(1) Initiate and conduct studies and surveys of the geological and mineral resources of the state and their commercial utility.
(2) Conduct as a continuing project a geological survey of Oregon, including quadrangle geologic mapping, either as a department undertaking or jointly with federal or other agencies.
(3) Initiate, carry out or administer studies and programs that will, in cooperation with universities, federal, state and local government agencies, reduce the loss of life and property by understanding and mitigating geologic hazards. These studies and programs may include but need not be limited to:
(a) Statewide hazard assessment, including identification and mapping of geologic hazards, estimation of their potential consequences and likelihood of occurrence and monitoring and assessment of potentially hazardous geologic activity;
(b) Studies of paleoseismicity including but not limited to providing evidence of whether prehistoric subduction zone and crustal earthquakes have occurred in Oregon;
(c) Operation of a state seismic network in cooperation with universities or federal agencies or both through the strategic placement of instrumentation to monitor earthquake activity as it occurs; and
(d) Operation of a state geodetic network through the monitoring and periodic survey of markers in order to detect modern deformation of the earth’s crust and the subsequent buildup of stress.
(4) Consider and study kindred scientific and economic questions in the field of geology and mining that are deemed of value to the people of Oregon.
(5) Cooperate with federal or other agencies for the performance of work in Oregon deemed of value to the state and of advantage to its people, under rules, terms and conditions to be arranged between the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and such agencies. But in no case shall the cost to the department be in excess of the amount appropriated therefor, and the results of any joint undertakings shall be made available without restrictions to this department.
(6) Serve as a bureau of information and advisory services concerning geologic resources and hazards, including:
(a) Maintaining a library, a public education program and a geologic database;
(b) Maintaining a website that identifies the seismic risk category, as determined under an assessment process approved by the department, for every public kindergarten through grade 12 school and that is updated when the department makes a new assessment or becomes aware of information that could change the conclusions of a previous assessment;
(c) Providing a review of functions;
(d) Providing expert advice to federal, state and local government agencies;
(e) Operating as a clearinghouse for post-hazard event earth science investigations; and
(f) Providing technical assistance to local governments on aggregate mining and reclamation during preparation and amendment of comprehensive plans and land use regulations.
(7) Serve as a bureau of information concerning Oregon mineral resources, mineral industries and geology, conduct a mineral survey of the state, and catalog each and every mineral occurrence and deposit, metallic and nonmetallic, together with its location, production, method of working, name of owner or agent, and other detailed information capable of being tabulated and published in composite form for the use, guidance and benefit of the mineral industry of the state and of the people in general and deemed necessary in compiling mineral statistics of the state.
(8) Collect a library of literature describing the geology and mineral deposits, metallic and nonmetallic, of Oregon.
(9) Make qualitative examinations of rocks, mineral samples and specimens.
(10) Study minerals and ores, additional uses for the state’s minerals, and explore the possibilities for using improved treatment, processes, mining methods and reclamation techniques for regulated mines and abandoned mined lands.
(11) Establish in the department or in cooperation with universities and other organizations a repository for drill cores and samples considered by the department to be of long term use in developing information. [Amended by 1989 c.954 §2; 1991 c.243 §3; 1993 c.260 §2; 2001 c.104 §225; 2012 c.61 §1]