§ 1124. — Research and development.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC1124]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 24--GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION
SUBCHAPTER I--GEOTHERMAL ENERGY COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT PROJECT
Sec. 1124. Research and development
(a) The Chairman, acting through the appropriate Federal agencies
and in cooperation with non-Federal entities, shall initiate a research
and development program for the purpose of resolving all major technical
problems inhibiting the fullest possible commercial utilization of
geothermal resources in the United States. The specific goals of such
programs shall include--
(1) the development of effective and efficient drilling methods
to operate at high temperatures in formations of geothermal
interest;
(2) the development of reliable predictive methods and control
techniques for the production of geothermal resources from
reservoirs;
(3) the exploitation of new concepts for fracturing rock to
permit recovery of contained heat reserves;
(4) the improvement of equipment and technology for the
extraction of geothermal resources from reservoirs;
(5) the development of improved methods for converting
geothermal resources and byproducts to useful forms;
(6) the development of improved methods for controlling
emissions and wastes from geothermal utilization facilities,
including new monitoring methods to any extent necessary;
(7) the development and evaluation of waste disposal control
technologies and the evaluation of surface and subsurface
environmental effects of geothermal development;
(8) the improvement of the technical capability to predict
environmental impacts resulting from the development of geothermal
resources, the preparation of environmental impact statements, and
the assuring of compliance with applicable standards and criteria;
(9) the identification of social, legal, and economic problems
associated with geothermal development (both locally and regionally)
for the purpose of developing policy and providing a framework of
policy alternatives for the commercial utilization of geothermal
resources;
(10) the provision for an adequate supply of scientists to
perform required geothermal research and development activities; and
(11) the establishment of a program to encourage States to
establish and maintain geothermal resources clearinghouses, which
shall serve to (A) provide geothermal resources developers with
information with respect to applicable local, State, and Federal
laws, rules, and regulations, (B) coordinate the processing of
permit applications, impact statements, and other information which
geothermal resources developers are required to provide, (C)
encourage uniformity with respect to local and State laws, rules,
and regulations with respect to geothermal resources development,
and (D) encourage establishment of land use plans, which would
include zoning for geothermal resources development and which would
assure that geothermal resources developers will be able to carry
out development programs to the production stage.
(b) The Chairman, acting through the appropriate Federal agencies
and in cooperation with non-Federal entities, shall implement a
coordinated program of research and development in order to demonstrate
the technical means for the extraction and utilization of the resource
base, including any by-products of such base, and in order to accomplish
the goals established by subsection (a) of this section. Research
authorized by this chapter having potential applications in matters
other than geothermal energy may be pursued to the extent that the
findings of such research can be published in a form for utilization by
others.
(Pub. L. 93-410, title I, Sec. 104, Sept. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1083.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 1126 of this title.
