Oregon Statutes 522.175 – Plugging and decommissioning; rules
(1) No person shall abandon a geothermal well without first plugging and decommissioning the well in conformance with a plugging and decommissioning plan approved by the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and complying with the provisions of ORS § 522.245.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 522.175
- 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
- Geothermal well: includes any excavation made for producing geothermal resources and any geothermal reinjection well. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
(2) The governing board of the department shall adopt rules designed to:
(a) Protect underground and surface water usable for beneficial purposes from pollution resulting from infiltration or addition of any detrimental substance;
(b) Prevent the escape of all fluids to the surface;
(c) Close the surface aperture of the well; and
(d) Remove all surface equipment except that necessary to maintain permanent closure of the well. [1975 c.552 § 11; 1981 c.694 § 8; 2009 c.794 § 17]
[1971 c.776 § 19; repealed by 1975 c.552 § 55]
[1975 c.552 § 13; repealed by 1981 c.694 § 12]
[1971 c.776 § 20; repealed by 1975 c.552 § 55]