Oregon Statutes 543A.071 – Water Resources Department notification to holder of hydroelectric license or water right for hydroelectric purposes; response of holder
(1) Not later than six years before the expiration of any state or federal hydroelectric license or state authorized water right issued to a federally licensed project, the Water Resources Department shall notify the holder of the date of expiration of the right or license and shall ask that the holder advise the department whether the holder intends to seek reauthorization or relicensing.
(2) If the holder does not intend to seek reauthorization, the holder shall inform the department within 90 days after receiving notice under subsection (1) of this section of the proposed disposition of the federally licensed project.
(3) If the holder intends to seek reauthorization, the holder shall inform the department within 90 days after receiving notice under subsection (1) of this section whether the holder intends to seek reauthorization of the water right concurrently with the federal relicensing.
(4) A holder seeking relicensing and reauthorization concurrently:
(a) Shall not, by applying for reauthorization, under ORS § 543A.075 and in the absence of agreement by the holder, be deemed to have accelerated the actual expiration date of the project’s water right; and
(b) May, upon providing concurrent notification to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, withdraw and void its application for reauthorization at any time prior to issuance of the final water right certificate issued by the Water Resources Director without prejudice to its right to reapply for reauthorization of its water right.
(5) Any water right issued by the Water Resources Department pursuant to an application filed under this chapter shall become effective upon the issuance of the new water right. The existing water right shall be canceled immediately upon issuance of the new water right.
(6) A holder not electing to concurrently seek reauthorization but seeking relicensing shall notify the Water Resources Department of its position and shall indicate in the notification its plans for the project and the project’s state water right.
(7) In the absence of agreement by the holder to pay the application fees under ORS § 543A.405, and notwithstanding the provisions of ORS § 543A.015, the state is not required to develop and provide a coordinated state position. [1999 c.873 § 15 (enacted in lieu of 543A.070)]