Oregon Beaches may soon be smoke free. The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public input on proposed rules that would restrict smoking on shorelines.
Smoking is already restricted in all Oregon State Parks. You can smoke in your campsite or vehicle, but that's about it. Parks and Recreation Spokesman Chris Havel says people were inquiring about restricting cigarette use on beaches during the last public comment period about smoking on State Parks. He says if you restrict smoking in a park, people on the coast can just walk down to the beach.
Havel: "Where we already have a problem with cigarette butts sitting in the sand for many years, they really sometimes don't even ever decompose. And that problem could get worse if we don't look at the ocean shore at the same time that we're starting to enforce the rule in State Parks."
Havel says public comment will play a key role in the decision to create a rule. Enforcement would come from beach rangers and State Park staff. E-Cigarette use is currently not included in the proposal. The public comment period runs through August 29th.
Meeting times and locations:
8/20 - Seaside Public Library, Seaside
8/21 - Central Lincoln PUD, Newport
8/26 - Coos Bay Public Library, Coos Bay
8/28 - North Mall Office Building, Salem
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