2013 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 13 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food
Chapter 543 - Hydroelectric Projects
Section 543.088 - Payment of costs or fee for reauthorization or relicensing of project.

(1) Notwithstanding ORS 543A.405 and 543A.410, during each year of the interim period established in subsection (2) of this section, any licensee or water right certificant seeking reauthorization of a state water right to operate a federally licensed hydroelectric project shall pay the greater of:

(a) The actual cost of the Hydroelectric Application Review Team's reauthorization activities for the year in question as established pursuant to ORS 543A.405 and 543A.410; or

(b) 12.5 cents per theoretical horsepower as specified in the water right for each project under consideration for reauthorization. This amount shall be calculated in 1998 dollars.

(2) For any project, the interim period referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall begin on the January 1 immediately following submission to the Water Resources Department of a proposed final order for reauthorization of the project under ORS 543A.115 (2). For any project, the interim period referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall end on December 31 of the year the department issues a final order on reauthorization of the project pursuant to ORS 543A.130.

(3) Notwithstanding ORS 543.090, during each year of the interim period established in subsection (4) of this section, any power claimant or uncertificated claimant seeking to relicense a federally licensed hydroelectric project shall pay the greater of:

(a) The actual cost of the team's relicensing activities for the year in question as established pursuant to ORS 543.090; or

(b) 12.5 cents per theoretical horsepower as specified in the water right for each project under consideration for relicensing. This amount shall be calculated in 1998 dollars.

(4) For any project, the interim period referred to in subsection (3) of this section shall begin on the January 1 immediately following issuance of an annual license for the project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. For any project, the interim period referred to in subsection (3) of this section shall end on December 31 of the year the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issues a new license for the project.

(5) The Water Resources Department shall reimburse a participating agency for costs incurred in the agency's review of a project during the year for which the fees are collected. Such costs shall not include expenses of other state agencies for which a fee is otherwise collected under state law. Any fees collected under subsection (1) or (3) of this section in excess of the team's actual cost of evaluation of the project for the year shall be distributed according to ORS 536.015.

(6) No fee shall be charged under this section unless the project is a federally licensed project.

(7) No fee shall be charged pursuant to subsection (1) of this section unless the Hydroelectric Application Review Team proposes to reauthorize the water right for the project in the proposed final order submitted to the Water Resources Department under ORS 543A.115 (2).

(8) Water right certificants and licensees with water rights or licenses that expire more than five years after the original federal license for the project expires shall not begin paying fees assessed under this section until after the expiration date of the original state hydroelectric license or water right. [1999 c.873 §9]