OAR 629-044-1105
Accredited Assessors
(1)
An Accredited Assessor shall obtain accreditation from the District Forester prior to conducting any activities allowed or required by OAR 629-044-1100 (Certification) in a district.(2)
To request accreditation, prospective Accredited Assessors shall make application to the District Forester and sign an accreditation agreement on forms provided by the State Forester or in a format prescribed by the State Forester.(3)
Accredited Assessors will not be considered to be accredited until the District Forester reviews and approves both their application and their signed accreditation agreement.(4)
Applications to become an Accredited Assessor shall include, but will not be limited to:(a)
For a Type 1 Accredited Assessor:(A)
The person’s Oregon Construction Contractors Board or Oregon Landscape Contractors Board license number; and(B)
Evidence that the person has had at least two years total experience related to:(i)
Wildland fire prevention or suppression; or(ii)
Management of properties which contain forestland.(b)
For a Type 2 Accredited Assessor:(A)
A statement that the person is acting as an authorized agent of a structural fire service provider;(B)
The signature of the Fire Chief of the structural fire service provider;(C)
Evidence that the person is a full time paid employee or a volunteer employee in good standing of the structural fire service provider; and(D)
Evidence that the person has had at least two years total experience related to wildland fire prevention or suppression.(c)
For a Type 3 Accredited Assessor:(A)
A statement that the person is acting as an authorized agent of a homeowner’s association;(B)
The signatures of the persons who constitute the governing body of the homeowner’s association;(C)
Evidence that the person is a full time paid employee or a volunteer employee in good standing of the homeowner’s association; and(D)
Evidence that the person has had at least two years total experience related to:(i)
Wildland fire prevention or suppression; or(ii)
Management of properties which contain forestland.(5)
Accreditation agreements shall include, but will not be limited to:(a)
For a Type 1 Accredited Assessor, a requirement to perform certification services only while currently registered with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board or the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board;(b)
For a Type 2 Accredited Assessor:(A)
A requirement to perform certification services only while acting as an authorized agent of a structural fire service provider; and(B)
A prohibition on collecting either a fee or any other form of remuneration directly from the owner of the lands, for performing certification services;(c)
For a Type 3 Accredited Assessor:(A)
A requirement to perform certification services only while acting as an authorized agent of a homeowner’s association; and(B)
A prohibition on collecting either a fee or any other form of remuneration directly from the owner of the lands, for performing certification services;(d)
A requirement to make a determination of whether a property meets the standards set forth in OAR 629-044-1060 (Default Standards) to 629-044-1085 (Fuel Break Requirements) only in a truthful manner;(e)
A requirement to send any required records to the State Forester within a specified period of time;(f)
A requirement to maintain any required records for a minimum of six years; and(g)
A requirement to not perform certification services if:(A)
Notified of a suspension under subsection (6) of this rule; or(B)
Notified of a revocation under subsections (7), (8) or (9) of this rule.(6)
The District Forester may suspend the certification authority of an Accredited Assessor at any time the District Forester determines the Accredited Assessor has failed to comply with all requirements of the accreditation agreement. In taking such action, the District Forester shall:(a)
Suspend the certification authority of an Accredited Assessor only after providing fifteen days prior written notice to the Accredited Assessor;(b)
Not more than fifteen days after suspending the certification authority of an Accredited Assessor, either initiate action for the State Forester to revoke the accreditation of the Accredited Assessor or restore the certification authority of the Accredited Assessor.(7)
The State Forester shall revoke the certification authority of an Accredited Assessor if the District Forester provides evidence that such action is warranted due to a failure of the Accredited Assessor to comply with all requirements of the accreditation agreement. In taking such action, the State Forester shall:(a)
Take the revocation action not more than sixty days after receiving the evidence from the District Forester; and(b)
Revoke the certification authority of an Accredited Assessor only after providing thirty days prior written notice to the Accredited Assessor.(8)
An Accredited Assessor may, not more than 30 days after receipt of the written notice required in subsection (7)(b) of this rule, request a review of the proposed revocation by the State Forester. If such a request is made, the State Forester shall:(a)
Conduct the requested review within 30 days of the receipt of the request; and(b)
Either affirm or cancel the proposed certification revocation action.(9)
An Accredited Assessor who has had their certification authority revoked pursuant to this rule may appeal the decision of the State Forester to the Board of Forestry, in the same manner as appeals under ORS 477.260 (Appeal to board)(2).
Source:
Rule 629-044-1105 — Accredited Assessors, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=629-044-1105.