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PUBLIC LAW 91-581-DEC. 24, 1970
[84 STAT.
Public Law 91-581 December 24, 1970 [S.368]
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. Definitions.
Leases.
Bids.
Conversion.
41 Stat. 4 3 7. 61 Stat. 9l3«
AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make disposition of geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Geothermal Steam Act of 1970". SEC. 2. As used in this Act, the term— (a) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior; (b) "geothermal lease" means a lease issued under authority of this Act; (c) "geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources" means (i) all products of geothermal processes, embracing indigenous steam, hot water and hot brines; (ii) steam and other gases, hot water and hot brines resulting from water, gas, or other fluids artificially introduced into geothermal formations; (iii) heat or other associated e n e r ^ found in geothermal formations; and (iv) any byproduct derived from them; (d) "byproduct" means any mineral or minerals (exclusive of oil, hydrocarbon gas, and helium) which are found in solution or in association with geothermal steam and which have a value of less than 75 per centum of the value of the geothermal steam or are not, because of quantity, quality, or technical difficulties in extraction and production, of sufficient value to warrant extraction and production by themselves; (e) "known geothermal resources area" means an area in which the geology, nearby discoveries, competitive interests, or other indicia would, in the opinion of the Secretary, engender a belief in men who are experienced in the subject matter that the prospects for extraction of geothermal steam or associated geothermal resources are good enough to warrant expenditures of money for that purpose. SEC. 3. Subject to the {provisions of section 15 of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may issue leases for the development and utilization of geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources (1) in lands administered by him, including public, withdrawn, and acquired lands, (2) in any national forest or other lands administered by the Department of Agriculture through the Forest Service, including public, withdrawn, and acquired lands, and (3) in lands which have been conveyed by the United States subject to a reservation to the United States of the geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources therein. SEC. 4. If lands to be leased under this Act are within any known g'eothermal resources area, they shall be leased to the highest responsible qualified bidder by competitive bidding under regulations formulated by the Secretary. If the lands to be leased are not within any known geothermal resources area, the qualified person first making application for the lease shall be entitled to a lease of such lands without competitive bidding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within one hundred and eighty days following the effective date of this Act: (a) with respect to all lands which were on September 7, 1965, subject to valid leases or permits issued under the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), or under the Mineral Leasing Act of Acc[uired Lands, as amended (30 U.S.C. 351, 358), or to existing mining claims located on or prior to September 7j 1965, the lessees or permittees or claimants or their successors in interest who are qualified to hold geothermal
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