16 DSL 6-2009, f. & cert. ef. 7-1-09 DSL 2-2002, f. 4-12-02, cert. ef. 7-1-02