Hearing on Ocean Energy Siting

"Oyster" wave energy device in operation.

As the state of Oregon moves toward the final stages of planning for wave energy and other ocean renewable energy projects, the public is invited to comment on proposed rules for siting these devices in Oregon’s Territorial Sea.  The Department of State Lands’ Rule Advisory Committee (RAC) meets and accepts testimony on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the State Lands Building, Mill Creek Room, 775 Summer St. NE in Salem.  (The Department of State Lands manages submersible lands owned by the state, including estuaries and navigable rivers as well as Oregon’s nearshore ocean bed.)

The department has initiated rulemaking to codify the requirements of recent administrative and legislative actions affecting the placement of ocean renewable energy devices in the territorial sea. These actions include adoption of Part 5 of the Territorial Sea Plan by the Land Conservation and Development Commission; enactment of HB 2694 (2013) – establishing seafloor data sharing requirements; enactment of SB 606 (2013) – amending financial assurance and civil penalty statutes for ocean renewable energy projects; and enactment of SB 319 (2015) refining the Department’s regulatory and proprietary roles in siting ocean renewable energy projects. SB 319 specifically requires the Department to convene a committee to assist in evaluating whether to establish by rule a general permit under ORS 196.816, or grant by rule a general authorization under ORS 196.850, for ocean renewable energy facilities that are used as components of research projects or demonstration projects that produce ocean renewable energy.​

Written comments can be submitted via e-mail (rules@dsl.state.or.us) or by U.S. mail to: Sabrina Foward, Rules Coordinator, 775 Summer Street NE, Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301-1279.