Oklahoma § 70-3315.3 - Duties of Oklahoma Biological Survey

§ 70-3315.3. Duties of Oklahoma Biological Survey

In performing its duties pursuant to the provisions of the

Oklahoma State Register of Natural Heritage Areas Act, the Oklahoma

Biological Survey shall:

1. Identify potential natural areas for inclusion in the State

Register. Any person or organization may recommend the inclusion of

any area within this state to the Survey;

2. Notify the landowners of a potential natural area of the

recommendation of the area, explain the scope and intent of the

State Register, and request permission to evaluate the site of the

area;

3. Evaluate the site of the potential natural area, upon

receiving permission from the landowners, to determine whether the

area satisfies the criteria listed in Section 4 of this act;

4. Invite the landowners of a natural area site which satisfies

the criteria to register the site in the State Register. To

register a site, a nonbinding agreement stating the intent of the

landowners to protect the characteristics of the natural area site

is signed by the landowners and the Director of the Oklahoma

Biological Survey. Upon the signing of the agreement, the Director

shall present a plaque and a certificate of registration to the

landowners acknowledging their generosity and civic-mindedness;

5. Protect the rights of the landowners by publicly listing a

registered natural area only with the consent of the landowners and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

by removing a natural area from the State Register at the request of

the landowners;

6. Assist the landowners of registered natural areas by

providing information concerning such areas and by providing or

arranging for technical assistance and resource planning which may

be requested;

7. Review periodically each registered natural area and remove

from the State Register any area which has had its natural character

or quality degraded through significant natural or man-made changes;

and

8. Publish an annual report on the state and condition of the

registered natural areas which shall be available to the public.

Added by Laws 1984, c. 48, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1984. Amended by Laws

1993, c. 155, § 1, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 2002, c. 199, § 3, emerg.

eff. May 6, 2002. Renumbered from Title 74, § 1844 by Laws 2002, c.

199, § 5, emerg. eff. May 6, 2002.