Stakeholder: Miners, environmental groups, tribes, government representatives

Describe: Who, What, When, Where, How and Why

Question or Concern: Instream suction dredge mining activity has been the subject of a number of recent legislative proposals. The number of offstream mining permit applications for small operations has grown dramatically in the last few years. DEQ proposes to initiate a fee for new applications to cover administrative costs to assign permit coverage. It will be important to communicate that this fee does not apply to small operators that currently have WPCF 600 permit coverage.

Key Message 1

Key Message 2

Key Message 3

DEQ is proposing an application fee of $24 for offstream mining small operations to recover costs associated with the application process. Applies to non-chemical placer and hard rock mining; not suction dredging. Small operations are those that process less than five cubic yards of material per day or less than 1,500 cubic yards per year.

The proposed application fee will affect those applying for new permit coverage. Existing offstream mining small operations permit holders will not be required to pay the proposed application fee.

The Environmental Quality Commission has statutory authority to adopt program fees proposed by DEQ.

(Oregon Revised Statutes 454.625, 468.020 and 468.065)

Supporting Facts

Supporting Facts

Supporting Facts

Currently, the application fee for offstream mining small operations is $0. None of DEQ’s costs associated with the application process are being recovered.

There were approximately 200 offstream mining permits in 2004; currently there are approximately 1,200 permits. Almost all of the permittees are small operations.

Offstream mining operations processing 1,500 to 10,000 cubic yards of material per year pay an application fee of $207. Some of the application review is the same for small operations and large operations.

All general permits have an application fee except for the offstream mining small operations and the 700-PM suction dredge permit. (The 700-PM fees are established in statute and can only be changed by the legislature.)

If adopted, the proposed application fee for offstream mining small operations would become effective Nov. 1, 2013.

No annual fees are proposed for new or existing small mining operations covered by the WPCF 600 permit.

DEQ plans to propose the application fee through its rulemaking process.

The proposed fee is based on a fee-for-service model that includes technical assistance, assignment of permit coverage and data entry.