ORS § 517.959 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 517 / Section 517.959
517.959 Public notice requirements for ORS 517.952 to 517.989
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever required in ORS 517.952 (Definitions for ORS 517.952 to 517.989) to 517.989 (Rules applicable to consolidated application) , public notice shall include information sufficient to inform the public of the proposed activity or event and shall include:

(a) Notification to all permitting and cooperating agencies.

(b) Notice by mail to each owner of property located within one-half mile of the perimeter of the proposed site of the mining operation. As used in this paragraph, “owner” means the owner of the title to real property or the contract purchaser of real property of record as shown on the last available complete tax assessment roll.

(c) Notice by mail to persons on the master list.

(d) Notice by mail to mineral claimants for claims located within one-half mile of the proposed mining operation or as otherwise required by rule of a permitting or cooperating agency.

(e) Notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the state and in a local newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties in which the proposed mining operation is located. Notice by publication shall be given at least once each week for two weeks immediately preceding the action.

(2) The notice provided pursuant to this section shall satisfy any notice requirement of an individual permitting or cooperating agency related to a permit included in the consolidated application process established under ORS 517.952 (Definitions for ORS 517.952 to 517.989) to 517.989 (Rules applicable to consolidated application) .

(3) As used in this section, “master list” means a consolidated list of all interested parties compiled by the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and each permitting and cooperating agency and maintained by the department. Any person may request in writing that the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries add the person’s name to the agency master list. The State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries may establish a procedure for establishing and maintaining an agency master list, and the governing board of the department may establish a fee to be paid by a person requesting to be added to the master list. The fee shall be sufficient to defray the department’s costs of mailing notices to persons on the master list and maintaining the master list. [1991 c.735 §7; 2013 c.371 §11]

517.960 [1989 c.347 §2; renumbered 517.702 (Legislative findings) in 1991]

Source: Section 517.959 — Public notice requirements for ORS 517.952 to 517.989; master list of interested parties; fees , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors517.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).
ORS § 517.989 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 517 / Section 517.989
517.989 Rules applicable to consolidated application
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and all permitting and commenting agencies shall review and take action on a consolidated application in accordance with rules in effect at the time the notice of intent to submit an application is filed under ORS 517.961 (Notice of intent to submit application) .

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a consolidated application if:

(a) An applicant is responsible for unreasonable delays in the processing of the application or fails to make a good faith effort to comply with all requirements for issuance of the permit;

(b) Application of a statute or rule is required under federal law or is a requirement for the state to maintain approval of or delegation of administration of a federal program; or

(c) The department, or a permitting agency or commenting agency, finds that application of a rule is necessary to protect the public from a serious threat to human health or safety. [1995 c.503 §2; 2013 c.371 §24]

Source: Section 517.989 — Rules applicable to consolidated application , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors517.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).
ORS § 520.027 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 520 / Section 520.027
520.027 Information holes
Status: in_force

(1) A person may not drill an information hole or a hole drilled as part of a seismic program without first applying for approval from the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and paying the fee established in ORS 520.017 (Fees) . The application must be submitted on a form provided by the department and must include all information requested by the department.

(2) A person issued an approval under this section shall comply with all terms of the department’s approval and any other applicable law or rule. The department may not require the person receiving approval under this section to provide information from seismic programs. The department may require the submittal of information from information holes, but the information is a trade secret under ORS 192.345 (Public records conditionally exempt from disclosure) and is not subject to public disclosure under ORS 192.311 (Definitions for ORS 192.311 to 192.478) to 192.478 (Exemption for Judicial Department) . [2007 c.672 §6]

Source: Section 520.027 — Information holes; holes drilled as part of seismic program; trade secrets , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors520.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).
ORS § 523.110 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 523 / Section 523.110
523.110 Regulations on use of geothermal heat
Status: in_force

Any district may adopt and promulgate regulations concerning the use of geothermal heat and the property of the district. The board of commissioners may refuse to supply any building, place or premises with geothermal heat where the user fails after 10 days’ written notice to comply with the regulations. The written notice shall be by registered mail or by certified mail with return receipt and shall be deemed given when it is deposited in the United States Post Office properly addressed with postage prepaid. [1975 c.782 §11; 1991 c.249 §40]

Source: Section 523.110 — Regulations on use of geothermal heat; effect of failure to comply , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors523.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).
ORS § 520.230 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 520 / Section 520.230
520.230 Approved agreement for cooperative or unit development of pool not to be construed as violating certain regulatory laws
Status: in_force

(1) An agreement for the unit or cooperative development and operation of a field or pool in connection with the conduct of repressuring or pressure maintenance operations, cycling or recycling operations, including the extraction and separation of liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas in connection therewith, or any other method of operation, including water floods, is authorized and may be performed and shall not be held or construed to violate ORS 59.005 (Short title) to 59.505 (Provision of records to law enforcement and certain state agencies) , 59.710 (Definitions for ORS 59.710 to 59.830) to 59.830 (Self-incrimination by witness) , 59.991 (Criminal penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830, 59.991 and 59.995) and 59.995 (Civil penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830 and 59.991) or any of the statutes of this state relative to trusts, monopolies or contracts and combinations in restraint of trade, if such agreement is approved by the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries as being in the public interest, for the protection of correlative rights and reasonably necessary to increase ultimate recovery or prevent waste of oil or gas. The failure to submit such an agreement to the board for approval does not, for that reason, imply or constitute evidence that the agreement or operations conducted pursuant thereto violate ORS 59.005 (Short title) to 59.505 (Provision of records to law enforcement and certain state agencies) , 59.710 (Definitions for ORS 59.710 to 59.830) to 59.830 (Self-incrimination by witness) , 59.991 (Criminal penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830, 59.991 and 59.995) and 59.995 (Civil penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830 and 59.991) or any statute of this state now or hereafter in effect relating to trusts and monopolies.

(2) An agreement for the unit or cooperative development or operation of a field, pool or part thereof may be submitted to the board for approval as being in the public interest or reasonably necessary to prevent waste or protect correlative rights. Approval by the board constitutes a complete defense to any proceeding charging violation of ORS 59.005 (Short title) to 59.505 (Provision of records to law enforcement and certain state agencies) , 59.710 (Definitions for ORS 59.710 to 59.830) to 59.830 (Self-incrimination by witness) , 59.991 (Criminal penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830, 59.991 and 59.995) and 59.995 (Civil penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830 and 59.991) or of any statute of this state now or hereafter in effect relating to trusts and monopolies on account thereof or on account of operations conducted pursuant thereto. The failure to submit such an agreement to the board for approval does not, for that reason, imply or constitute evidence that the agreement or operations conducted pursuant thereto violate ORS 59.005 (Short title) to 59.505 (Provision of records to law enforcement and certain state agencies) , 59.710 (Definitions for ORS 59.710 to 59.830) to 59.830 (Self-incrimination by witness) , 59.991 (Criminal penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830, 59.991 and 59.995) and 59.995 (Civil penalties for ORS 59.005 to 59.505, 59.710 to 59.830 and 59.991) or any statute of this state now or hereafter in effect relating to trusts and monopolies. [Formerly 520.085; subsection (2) enacted as 1961 c.671 §13; 1963 c.69 §1]

Source: Section 520.230 — Approved agreement for cooperative or unit development of pool not to be construed as violating certain regulatory laws , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors520.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).
ORS § 517.930 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 517 / Section 517.930
517.930 Department inspection
Status: repealed

Notwithstanding ORS 517.850 (Inspection of permit area) , if the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries has reason to believe that the provisions of an operating permit are being violated or that a surface mining operation is being conducted without a valid operating permit, it may inspect such surface mining areas without prior notice. [1981 c.622 §7; 1991 c.735 §31; 2007 c.318 §22; 2013 c.371 §5]

517.949 [1987 c.693 §4; repealed by 1991 c.735 §39]

Source: Section 517.930 — Department inspection , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors517.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).
ORS § 523.510 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 523 / Section 523.510
523.510 Assumption of debts and obligations of district upon dissolution
Status: in_force

(1) A city may enter into a written agreement with a geothermal heating district contemplating dissolution undertaking to assume, in the event of such dissolution, all of the outstanding debts and obligations of the district and to continue to furnish geothermal heat to the inhabitants of the dissolving district for domestic and municipal use for a term therein specified, not to exceed 25 years. Subject to the provisions of this section, the successor city shall, if the dissolution is approved, have the powers and assume the responsibilities of geothermal heating districts under this chapter. Any person entitled to geothermal heating service within the area of the dissolved district has the same remedies at law or in equity to enforce the rights to geothermal heating service as are available to enforce the right to geothermal heating service within the district.

(2) The successor city or district shall furnish geothermal heat to persons owning or occupying property within the dissolved district on the same terms and conditions as in the case of those owning or occupying property within the city, or elsewhere within the district. If the district assets and obligations are transferred to a city, the city may charge a rate for the service that is no more than the rate which is uniformly applied to all users in similar classifications outside the city. No such differential rate may be charged, however, unless such a differential is provided for, and specifically limited, by the terms of the agreement made prior to the dissolution. Nothing in this section authorizes a city to levy an ad valorem real property tax on property outside the city or district.

(3) Any debts or obligations assumed by the successor city by reason of, or during the period of, its commitment under the agreement shall bind the city until they are fully paid and discharged. No contract shall be effective unless all of the terms thereof are reduced to writing, signed by the entities and filed with the county clerk. [1975 c.782 §47]

Source: Section 523.510 — Assumption of debts and obligations of district upon dissolution , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors523.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).
ORS § 517.990 — OR Code / Title 43 / Chapter 517 / Section 517.990
517.990 Criminal penalties
Status: in_force

(1) A person who conducts a surface mining operation without a valid operating permit as required by ORS 517.750 (Definitions for ORS 517.702 to 517.989) to 517.901 (Confidentiality of production records, mineral assessments and trade secrets) commits a Class A violation.

(2) Subject to ORS 153.022 (Authority of agency to specify rule violation as particular level of violation) , violation of any provision of ORS 517.750 (Definitions for ORS 517.702 to 517.989) to 517.901 (Confidentiality of production records, mineral assessments and trade secrets) , or any rules promulgated pursuant thereto, or of any conditions of an operating permit is a Class A violation.

(3) Subject to ORS 153.022 (Authority of agency to specify rule violation as particular level of violation) , violation of ORS 517.910 (Definitions for ORS 517.910 to 517.989) to 517.989 (Rules applicable to consolidated application) , or any rules promulgated pursuant thereto, or of any conditions of an operating permit for a nonaggregate surface mining operation is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than $10,000.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, a person who conducts a nonaggregate surface mining operation without a valid operating permit as required by ORS 517.910 (Definitions for ORS 517.910 to 517.989) to 517.989 (Rules applicable to consolidated application) shall be punished, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than $10,000.

(5) A person commits a violation subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 if the person knowingly or recklessly causes substantial harm to human health or the environment while:

(a) Conducting a surface mining operation without a valid operating permit as required by ORS 517.750 (Definitions for ORS 517.702 to 517.989) to 517.901 (Confidentiality of production records, mineral assessments and trade secrets) ; or

(b) Violating an operating permit, a reclamation plan, a provision of this chapter or any rule adopted by the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(6) For purposes of this section, “substantial harm to human health or the environment” means:

(a) Physical injury, as defined in ORS 161.015 (General definitions) , or risk of serious physical injury, as defined in ORS 161.015 (General definitions) , to humans; or

(b) Substantial damage to wildlife, plants, aquatic and marine life, habitat or stream buffers. [Amended by 1953 c.188 §2; subsection (3) enacted as 1957 c.580 §11; 1971 c.743 §398; subsection (4) enacted as 1971 c.719 §18; subsections (5) and (6) enacted as 1981 c.622 §14; 1985 c.292 §1; 1987 c.260 §4; 1993 c.742 §115; 1999 c.1051 §196; 2007 c.318 §13; 2013 c.371 §25]

Source: Section 517.990 — Criminal penalties , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors517.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).