Geothermal Resources Act

The Geothermal Resources Act governs the exploration for and development of geothermal resources, treating them as sui generis — a distinct class of resource rather than simply water or a mineral — and placing their regulation with a designated state agency. It establishes a drilling permit system with stated criteria for approval, technical requirements for well casing, plugging, abandonment and the suspension of operations, mandatory performance bonds or equivalent security, and duties to maintain and file drilling records, logs, surveys and statements of production, with certain records held confidential. The administering agency may also order well spacing and unitization, and the act enforces these obligations through agency orders subject to judicial review, liability in damages, injunctive relief, and penalties that extend to those who aid or abet violations.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.