OWRD opens public comment on rulemaking petition, extends comment on Harney Basin rulemaking

SALEM (Release by Oregon Water Resources Department)-Last week, the Oregon Water Resources Commission received a petition requesting rulemaking on groundwater management in the Malheur Lake administrative basin (Harney Basin).

Pursuant to state law, the Oregon Water Resources Department is opening a public comment period on Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 690-512 (Harney Basin), which the petition seeks to amend. This includes seeking input on the petition’s proposed rule language, as well as whether options exist for achieving the rule’s substantive goals in ways that reduce the negative economic impact on businesses.

In addition, OWRD is extending the comment period on the agency’s proposed OAR 690-512 rulemaking on groundwater management in the Harney Basin.

The agency is accepting comments on both until 5 p.m. October 7, 2025 – comments received after the closing of the comment period cannot be considered. Because the topics are connected, comments submitted on the rulemaking petition will also be entered into the record as comments on the agency’s proposed Division 512 rules.

More information on both the petition and agency proposed rules are available at owrd.info/Division512. Instructions on how to comment are below:

How to Comment: Submit written comments by 5 p.m. on October 7, 2025.

By email: Send comments to  wrd_dl_rule-coordinator@water.oregon.gov.    

By Mail:  Division 512 Rules Coordinator
Oregon Water Resources Department
725 Summer St. NE, Suite A
Salem, OR 97301-1271

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