Section 468A.193 - Net biological carbon sequestration and storage baseline; activity-based and community impact metrics(1) The State Department of Energy and the Oregon Climate Action Commission shall, in coordination with the State Forestry Department, the State Department of Agriculture, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board the Department of State Lands, the State Parks and Recreation Department and the Department of Land Conservation and Development, and in consultation with relevant federal agencies, establish and maintain: (a) A net biological carbon sequestration and storage baseline for natural and working lands;(b) Activity-based metrics in accordance with subsection (3) of this section; and(c) Community impact metrics in accordance with subsection (4) of this section.(2) The net biological carbon sequestration and storage baseline may use 1990 as a baseline year if the department determines that there is adequate information to support setting the baseline at that year.(3) Activity-based metrics shall be used to evaluate progress toward increasing net biological carbon sequestration and storage in natural and working lands, as measured against the net carbon sequestration and storage baseline. Activity-based metrics may include, but need not be limited to, acres of lands for which certain management practices have been adopted.(4) Community impact metrics shall be used to evaluate the positive and negative effects, over time, of strategies for net biological carbon sequestration and storage in natural and working lands on landowners, land managers and communities. Community impact metrics may include, but need not be limited to: (a) Metrics to measure the effects of net biological carbon sequestration and storage strategies on jobs, local economies, environmental integrity and public health; and(b) Metrics to evaluate the accessibility of a diverse range of landowners to net biological carbon sequestration and storage programs.(5) Before finalizing the net biological carbon sequestration and storage baseline, activity-based metrics and community impact metrics, the State Department of Energy and the commission shall make draft versions publicly available and receive comments from the public, state agencies and the advisory committee established under ORS 468A.197.(6) The State Department of Energy and the Oregon Climate Action Commission, in consultation with the State Forestry Department, the State Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, shall establish nonbinding biological carbon sequestration and storage goals for Oregon's natural and working lands and update those goals as new information becomes available.(7) The State Department of Energy may contract with a third party to assist the department in performing its duties under this section.Amended by 2024 Ch. 51,§ 4, eff. 3/27/2024.Added by 2023 Ch. 442, § 58