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

(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]