Geothermal Resources Act
Washington · Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum · §§ 78.60.010 to 78.60.300 · 30 sections
Overview
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.
Sections covered
- RCW 78.60.010Legislative declaration.
- RCW 78.60.020Short title.
- RCW 78.60.030Definitions.
- RCW 78.60.040Geothermal resources deemed sui generis.
- RCW 78.60.050Administration of chapter.
- RCW 78.60.060Scope of chapter.
- RCW 78.60.070Drilling permits—Applications—Hearing—Fees.
- RCW 78.60.080Drilling permits—Criteria for granting.
- RCW 78.60.090Casing requirements.
- RCW 78.60.100Plugging and abandonment of wells or core holes—Transfer of jurisdiction to department of ecology.
- RCW 78.60.110Suspension of drilling, shut-in or removal of equipment for authorized period—Unlawful abandonment.
- RCW 78.60.120Notification of abandonment or suspension of operations—Required—Procedure.
- RCW 78.60.130Performance bond or other security—Required.
- RCW 78.60.140Termination or cancellation of bond or change in other security, when.
- RCW 78.60.150Notification of sale, exchange, etc.
- RCW 78.60.160Combining orders, unitization programs and well spacing—Authority of department.
- RCW 78.60.170Designation of resident agent for service of process.
- RCW 78.60.180General authority of department.
- RCW 78.60.190Employment of personnel.
- RCW 78.60.200Drilling records, etc., to be maintained—Inspection—Filing.
- RCW 78.60.210Filing of logs and surveys with department upon completion, plugging, abandonment, or suspension of operations.
- RCW 78.60.220Statement of geothermal resources produced—Filing.
- RCW 78.60.230Confidentiality of records—Preservation in an electronic data system.
- RCW 78.60.240Removal, destruction, alteration, etc., of records prohibited.
- RCW 78.60.250Violations—Modification of permit, when necessary—Departmental order—Issuance—Appeal.
- RCW 78.60.260Liability in damages for violations—Procedure.
- RCW 78.60.270Injunctions—Restraining orders.
- RCW 78.60.280Judicial review.
- RCW 78.60.290Violations—Penalty.
- RCW 78.60.300Aiding or abetting violations.
Enacted in other states
California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, West Virginia
All Washington named statutes →
Download
Copy
Embed on your site
Hover to preview · click to copy the code