ORS 522.135: Permit; time limit for action; grounds for issuance; conditions; fees.

(1) Within 60 days after receipt of a complete application for a permit to drill or operate a geothermal well, the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries shall by order issue or deny the permit unless the department determines that a longer period is necessary to respond to comments or new information or for other good cause. (2) Except as provided in ORS 522.145, the department shall issue the permit if, after receipt of comments from the agencies referred to in ORS 522.125, the department determines that issuance of the permit would be consistent with the provisions of this chapter and ORS chapters 468A, 468B and 537, any rule adopted under this chapter by the governing board of the department, any rule adopted by the Water Resources Commission under ORS chapter 537 and any rule adopted under ORS chapter 468 or 468B by the Environmental Quality Commission. (3) If the department issues a permit pursuant to this section, the department shall impose such conditions as the department considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and ORS chapters 468A, 468B and 537, any rule adopted under this chapter by the governing board of the department, any rule adopted by the Water Resources Commission under ORS chapter 537 and any rule adopted under ORS chapter 468 or 468B by the Environmental Quality Commission. The department shall include in the permit a statement that issuance of the permit does not relieve any person from any obligation to comply with ORS 468B.035, 468B.050, 468B.195, 537.090 or 537.535 or any other applicable state or federal environmental laws. (4) The State Geologist shall incorporate into the permit requirements: (a) Any conditions made by the Water Resources Director necessary to comply with the purposes set forth in ORS 537.525; and (b) Any conditions made by the Department of Environmental Quality necessary to comply with the purposes set forth in ORS 468A.010 and 468B.015. [1975 c.552 §7; 1981 c.694 §6; 1991 c.526 §4; 2009 c.794 §13; 2020 s.s.2 c.4 §10]