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Oregon Measure 64, Timber Harvest Regulations and Restrictions Initiative (1998)
| Oregon Measure 64 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Business regulations and Forestry and timber |
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| Status |
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| Type Initiated state statute |
Origin |
Oregon Measure 64 was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in Oregon on November 3, 1998. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported imposing restrictions on timber harvest practices, banning chemical herbicides and pesticides in forests, classifying forestland waters as “navigable,” and authorizing citizens suits to enforce new harvest restrictions and regulations. |
A "no" vote opposed imposing restrictions on timber harvest practices, banning chemical herbicides and pesticides in forests, classifying forestland waters as “navigable,” and authorizing citizens suits to enforce new harvest restrictions and regulations. |
Election results
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Oregon Measure 64 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 215,491 | 19.36% | ||
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897,535 | 80.64% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Measure 64 was as follows:
| “ | PROHIBITS MANY PRESENT TIMBER HARVEST PRACTICES, IMPOSES MORE RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS RESULT OF “YES” VOTE: “Yes” vote adopts restrictions on timber harvest practices, including federal regulation, allows citizen-suit enforcement. RESULT OF “NO” VOTE: “No” vote retains current regulations concerning timber harvest.practices. SUMMARY: Prohibits many present timber harvest practices, chemical herbicides, pesticides in forest. Limits size of trees that can be harvested. Covers private, state, federal forestlands. Imposes new harvest regulations including federal regulation by classifying forestland waters as "navigable.” State Board of Forestry must adopt new timber harvest methods and regulations to meet new requirements. Requires state to submit new forestland water quality plan to federal Environmental Protection Agency, seek approval before permitting logging. Authorizes citizens suits to enforce new harvest restrictions or other provisions of measure. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: State revenues are estimated to decrease $25,000,000 per year. This estimate assumes a 60% harvest reduction in western Oregon and a 65% harvest reduction in eastern Oregon. These estimated decreases apply to private, local and state lands. Current state expenditures are estimated to decrease by $25,000,000 because of the revenue loss. Major annual state expenditure reductions would occur in forest management, fire protection, and regulation, timber tax revenue and administration, and Common School Fund forest land management. Also, added regulations required by this measure would increase the need for ongoing state government expenditures above current requirements by $5,000,000 per year. One-time state expenditures of $1,400,000 would be required. Revenues to schools are estimated to decrease by $33,200,000 a year. County and special district revenues are estimated to decrease by $7,800,000 per year. Revenues that contribute to the Common School Fund will be reduced by $8,700,000 primarily due to an estimated 84% decrease in harvest on Common School Fund Trust lands. This, in turn, will mean reduced earnings on the Common School Fund principal for distribution to schools. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In Oregon, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 6% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Oregon Salem (capital) |
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