(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 a permit to commence such drilling or redrilling on a form
prescribed by the department accompanied by a permit fee of two
hundred dollars. The department shall forward a duplicate copy
to the department of ecology within ten days of filing.
(2) Upon receipt of a proper application relating to
drilling or redrilling the department shall set a date, time, and
place for a public hearing on the application, which hearing
shall be in the county in which the drilling or redrilling is
proposed to be made, and shall instruct the applicant to publish
notices of such application and hearing by such means and within
such time as the department shall prescribe. The department
shall require that the notice so prescribed shall be published
twice in a newspaper of general circulation within the county in
which the drilling or redrilling is proposed to be made and in
such other appropriate information media as the department may
direct.
(3) Any person proposing to drill a core hole for the
purpose of gathering geothermal data, including but not
restricted to heat flow, temperature gradients, and rock
conductivity, shall be required to obtain a single permit for
each core hole according to subsection (1) of this section,
including a permit fee for each core hole, but no notice need be
published, and no hearing need be held. Such core holes that
penetrate more than seven hundred and fifty feet into bedrock
shall be deemed geothermal test wells and subject to the payment
of a permit fee and to the requirement in subsection (2) of this
section for public notices and hearing. In the event geothermal
energy is discovered in a core hole, the hole shall be deemed a
geothermal well and subject to the permit fee, notices, and
hearing. Such core holes as described by this subsection are
subject to all other provisions of this chapter, including a bond
or other security as specified in RCW 78.60.130.
(4) All moneys paid to the department under this section
shall be deposited with the state treasurer for credit to the
general fund.
[2007 c 338 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 43 § 7. Formerly RCW 79.76.070.]