Mineral Land Regulation & Reclamation

Geothermal Permitting Process

(last updated 03/03/2023)

Please note: Due to an increase in permit applications and inquiries submitted to the MLRR office, processing and response times have increased. Permit applications are processed in the order they are received and moved forward as applicants respond to deficiencies. Thank you for your patience.

Completed application materials may be emailed to mlrr.info@oregon.gov. The fee can be sent separately via U.S. mail, along with a paper copy of the application materials.

The application is reviewed for completeness and then proposed permit conditions are sent, with the application materials, to the other natural resource agencies for their review. They have 45 days to respond to us.

After the 45-day comment period?

Reclamation security must be submitted before the permit can be issued.

The purpose of the reclamation security is to insure that reclamation is completed.

The permit must be renewed every year.

The permit must be renewed every year until reclamation is complete. Your renewal anniversary date is determined by the month of the issuance date of each active permit and falls on the last day of that month. (For example, if your permit is issued on May 6, your anniversary date will be every May 31.)

Permit to Drill a Geothermal Well

To obtain a permit to drill a geothermal well, the following items must be submitted to the Department of Geology's Mineral Land Regulation & Reclamation office:

1. Completed application form.
2. Application fee (see ORS 522 - 2021 Geothermal - Fee Schedule).
3. $25,000 drilling bond.
4. Operating and Reclamation Plan for the well pad.
5. Location map.

Permit to Drill a Geothermal Prospect Well

To obtain a permit to drill a geothermal prospect well, the following items must be submitted to the Department of Geology's Mineral Land Regulation & Reclamation office:

1. Completed application form. Limit FIVE wells per application.
2. Application fee (see ORS 522 - 2021 Geothermal - Fee Schedule).
3. $10,000 bond or security, per hole.
4. Evidence of mineral rights ownership or lease.