(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the Water Resources Department shall issue a final order or schedule a contested case hearing on an application for a water right referred to in ORS 537.615 within 180 days after the department proceeds with the application under ORS 537.620 (5).
(2) At the request of the applicant, the department may extend the 180-day period set forth in subsection (1) of this section for a reasonable period of time.
(3) If the applicant does not request an extension under subsection (2) of this section and the department fails to issue a proposed final order or schedule a contested case hearing on an application for a water right within 180 days after the department proceeds with the application under ORS 537.620 (5), the applicant may apply in the Circuit Court for Marion County for a writ of mandamus to compel the department to issue a final order or schedule a contested case hearing on an application for a water right. The writ of mandamus shall compel the department to issue a water right permit, unless the department shows by affidavit that to issue a permit may result in harm to an existing water right holder. [1995 c.416 §31]
Section: Previous 537.610 537.615 537.620 537.621 537.622 537.625 537.626 537.627 537.628 537.629 537.630 537.632 537.635 537.665 537.670 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008