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Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

Oregon’s Mineral Land Regulation and Reclamation Program THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES OUR MISSION: PROVIDE EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION AND REGULATION TO MAKE OREGON SAFE AND PROSPEROUS. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. Regulatory Authority.

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Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

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  1. Oregon’s Mineral Land • Regulation and Reclamation • Program • THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES • OUR MISSION: PROVIDE EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION AND REGULATION TO MAKE OREGON SAFE AND PROSPEROUS. OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  2. Regulatory Authority The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that: It is the policy of the State of Oregon to recognize the important and essential contribution that the extraction of minerals makes to the economic well-being of the state and the nation and to prevent unacceptable adverse impacts to environmental, scenic, recreational, social, archaeological, and historic resources of the state that may result from mining operations, while permitting operations that comply with the provisions set forth in ORS 517.702 to 517.951. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

  3. Historical Mining Methods in Oregon Photo courtesy: DOGAMI Oregon has a legacy of mining that dates back to the 1850’s, where hydraulic mining scoured entire mountains…

  4. HistoricalMining Methods in Oregon And dredges chewed up river valleys for miles. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

  5. Current Mining Methods in Oregon But today - the vast majority of mining in Oregon centers on aggregate materials: sand, gravel, and crushed rock – the foundation of our society and economic development. 30 to 50 million tons of aggregate are produced in Oregon annually. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

  6. Mine Siting Authority In Oregon, the siting of mine sites rests with the land use authority – either the individual counties or incorporated cities. Land use is obtained with a zone change through the Goal 5 process – or a county issued Conditional Use Permit that allows mining as a non-conforming use. Mining on federal lands is administered by the federal land agency. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  7. Social pressures on site locations As the population growth of Oregon has increased, natural resource concerns have affected the location and operation of mine sites. Flood plain mining now requires more stringent environmental regulation to protect wetlands, wildlife, and fisheries. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  8. Social Impacts Urban encroachment upon upland quarry sites creates conflict between contrasting land uses. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  9. Mining Competition with Other Land Uses Agricultural lands along rivers previously used for sand and gravel production – are being with held from mining to conserve farm lands. Since 1972 – over 1,000 acres of mined lands have been successfully reclaimed to productive farm land – statewide. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  10. MLRR History Since 1972 DOGAMI –MLRR has administered the mining and reclamation rules and regulations for all mine activity in Oregon. The program is fee based and employs one program supervisor, 6 reclamationists, and 4 support staff. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  11. MLRR Regulatory Authority In addition – the MLRR implements the federal Clean Water Act General Stormwater Permit and the state Water Pollution Control Facility Permit at DOGAMI permitted sites based upon an agreement with DEQ. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  12. MLRR Regulatory Authority In 2001, the Oil, Gas, and Geothermal regulatory programs were added to the MLRR program in an effort to consolidate DOGAMI’s regulatory activities. Photo courtesy: Torrent Energy OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  13. MLRR Program Summary As stated above the MLRR program is staffed with 6 field personnel and 3 support staff. The program currently has over 875 active mine permits and over 225 DEQ water quality permits. The budget for the program is $1.2 million for the biennium. Field staff conducts 1400 field inspections per biennium. Photo courtesy: Albany Democrat Herald OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  14. MLRR Permitting Process (Flow Chart) The DOGAMI-MLRR permit process involves technical review by DOGAMI staff – and then review by other natural resource agencies. Concerns by other agencies are addressed by adding permit conditions to the DOGAMI operating permit. There is no public review of DOGAMI permit applications. But upon request interested groups or individuals are provided the opportunity. OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  15. Requirements for an Operating Permit Mine operations that are less than one acre in size and produce less than 5,000 CY in any 12-month period, are eligible for a Grant of Total Exemption (GTE). A GTE does not require an operating and reclamation plan and does not require reclamation security. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  16. Requirements for an Operating Permit Large commercial mine operations require an operating permit from DOGAMI. The permit application consists of an application form; fee; operating and reclamation plan; and a detailed site plan map. Reclamation security for only the area of disturbance is also required. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  17. The operating and reclamation plan outlines how the mine will be developed and operated to minimize off-site impacts – and how at the end of mining the site will be reclaimed to a post-mine beneficial use that is compatible with the local zoning. DOGAMI permit applications are not open for public review but are circulated to other natural resource agencies for review. Concerns raised during the circulation are addressed by DOGAMI permit conditions. Reclamation Requirements Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  18. The reclamation plan details excavated slopes; mine depth; and plant species and densities to be planted to meet the reclamation requirements for that particular site. Each DOGAMI permit is unique – tailor made to meet the operational and reclamation needs from floodplain sites on the Rogue River to upland sites in Baker County. Reclamation Requirements Photo courtesy: Lidstone and Associates OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  19. MLRR – Field Based Program DOGAMI has an effective field inspection program to visit sites on a regular basis not only to insure compliance with state permits – but to identify potential problems and provide remedies to avoid complaints and possible violations . DOGAMI takes all complaints seriously, and makes every effort to follow up complaints with a site visit. When violations are documented enforcement begins. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  20. MLRR – Aerial photo Program DOGAMI contracts with a local pilot to obtain detailed aerial photos of individual mine sites. These photos not only help DOGAMI monitor site expansion and permit compliance – these photos have become valuable tools for the mine operators in their site development. OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries Photo courtesy: DOGAMI

  21. Aggregate mineral sites in Oregon Aggregate mining in Oregon includes sand and gravel excavated from floodplain pits, crushed rock from upland quarries, and pumice from central Oregon deposits. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  22. Industrial minerals In Oregon - Limestone Limestone is currently mined near Durkee and processed into cement at the Ash Grove Plant. Limestone deposits have been developed in southwest Oregon in the past with some renewed interest in recent years. OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  23. Industrial minerals In Oregon - Clays Clay minerals in Oregon are the weathered products of volcanic ash. Numerous clay products are mined in central and eastern Oregon. OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  24. Industrial minerals In Oregon - Perlite Perlite – is a volcanic glass that expands when heated. Cornerstone Industrial Minerals mines perlite at Tucker Hill north of Lakeview OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  25. Industrial minerals in Oregon - Mercury Significant mercury production occurred in Oregon thorugh the 1940’s. Sutherlin, just north of Roseburg was the center of productiion. OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries Photo courtesy: DOGAMI

  26. Industrial minerals in Oregon - Coal Coal was mined in the Coos Bay area in the late 1800’s through the 1930’s with most of the product barged to San Francisco. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  27. Industrial minerals in Oregon - Metals Legend has it, Gold was first discovered in Oregon in 1845, in eastern Oregon by the Meek party headed for the Willamette Valley along the Oregon Trail. The true gold rush began in 1850 when gold was discovered in what is now Josephine County. Photo courtesy: DOGAMI OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

  28. DOGAMI -MLRR Contact: Gary Lynch 541-967-2039 www.oreongeology.com OregonDepartment of Geology and Mineral Industries

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