Sept. 13, 2022 12:50 p.m.

The Oregon Department of Forestry will host an informational session to explain proposed rule changes to the Oregon Forest Practices Act on Thursday in Roseburg.

The meeting will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in the Cascade West Hall. It will run from 5-7 p.m. in an open house style with 45-minutes of presentations followed by an hour-long question and answer period.

The FPA changes are the result of agreements reached between timber industry and conservation group representatives and formalized in the Private Forest Accord, and with the passage of Senate Bills 1501 and 1502. The changes to the FPA assure the timber industry long-term regulatory certainty while providing environmental protections sought by conservation groups.

The informational session is designed to help people understand the proposed changes so they can make formal public comments either at the virtual hearings or by written submission by the Sept. 30 deadline.