Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 78 Mines, Minerals, And Petroleum - Chapter 78.60 Geothermal Resources

78.60.010 Legislative declaration
The public has a direct interest in the safe, orderly and nearly pollution-free development of the geothermal resources of the state, as hereinafter in *RCW ...

78.60.020 Short title
This chapter shall be known as the Geothermal Resources Act.[1974 ex.s. c 43 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.76.020.] ...

78.60.030 Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter, unless the text otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "Geothermal resources" means only that ...

78.60.040 Geothermal resources deemed sui generis
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, geothermal resources are found and hereby determined to be sui generis, being neither a mineral resource nor a water ...

78.60.050 Administration of chapter
(1) The department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and the rules, regulations, and orders relating to the drilling, operation, maintenance, abandonment ...

78.60.060 Scope of chapter
This chapter is intended to preempt local regulation of the drilling and operation of wells for geothermal resources but shall not be construed to permit ...

78.60.070 Drilling permits -- Applications -- Hearing -- Fees
(1) Any person proposing to drill a well or redrill an abandoned well for geothermal resources shall file with the department a written application for ...

78.60.080 Drilling permits -- Criteria for granting
A permit shall be granted only if the department is satisfied that the area is suitable for the activities applied for; that the applicant will ...

78.60.090 Casing requirements
Any operator engaged in drilling or operating a well for geothermal resources shall equip such well with casing of sufficient strength and with such safety ...

78.60.100 Plugging and abandonment of wells or core holes -- Transfer of jurisdiction to department of ecology
Any well or core hole drilled under authority of this chapter from which: (1) It is not technologically practical to derive the energy to produce ...

78.60.110 Suspension of drilling, shut-in or removal of equipment for authorized period -- Unlawful abandonment
(1) The department may authorize the operator to suspend drilling operations, shut-in a completed well, or remove equipment from a well for the period stated ...

78.60.120 Notification of abandonment or suspension of operations -- Required -- Procedure
(1) Before any operation to plug and abandon or suspend the operation of any well is commenced, the owner or operator shall submit in writing ...

78.60.130 Performance bond or other security -- Required
Every operator who engages in the drilling, redrilling, or deepening of any well or core hole shall file with the department a reasonable bond or ...

78.60.140 Termination or cancellation of bond or change in other security, when
The department shall not consent to the termination and cancellation of any bond by the operator, or change as to other security given, until the ...

78.60.150 Notification of sale, exchange, etc
The owner or operator of a well shall notify the department in writing within ten days of any sale, assignment, conveyance, exchange, or transfer of ...

78.60.160 Combining orders, unitization programs and well spacing -- Authority of department
The department has the authority, through rules and regulations, to promulgate combining orders, unitization programs, and well spacing, and establish proportionate costs among owners or ...

78.60.170 Designation of resident agent for service of process
Each owner or operator of a well shall designate a person who resides in this state as his agent upon whom may be served all ...

78.60.180 General authority of department
The department shall have the authority to conduct or authorize investigations, research, experiments, and demonstrations, cooperate with other governmental and private agencies in making investigations, ...

78.60.190 Employment of personnel
The department shall have the authority, and it shall be its duty, to employ all personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter ...

78.60.200 Drilling records, etc., to be maintained -- Inspection -- Filing
(1) The owner or operator of any well or core hole shall keep or cause to be kept careful and accurate logs, including but not ...

78.60.210 Filing of logs and surveys with department upon completion, plugging, abandonment, or suspension of operations
Upon completion or plugging and abandonment of any well or core hole or upon the suspension of operations conducted with respect to any well or ...

78.60.220 Statement of geothermal resources produced -- Filing
The owner or operator of any well producing geothermal resources shall file with the department a statement of the geothermal resources produced. Such report shall ...

78.60.230 Confidentiality of records -- Preservation in an electronic data system
(1) The records of any owner or operator, when filed with the department as provided in this chapter, shall be confidential and shall be open ...

78.60.240 Removal, destruction, alteration, etc., of records prohibited
No person shall, for the purpose of evading the provision of this chapter or any rule, regulation or order of the department made thereunder, remove ...

78.60.250 Violations -- Modification of permit, when necessary -- Departmental order -- Issuance -- Appeal
Whenever it appears with probable cause to the department that: (1) A violation of any provision of this chapter, regulation adopted pursuant thereto, or condition ...

78.60.260 Liability in damages for violations -- Procedure
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, or fails to perform any duty imposed by this chapter, or violates an order ...

78.60.270 Injunctions -- Restraining orders
Whenever it shall appear that any person is violating any provision of this chapter, or any rule, regulation, or order made by the department hereunder, ...

78.60.280 Judicial review
(1) Any person adversely affected by any rule, regulation, order, or permit entered by the department pursuant to this chapter may obtain judicial review thereof ...

78.60.290 Violations -- Penalty
Violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation, order of the department, or condition of any permit made hereunder is a ...

78.60.300 Aiding or abetting violations
No person shall knowingly aid or abet any other person in the violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation or ...

78.60.900 Severability -- 1974 ex.s. c 43
If any provision of this 1974 act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the ...