1780                                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 548

Approved May 16, 1978.

CHAPTER 549

(Senate Bill 1154)

AN ACT concerning

Maryland Geothermal Resources Act

FOR the purpose of creating the Maryland Geothermal
Resources Act; defining terms; expressing legislative
findings; specifying the powers and duties of the
Department of Natural Resources in this matter; making
provision for certain exploratory permits and permits
to appropriate or use geothermal resources; requiring
certain bonds to be filed with the Department; making
provision for judicial review of actions taken on
applications; providing penalties; and generally
dealing with geothermal resources.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 8-8A-01 through 8-8A-09, inclusive, to be under

the new subtitle "Subtitle 8A. Maryland

Geothermal Resources Act"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article — Natural Resources

SUBTITLE 8A. MARYLAND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES ACT

8-8A-01. DEFINITIONS.

(A)    IN GENERAL - IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS
HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B)    "CONSTRUCTION" MEANS ANY CLEARING, GRADING,
EXCAVATION, BUILDING, OR THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY OF THESE
ACTIVITIES.

(C)    "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES.

(D)    "EXPLORATORY ACTIVITIES" MEANS ANY ACTIVITY
INVOLVING THE DRILLING OF TEST WELLS FOR GEOTHERMAL
RESOURCES.