County permits small, short-term hydrogen survey devices on rights-of-way; company says work will finish by June

Commissioners discussed a permit issued to a company identified as Koloma to conduct a short-term survey for subsurface hydrogen deposits along county rights-of-way.

County staff described the devices as small — smaller than a five-gallon bucket, with the smallest roughly 8–12 inches in diameter — and said the company plans to place 15–20 devices at scattered locations from Coquille north and slightly east. The devices will have prongs that are driven into the ground and will monitor vibrations or other signals for a short period (staff estimated about a week) before removal. The company told the county it plans to complete the field program by June.

Staff said work will be performed mostly from the shoulder off the road, may include temporary traffic control in narrow locations, and will use standard small-construction pickups and canopies. The board did not take formal action beyond acknowledging the permit and advising the public what the equipment will look like.

Next steps: staff will monitor the permitted activity and the company will complete surveys by the planned June timeline, per its application to the county.