Oregon Code § 522.115·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Permit; application; fees.
(1) A person may not engage in the drilling or operating of any geothermal well
except in compliance with a permit issued by the State Department of Geology
and Mineral Industries under this section.
(2) An
application for a permit to drill or operate a geothermal well must include:
(a) The location
and elevation of the floor of the proposed derrick.
(b) The number or
other designation approved by the department by which the well shall be known.
(c) The applicants
estimate of the depths to be drilled.
(d) The nature
and character of the geothermal resource sought.
(e) A reclamation
plan for the well pad.
(f) Such other
information as the department by rule may require to assess the impact of the
proposed geothermal well.
(g) A
nonrefundable fee of $5,000.
(3) The permittee
shall pay an annual nonrefundable renewal fee of $4,000 on or before the
anniversary of each active permit.
(4) A request by
a permittee to modify a permit shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee not
to exceed $5,000.
(5) A request by
a permittee to transfer a permit issued under this section must be accompanied
by a nonrefundable fee of $5,000.
(6) All moneys
received by the department under this section shall be paid into the State
Treasury and deposited in the General Fund to the credit of the Geology and
Mineral Industries Account established by ORS 516.070. [1975 c.552 §5; 1977
c.87 §2; 1991 c.526 §3; 2009 c.794 §11; 2020 s.s.2 c.4 §9; 2025 c.601 §7]