Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mining Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Josephine County pauses new mining permit applications as ordinance litigation continues
Summary
Planning Director Dave Streeter told commissioners the county will extend a temporary pause on accepting new mineral exploration and mining lease applications for three months while competing ordinance revisions are evaluated and litigation continues.
Planning Director Dave Streeter told the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on June 30 that ongoing litigation tied to the county's Mining Ordinance has prompted staff to recommend temporarily suspending new mineral exploration permit and mining lease applications.
Streeter said the suspension would remain in place while the county evaluates competing ordinance revisions and consults the Mining Advisory Committee. The Board directed staff to draft a revised Board Order extending the suspension for an additional three months to allow that review and return the matter to a future Administration Workshop.
Commissioners discussed alternatives, including handling future applications on a case-by-case basis rather than under the current ordinance, and requested additional information from staff about the draft revisions and litigation implications. No formal adoption of an ordinance change occurred at the workshop; the Board's action was to direct staff to prepare the revised order and continue deliberations.
The matter is expected to return for further consideration at a subsequent Administration Workshop once staff and the Mining Advisory Committee provide the requested materials.
