72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Bill 2898
Sponsored by Representative BUTLER
CHAPTER ................
AN ACT
Relating to mining.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + Section 2 of this 2003 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS 517.702 to 517.989. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) The State Department of Geology and Mineral
Industries may establish and administer a program that provides
for the pooling of reclamation bonds to assist:
(a) An operator in complying with the reclamation bond
requirements of ORS 517.810;
(b) A person engaging in small mining operations or small
exploration projects on federally managed lands to comply with
financial guarantee requirements imposed by the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-579) or regulations
adopted to implement the Act under 43 U.S.C. 1740; or
(c) A person engaging in any form of mining or exploration to
comply with bonding requirements imposed pursuant to county
ordinance.
(2) The program must:
(a) Be designed to reduce the financial burden of obtaining a
reclamation bond for mining or exploration.
(b) Require each person participating in the program to:
(A) Pay an amount into the pool each year that is actuarially
determined to enable the program to be self-sustaining and pay
for the costs of the department in administering the program;
(B) Execute an agreement, on a form provided by the department,
to indemnify the pool for any claims made against the reclamation
bond; and
(C) Provide security approved by the State Geologist, if the
State Geologist considers security necessary to ensure against
the possible forfeiture of the reclamation bond.
(c) Use the moneys in the pool to cover the bonded liability of
persons participating in the program.
(d) Provide a limit on the total bonded liability of any person
that may be covered under the program.
(e) Provide conditions for the release or forfeiture of bonds.
(f) Provide that a person that participates in the program has
obtained security acceptable to the department as required by ORS
517.810.
(3) The department may adopt rules relating to the development
and administration of the program established under this
section. + }
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Enrolled House Bill 2898 (HB 2898-B) Page 1
Passed by House May 5, 2003
Repassed by House July 29, 2003
...........................................................
Chief Clerk of House
...........................................................
Speaker of House
Passed by Senate July 25, 2003
...........................................................
President of Senate
Enrolled House Bill 2898 (HB 2898-B) Page 2
Received by Governor:
......M.,............., 2003
Approved:
......M.,............., 2003
...........................................................
Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
......M.,............., 2003
...........................................................
Secretary of State
Enrolled House Bill 2898 (HB 2898-B) Page 3