Oregon Statutes 522.545 – Rulemaking authority
The governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries may make, in compliance with ORS Chapter 183, rules and orders for the following purposes:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 522.545
- Board: means the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Department: means the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Drilling: includes drilling, redrilling and deepening of a geothermal well. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Geothermal resources: means the natural heat of the earth, the energy, in whatever form, below the surface of the earth present in, resulting from, or created by, or that may be extracted from, the natural heat, and all minerals in solution or other products obtained from naturally heated fluids, brines, associated gases, and steam, in whatever form, found below the surface of the earth, exclusive of helium or of oil, hydrocarbon gas or other hydrocarbon substances, but including, specifically:
(a) All products of geothermal processes, including indigenous steam, hot water and hot brines;
(b) Steam and other gases, hot water and hot brines resulting from water, gas, or other fluids artificially introduced into geothermal formations;
(c) Heat or other associated energy found in geothermal formations; and
(d) Any by-product derived from them. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Operator: means the person:
(a) Who possesses the legal right to drill a geothermal well;
(b) Who has obtained a drilling permit pursuant to ORS § 522. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
- Royalty interest: means a right or interest in geothermal resources produced from land or in the proceeds of the first sale of those resources. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Unit agreement: means an agreement or plan of development and operation developed under the provisions of ORS § 273. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Unit area: means the area described in a unit agreement that constitutes the land subject to development under the agreement. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
(1) To review and enforce voluntary unit agreements governing production of geothermal resources in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) To provide application forms and procedures to enable a person to request the board to initiate a unit agreement.
(3) To develop and enforce, when necessary, unit agreements satisfying the requirements of this chapter.
(4) To settle disagreements between the parties to a unit agreement over unit operation.
(5) To change the boundaries of a unit area.
(6) To prevent the drilling and operation of geothermal wells and the production of geothermal resources in a manner that causes injury to neighboring leaseholds or property.
(7) To levy fees on any operator, person, state or local governing body, special district or agency that holds a royalty interest in a unit area to cover reasonable costs associated with the development and administration of a unit agreement. [1981 c.588 § 22]
ENFORCEMENT