The Oregon State Marine Board has extended the comment period for proposed rules that would restrict the use of boat motors in the middle section of the Siletz River for an additional 20 days.
The marine board at its April meeting approved beginning a rule-making process and directed agency staff to hold a public hearing, a public comment session and work session and take written comments prior to the board’s meeting July 28-30 in Madras.
The deadline for submitting comments online to the agency – and there have been plenty – was June 30. It’s now July 20.
The Marine Board said people commenting during a hearing May 21 requested more details on the fiscal and economic impact of the proposed rule. The agency submitted an updated notice with those details, which meant the comment period needed to be extended by 20 days.
The proposed rule would restrict the use of boat motors greater than 15 horsepower between the Jack Morgan Park boat ramp to Old Mill Park boat ramp and would prohibit the use of all motors upstream of Old Mill Park boat ramp and all tributaries above Jack Morgan Park boat ramp. The board’s impact statement on businesses said this would affect 15-20 fishing guides who regularly take clients on the river.
Written comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by regular mail to: Jennifer Cooper, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Oregon State Marine Board, 435 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301.
To view the proposed rule and the hearing details, visit the board’s public meetings page.
