(2)(a) Upon receiving a petition of any 25 or more landowners, representing at least 70 percent of the acres of land, situated within two or more adjacent protected areas, the department may consolidate such adjacent protected areas. The procedures shall be the same as described in subsection (1) of this section.
(b) In the event of consolidation of protected areas, the corporate existence and terms of office of the area committee members of the preexisting protected areas shall terminate upon the filing of the order described in ORS 634.216. ORS 634.216 applies to the newly consolidated protected area, and all rights, powers, assets and duties of the several preexisting protected areas shall be vested in, and assumed by the newly consolidated protected area.
(c) The establishment, organization, duties and authority of the area committee of the consolidated protected area shall be in accordance with ORS 634.226. [1973 c.341 §29; 2009 c.98 §30]