(a) If a person applies for a permit, license, authorization or other form of permission required by law from a state agency for a proposed action that may affect core area habitat of sage grouse, the person may file with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, at any time before or after the commencement of the relevant permitting, licensing, authorization or other form of permission process, a report that uses the best scientific and commercial data available to provide a description of the proposed action and its possible effects on the habitat.

(b) The report described in this section must describe the core area habitat of sage grouse affected by the proposed action, specify whether the habitat is essential and irreplaceable and provide proposals for off-site mitigation or a mitigation bank.

(c)(A) Within 60 days after the filing of the report described in this section, the department shall evaluate whether the proposals specified in the report result in a net loss of either the quality or quantity of sage grouse habitat and provide a net benefit to the quality or quantity of sage grouse habitat.

(B)(i) If the department concludes that the proposals specified in the report do not result in a net loss of either the quality or quantity of sage grouse habitat and do provide a net benefit to the quality or quantity of sage grouse habitat, the department shall issue an order finding that the core area habitat of sage grouse affected by the proposed action is not irreplaceable. The department may not thereafter reverse or modify the order except pursuant to a judgment of a court.

(ii) If the department concludes that the proposals specified in the report result in a net loss of either the quality or quantity of sage grouse habitat and do not provide a net benefit to the quality or quantity of sage grouse habitat, a person affected by the action may request a contested case hearing before the State Fish and Wildlife Commission, to be conducted as provided in ORS chapter 183.

(2) The provisions of this section apply to a site certificate for an energy facility described in ORS 469.300 (11)(a)(F), but do not apply to a site certificate for any other facility under the provisions of ORS 469.300 to 469.563.

(3) The commission may adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section. [2013 c.710 §2]

Note: See note under 498.500.