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Oregon looking at amending rules regarding leasing of geothermal resources

Oregon looking at amending rules regarding leasing of geothermal resources Drilling rig at Neal Hot Springs, Oregon (source: US Geothermal)
Alexander Richter 10 Jun 2010

Oregon is looking into updating rules related to leasing of geothermal resources, looking at issues from royalties and per-acre revenues to application requirements and processing.

“The (Oregon) State Land Board, composed of Governor Ted Kulongoski, Secretary of State Kate Brown and Treasurer Ted Wheeler, voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize the initiation of rulemaking and the amendment of rules governing the leasing of geothermal resources.”, so local news.

According to those, “Director of the Department of State Lands Louise Solliday explained that the rules hadn’t been updated since 1974 and were out of date in many aspects, from royalties and per-acre revenues to application requirements and processing.

“It’s just a lot of outdated requirements, so it’s just bringing them into the twenty-first century,” Solliday said.

A rules advisory committee will be created, including members from various state agencies such as forestry and education, along with industry representatives, to draft a new set of rules.

After this draft is completed, there will be a period for public comment and public hearing.

“We try to make folks broadly aware that there’s rulemaking going on,” Solliday said, explaining that notice of the public hearings will be announced on the department’s website, as well as on the Secretary of State’s bulletin.

The process, she said, can take anywhere from six months to a year.”

Source: Oregon Politico