WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 294

(1)  To explore for groundwater;

(2)  To obtain or monitor [ground water] GROUNDWATER;
[or]

(3)  To inject water into any underground formation
from which [ground water] GROUNDWATER may be produced; OR

(4)  TO TRANSFER HEAT TO OR FROM THE GROUND OR
GROUNDWATER, IF THE HOLE:

(I)  EXTENDS MORE THAN 20 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE
OF THE GROUND; AND

(II)  IS NOT A WELL FOR OBTAINING GEOTHERMAL
RESOURCES UNDER § 8-8A-01 OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE.

Article - Natural Resources

8-8A-01.

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings
indicated.

(e) "Geothermal resources" means the natural heat of the
earth higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 49 degrees
centigrade, or the energy, in whatever form, below the surface of
the earth present in, resulting from, or created by, or which may
be extracted from, this natural heat, the natural or artificial
medium containing that heat, and all minerals in solution or
other products obtained from naturally heated fluids, brines,
associated gases, and steam, in whatever form, found below the
surface of the earth, but excluding oil, hydrocarbon gas, and
other hydrocarbon substances.

(g) "Well" means any excavation or other alteration of the
earth's surface or crust by means of which geothermal resource
may be obtained.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1987.

Approved May 14, 1987.

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