Board Meeting Information

The next regular Real Estate Board meeting will be 10 a.m., December 1, 2008, at the Agency. A chair and vice-chair for C.Y. 2009 will be elected at that meeting. Final action will be taken on the proposed rules resulting from the licensing/brokerage, property management, and escrow rule reviews.



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Legislative Session Begins January 12

The 75th session of Oregon’s Legislative Assembly will begin January 12, 2009. The Agency plans to introduce two bills this session, one providing housekeeping and minor program changes to clarify statutes and streamline requirements for real estate brokers and the other providing housekeeping and minor program changes to the escrow statutes. The concepts for this legislation resulted from recommendations by the Real Estate Board and the rule review work groups.

Oregon's 150th Birthday

Our state will celebrate its 150th birthday on February 14, 2009. Coincidentally, the Real Estate Agency will celebrate its 90th birthday the same day. The agency will run a series of articles on the history of real estate in Oregon in the OREN-J, beginning with the December 2008 issue. We invite you to share any real estate-related stories. E-mail your stories with contact information to orea.info@state.or.us.

Well Contamination in Lebanon

Many wells near downtown Lebanon, Oregon are contaminated with the dry cleaning solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE or Perc) and trichloroethylene (TCE). Well water in this area may contain these solvents at concentrations that could be harmful to people who use the water for drinking, cooking and showering. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is studying the problem and working to inform home owners and prospective purchasers of homes with wells in the area of the problem.

Well tests that are required during property transactions do not pick up these chemicals. A separate lab test is needed to test for PCE and TCE. DEQ can test wells within its study area at no cost to the owner. Lebanon city water is available to most properties in this area and DEQ recommends using city water to avoid exposure to groundwater contamination. A PDF map of Lebanon groundwater contamination area and more information about water testing are available at www.deq.state.or.us/wdr/?p=21735. The DEQ contact is Don Hanson at (541) 687-7349 or hanson.don@deq.state.or.us.

In This Issue

• Board Meeting Info
• Legislative Session
• Oregon's Birthday
• Well Contamination

Contact Us

1177 Center ST NE Salem, OR 97301 (503)378-4170

We Want To Know
What type of information you want to see in the OREN-J. We would like to know what interests you. Please send your suggestions for articles to orea.info@state.or.us.