The Oregon Water Resources Commission received a petition for rulemaking on Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 690-512 (Harney Basin). The petition requests rulemaking on groundwater management in the Malheur Lake administrative basin (Harney Basin). The Oregon Water Resources Department is opening a public comment period regarding the petition pursuant to ORS 183.390 and Uniform Rule 137-001-0070.

OWRD is also extending the public comment period on the agency’s proposed OAR 690 Division 512 rulemaking on groundwater management in the basin. We must receive comments and feedback by 5 p.m. on October 7, 2025.

The two comment periods will run concurrently.

Full notices and information on both comment periods are below. 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.

Comments must be received by 5 p.m. October 7, 2025. Comments received after the closing of the comment periods cannot be considered.

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Petition for Rulemaking

Website: The rulemaking petition is available on the Division 512 Webpage.

The Department will accept public comments on the petition for rulemaking through 5 p.m. on October 7, 2025, including the petition’s proposed rule language and whether options exist for achieving the rule's substantive goals in a way that reduces the negative economic impact on businesses.

How to Comment: You may comment on the rulemaking petition by sending written comments by 5 p.m. on October 7, 2025. In your comments, please indicate that you are commenting on the petition.

• By Mail: Division 512 Rules Coordinator

Oregon Water Resources Department

725 Summer St. NE, Suite A

Salem, OR 97301-1271

• By email: Comments to  wrd_dl_rule-coordinator@water.oregon.gov.    

Questions: If you have any questions about the rulemaking petition, please contact wrd_dl_rule-coordinator@water.oregon.gov  or 971-718-7087

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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking- Extension of Division 512 Public Comment

Rulemaking Information for OAR 690, Division 512 – Notice and Opportunity to Comment

Caption: Amending and adopting Division 512 rules concerning groundwater management in the Malheur Lake administrative basin (Harney Basin).

Summary: The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is seeking public comment on proposed rule modifications to Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 690, Division 512, pertaining to groundwater management in the Malheur Lake administrative basin (Harney Basin). These rule changes are needed to address long-term groundwater declines in the Harney Basin. You are receiving this email because you are one of the parties required to be notified, the Department has identified you as a potential interested party, or because you are on one of our notification listservs.

The Department will accept written public comments on the rules through 5 p.m. on October 7, 2025.

Website: The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including Statement of Need and Fiscal Impact, and the proposed rules are available on the  Oregon Secretary of State website and on the Division 512 rulemaking page. In your comments, please indicate if you are commenting on the Department’s proposed Division 512 rules.

How to Comment: You may comment on the proposed rules by sending written comments by 5 p.m. on October 7, 2025.

• By Mail: Division 512 Rules Coordinator

Oregon Water Resources Department

725 Summer St. NE, Suite A

Salem, OR 97301-1271

• By email: Comments to wrd_dl_rule-coordinator@water.oregon.gov.

Questions: If you have any questions about this proposed rulemaking, please contact wrd_dl_rule-coordinator@water.oregon.gov  or 971-718-7087.

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Meinz| 971-718-7087| wrd_dl_rule-coordinator@water.oregon.gov.