2014 US Code
Title 30 - Mineral Lands and Mining (Sections 1 - 2006)
Chapter 23 - Geothermal Resources (Sections 1001 - 1028)
Sec. 1001 - Definitions

As used in this chapter, the term—

(a) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior;

(b) "geothermal lease" means a lease issued under authority of this chapter;

(c) "geothermal resources" means (i) all products of geothermal processes, embracing indigenous steam, hot water and hot brines; (ii) steam and other gases, hot water and hot brines resulting from water, gas, or other fluids artificially introduced into geothermal formations; (iii) heat or other associated energy found in geothermal formations; and (iv) any byproduct derived from them;

(d) "byproduct" means any mineral or minerals (exclusive of oil, hydrocarbon gas, and helium) which are found in solution or in association with geothermal steam and which have a value of less than 75 per centum of the value of the geothermal steam or are not, because of quantity, quality, or technical difficulties in extraction and production, of sufficient value to warrant extraction and production by themselves;

(e) "known geothermal resources area" means an area in which the geology, nearby discoveries, competitive interests, or other indicia would, in the opinion of the Secretary, engender a belief in men who are experienced in the subject matter that the prospects for extraction of geothermal steam or associated geothermal resources are good enough to warrant expenditures of money for that purpose.

(f) "Significant ¹ thermal features within units of the National Park System" shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Thermal features within units of the National Park System listed in Section ¹ 1026(a)(1) of this title and designated as significant in the Federal Register notice of August 3, 1987 (Vol. 52, No. 148 Fed. Reg. 28790).

(2) Crater Lake National Park.

(3) Thermal features within Big Bend National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area proposed as significant in the Federal Register notice of February 13, 1987 (Vol. 52, No. 30 Fed. Reg. 4700).

(4) Thermal features within units of the National Park System added to the significant thermal features list pursuant to section 1026(a)(2) of this title.

(g) "direct use" means utilization of geothermal resources for commercial, residential, agricultural, public facilities, or other energy needs other than the commercial production of electricity; and ²

(Pub. L. 91–581, §2, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1566; Pub. L. 100–443, §2(a), Sept. 22, 1988, 102 Stat. 1766; Pub. L. 109–58, title II, §236(1), (2), (5), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 671.)

2005—Pub. L. 109–58, §236(5), inserted section catchline.

Par. (c). Pub. L. 109–58, §236(1), substituted "geothermal resources" for "geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources".

Par. (g). Pub. L. 109–58, §236(2), added par. (g).

1988—Par. (f). Pub. L. 100–443 added par. (f).

Pub. L. 109–58, title II, §221, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 660, provided that: "This subtitle [subtitle B (§§221–237) of title II of Pub. L. 109–58, enacting part B (§15871 et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 149 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amending this section and sections 530 and 1002 to 1027 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 1004 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the 'John Rishel Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 2005'."

Pub. L. 100–443, §1, Sept. 22, 1988, 102 Stat. 1766, provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 1026 and 1027 of this title, amending this section and sections 191, 226–3, 1005, 1017, and 1019 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1005 and 1026 of this title] may be known as the 'Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988'."

Pub. L. 91–581, §1, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1566, as amended by Pub. L. 109–58, title II, §236(4), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 671, provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 530 of this title] may be cited as the 'Geothermal Steam Act of 1970'."

¹ So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

² So in original. Probably should end with a period instead of "; and".