Oregon Administrative Code

632-020-0031 Annual Permit Fees The permittee of any geothermal well or prospect well permit under which a well has been drilled and not decommissioned, must provide an annual nonrefundable fee in accordance with ORS 522.115 for geothermal wells or 522.055 for prospect wells on o…

632-020-0032 Permit Conditions (1) After consideration of the information supplied by the applicant, the comments supplied by public agencies as provided in ORS 522.065 for prospect wells and 522.125 for geothermal wells, and other relevant information supplied to the department,…

632-020-0035 Drilling Financial Security (1) A permit for a prospect well will not be issued until the applicant has complied with the requirements of ORS 522.075 relating to financial security. (2) A permit for a geothermal well will not be issued until the applicant has complie…

632-020-0040 Assignment, Transfers of Ownership A geothermal well or prospect well permit transfer application must include a nonrefundable fee in accordance with ORS 522.055(4) or 522.115(6) and replacement security in accordance with 522.075 and 522.145. Successor must provide …

632-020-0060 Filing of Well Records, Confidentiality (1) The operator of a geothermal well must keep copies of well records and related information as provided in ORS 522.355 and 522.365. In addition, the operator must: (a) Record the amount, size, and weight of casing used; and …

632-020-0065 Applications to Modify (1) The permittee of a geothermal prospect well must submit a written application for a permit modification to change plans previously approved by the department unless otherwise directed. The application must set forth in detail the proposed w…

632-020-0070 Well Designations Every person drilling any well for geothermal resources or operating, owning, or controlling or in possession of any well drilled for geothermal resources, must paint or stencil and post and keep posted in a conspicuous place near the well, the name…

632-020-0090 Noise Abatement The method and degree of noise abatement must comply with the pertinent rules adopted by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 522 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 522.305 History: DGMI 3-2013, f. & cert. ef. 3-…

632-020-0095 Casing Requirements (1) The permittee of any geothermal well or prospect well must properly case the well with adequate grade casing and cement the casing where necessary to provide adequate anchor for blowout preventers. Casing design must take into account stress i…

632-020-0100 Removal of Casings No person may remove a casing, or any part of a casing, from any geothermal well or prospect well without applying in advance and obtaining approval in writing from the department. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 522 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS …

632-020-0105 Directional Drilling (1) The maximum point at which a well penetrates the producing formation must not vary from the vertical drawn from the center of the hole at the surface by more than 5 degrees. Deviation is permitted without special permission for short distance…

632-020-0110 Serving Orders When the department gives any written direction concerning the drilling, testing, or other operations conducted with respect to any geothermal well or prospect well drilled, in the process of being drilled, redrilled, deepened, altered, or in the proce…

632-020-0115 Measurement of Geothermal Resources The operator must measure or gauge all production from each well in accordance with methods approved by the department or may arrange with the department for other acceptable methods of measuring and recording production. The quant…

632-020-0117 Spacing Plan The board may, on its own motion, or at the request of any interested party, hold a hearing to determine the maximum efficient rate at which any geothermal well in the state can produce a geothermal resource without waste. After the hearing, the board ma…

632-020-0120 Production Reports The owner or operator of any well producing geothermal resources must file with the department, before the 20th day of each month, a statement of the geothermal resources production from the well during the preceding calendar month. The report must…

632-020-0125 Proper Completion, Plugging, and Decommissioning (1) A well is properly completed when the well and casing has been installed in accordance with the well drilling permit and master valves and well control equipment have been installed, and well is secured. (2) Proper…

632-020-0130 Subsequent Decommissioning Report The operation of a well can be suspended only as provided in ORS 522.225. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 522 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 522.175 & 522.305 & 522.245 History: DGMI 3-2013, f. & cert. ef. 3-21-13 DGMI 1-2010, f. & c…

632-020-0134 Naming of Fields The board, on its own or upon request of any interested person, may, after a public hearing, name a geothermal field and set the boundaries of the field. Using the same procedure, the board may later change the boundaries of a field. Statutory/Other …

632-020-0135 Well Spacing The board will approve proposed well-spacing programs for geothermal wells in a field or prescribe such modifications to the programs as it determines necessary for proper development. The board may do this by rule or order. In determining well spacing, …

632-020-0138 Unit Agreements (1) When voluntary unitization occurs under ORS 522.405 to 522.545, the unit operator must pay a fee to the department for the administration of the unit. The amount of the fee will be determined by the board on a case-by-case basis. The unit operator…

632-020-0140 Commingling Production (1) As part of a unit agreement, the department will require the operator to commingle the production from different wells or leases or both with the production of other operators subject to such conditions as may be prescribed. (2) The operato…

632-020-0145 Pits or Sumps (1) Materials and fluids necessary for the drilling, production, or other operations may be discharged or placed in pits and sumps only with the approval of the department and the Department of Environmental Quality. The operator must not allow the cont…

632-020-0150 Disposal of Solid and Liquid Wastes Injection of geothermal fluids must not pollute waters of the state, create a public nuisance, impair beneficial uses of waters, or degrade the biologic habitat of aquatic life and domestic and wild animals. Permits for prospect an…

632-020-0151 Handling of Test Fluids Prior to conducting formation and production tests, the operator must provide adequate storage for anticipated volumes of formation fluids and drilling mud. Arrangements for ultimate disposal of waste fluids must be made with the department an…

632-020-0154 Injection and Conservation Injection is the required method for handling geothermal fluids derived from geothermal resources to conserve natural heat energy and to maintain reservoir temperature and pressure. This rule applies to fluids derived from geothermal wells …

632-020-0155 Application to Inject (1) The provisions of this rule apply to applications for geothermal wells intended for the injection of geothermal fluids, and are in addition to the requirements of ORS 522.019. (2) An application for a permit to inject geothermal fluid into a…

632-020-0156 Permit for Injection (1) The department will issue a permit for injection of geothermal fluids after finding that the injection plan is consistent with the purposes set forth in ORS 468A.010, 468B.015, 468B.030, 537.525, 522 and these rules. (2) Appropriate approval …

632-020-0157 Injection Well Construction, Protection and Mechanical Integrity (1) Injection wells must be constructed in compliance with the standards set in OAR 632-020-0095 and 632-020-0125. (2) Special standards may be required by the department to allow for corrosive effects …

632-020-0158 Wellhead Equipment, Injection Wells Adequate wellhead equipment must be installed to control expected pressures. Where underground conditions are unknown, the same equipment must be used as required for exploration holes. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 522 Statutes/O…

632-020-0159 Monitoring Injection (1) The department requires monitoring of injection operations to ensure that there is no escape of geothermal fluids from the casings or through the annular space between casings and open hole except in the zone for which injection is permitted.…

632-020-0165 Judicial Review of Board Actions Any person adversely affected by any rule or order by the board may obtain judicial review thereof pursuant to ORS Chapter 183. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 522 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 522.305 History: GMI 2-1995, f. & cert.…

632-020-0170 Environmental Protection In conducting operations under this chapter, the permittee or operator must not pollute or otherwise damage land, water or air resources. The operator must comply with all federal and state air and water quality standards and requirements. Pl…

632-020-0175 Blowout Prevention for Geothermal Wells and Prospect Wells 2,000 Feet or More in Depth (1) Cementing of Casing. All casing strings must be cemented with a quantity of cement sufficient to fill the annular space back to the surface. (a) The intermediate casing string …

632-020-0180 Blowout Prevention Rules for Prospect Wells Less than 2,000 Feet in Depth All prospect wells must have adequate casing and wellhead controls installed, unless otherwise approved by the department. The casing must extend from the surface to at least ten percent of the…

632-030-0005 Purpose and Application of These Rules (1) These rules implement the purposes of the Mined Land Reclamation Act as established in ORS 517.760. (2) These rules prescribe procedures for obtaining an operating permit and for complying with the other requirements of the …

632-030-0010 Definitions In addition to the definitions provided in ORS 517.750, the following definitions apply to OAR 632-030-0005 through 632-030-0070: (1) "Affected," as used in ORS 517.750(15)(a), means the disturbance by excavation or any other surface mining of any land su…

632-030-0015 Information Requirements; Surveys; Marking (1) Information Requirements. The Department may require any information needed to ascertain whether surface mining has occurred or is occurring and the status of any proposed or existing permit. Any production records, mine…

632-030-0016 Exclusion Certificates (1) Pursuant to ORS 517.753, an exclusion certificate is required for a surface mining operation that falls under the yard and acre thresholds for which an operating permit is required. A person seeking an exclusion certificate must file an app…

632-030-0017 Limited Exemption (1) For the purposes of this rule: (a) "Expansion" means lateral expansion consequential to surface mining into land surfaces previously not affected by surface mining. (b) "Lands within the surfaces and contours of surface mines in existence on Jul…

632-030-0018 County Authority; City or County Operations (1) Columbia County is the only county operating its own mined land reclamation program under ORS 517.780(1) and mining operations in Columbia County are exempt from regulation under these rules. (2)(a) When any city or cou…

632-030-0019 Surface Mining on Federal Lands To the maximum extent permitted by law, surface mining conducted on federal lands is subject to the Act and these rules. The Department will coordinate with agencies of the federal government to minimize conflict or duplication in oper…

632-030-0020 Procedures for Applying for an Operating Permit (1) The applicant shall submit the required application forms and such additional information as may be required by the Department for each separate surface mining operation. (2) The applicant shall submit a reclamation…

632-030-0021 Performance Bonds and Alternative Forms of Security (1) No Operating Permit shall be issued or renewed until a bond or alternative form of security for a surface mining site is accepted by the Department. The bond or other security must be maintained until the Depart…

632-030-0022 Fees (1) The fees applicable to this rule division are pursuant to ORS 517.753 and 517.800. The application fee for an exclusion certificate is $80. Each holder of an exclusion certificate will annually pay to the department a renewal fee of $150 pursuant to ORS 517.…

632-030-0023 Aggregate Mining on High Value Farmland in the Willamette Valley (1) For the purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply: (a) “Significant aggregate resource” means the average minimum depth of aggregate, determined by rule of the Land Conservation and Dev…

632-030-0024 Inspections (1) As provided by ORS 517.850, the Department may, after reasonable notice, inspect any surface mining site to determine status or compliance with the Act, the rules adopted thereunder, or any permit conditions. The Department may report the results of t…

632-030-0025 Requirements for an Operating Permit and Reclamation Plan (1) An applicant for an operating permit shall submit a reclamation plan to the Department as required in OAR 632-030-0020. The information that the Department may require in a reclamation plan includes, but i…

632-030-0026 On-Site Construction Waiver The Department may, in its discretion, waive the requirements for preparation and approval of a reclamation plan if the requirements of ORS 517.790(2)(a) through (c) are satisfied and specific plans or functionally similar requirements app…

632-030-0027 Minimum Standards for a Reclamation Plan A reclamation plan submitted under 632-030-0025 must meet the following minimum standards: (1) Final slopes must be stable. Reclaimed cutbanks may not have slopes exceeding 1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical (1-1/2H:1V). Final slo…

632-030-0030 Department Action on Reclamation Plan and Operating Permit Application; Provisional Operating Permits; Local Government Actions (1) Within 90 days after receiving an application for an operating permit: (a) The Department will issue the operating permit or (b) Notify…