OH HB577

Expands the Division of Geological Survey's purview to include geologic hazards, energy resources, and environmental concerns in addition to existing mineral and geological studies.

Authorizes the division to create and charge fees for customized maps, data sets, and geological information products for governmental agencies, private interests, and educational institutions, with reduced or waived fees for enrolled students.

Creates the Ohio Geology Advisory Council consisting of seven governor-appointed members representing oil and gas, industrial minerals, coal, hydrogeology, environmental geology, and higher education interests to advise on policy and review fee schedules.

Establishes a new fee schedule for archived geologic records, data, maps, rock core, and samples, with all collected fees credited to the geological mapping fund for field work, laboratory tasks, equipment, and facility improvements.

Adds civil penalties for violations of well logging requirements, with fines of $100-$1,000 for first offenses and $1,000-$2,000 for subsequent offenses, with all penalties deposited into the geological mapping fund.