Section 274.610 - Prohibited contracts for exploration for hard minerals; scientific research(1) The Department of State Lands shall not enter into contracts for governmental or private development or exploration for hard minerals on state-owned submersible and submerged lands within the territorial sea and navigable bays that are subject to the jurisdiction of the department.(2) Nothing in this section shall be considered to prohibit scientific research conducted by or on behalf of an academic institution or a government agency.(3) As used in subsection (1) of this section, "hard minerals" includes but is not limited to natural deposits or mineral sources of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, manganese, silica, chrome, platinum, tungsten and zirconium. "Hard minerals" does not include oil, gas or sulfur deposits subject to ORS 274.705 to 274.860.(4) As used in this section: (a) "Exploration" means any activity the principal purpose of which is to define, characterize or evaluate hard mineral deposits for possible commercial development or production.(b) "Scientific research" means any activity the principal purpose of which is to improve scientific or technical understanding of earth, ocean or atmospheric processes, hazards and resources and for which the data generated are nonproprietary or public.274.610 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 274 by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.