78.60.070 - Drilling permits -- Applications -- Hearing -- Fees.

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 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.]