ORS 468B.114 Motorized in-stream placer mining; discharge prohibited without permit; other prohibitions

An operator may not allow a discharge to waters of the state from a motorized in-stream placer mining operation or activity without having an individual permit or being covered by a general permit issued under ORS 468B.050.

In order to protect indigenous anadromous salmonids and habitat essential to the recovery and conservation of Pacific lamprey, motorized in-stream placer mining may not be permitted to occur up to the line of ordinary high water in any river in this state containing essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat, from the lowest extent of essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat to the highest extent of essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat.

The prohibition in subsection (2) of this section does not apply to the use of nonmotorized mining technology, including but not limited to gravity dredges and syphon dredges.