Classification of Public Lands 

Valuable for Geothermal Steam and 

Associated Geothermal Resources 

Classification of Public lands 

Valuable for Geothermal Steam and 

Associated Geothermal Resources 

By L.H. GODWIN, L.B. HAIGLER, R.L. RIOUX, 

D.E. WHITE, L.J.P. MUFFLER, and R.G. WAYLAND 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 647 

Standards used by the Geological Survey to 

classify public lands for retention and for 

competitive leasing of geothermal steam 

and associated geothermal resources 

Washington J 971 
United States Department of the Interior 

ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary 

Geological Survey 

W. A. Radlinski, Acting Director 

Free on application to the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 20242 
CONTENTS 

Abstract ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------

Nature of geothermal resources-----------------------------

Present state of geothermal knowledge -----------------

Classification factors for retention ......................... . 

Classification factors for a known geothermal 

resources area --------------------------------------------------------

Page 

1 

1 

6 

6 

7 

8 

Classification factors-Continued 

Geology (including geophysical and geochemical data) ---------------------------······ --------------· 

Nearby discoveries --------·----------------·-----------------· 

Competitive interests -------------· --------------------------

Other indicia ------------------------------------------------------

References cited ------------------------------------·-----------------· 

Appendix-Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ----------

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

8 

9 

9 

9 

9 

10 

Page 

FIGURE 1. Map of Alaska showing lands classified for geothermal resources effective December 24, 1970.. 3 

2. Map of the Western United States showing lands classified for geothermal resources .effectjve 

December 24, 1970 --------------------------------------.. ·----------------------------------------------.. -------------·--------------------·---···- 4 

TABLE 

Page 

TABLE 1. Known geothermal resources areas ..................................... --------·------···--·------------.. --·---------·----------------.. ··--· .. 2 

Ill 

Classification of Public lands Valuable for Geothermal Stec-m 

and Associated Geothermal Resources 

By L. H. Godwin, L. B. Haigler, R. L Rioux, D. E. White, L. J. P. Muffler, and R. G. Wayianrl 

ABSTRACT 

The Organic Act of 1879 (43 U.S.C. 31) that established the U.S. Geological Survey provided, among 

other things, for the classification of the public lands 

and for the examination of the geological structure, 

mineral resources, and products of the national domain. 

In order to provide uniform executive action in classifying public lands, standards for determining which 

lands are valuable for mineral resources, for example, 

leasable mineral lands, or for other pr<>ducts are prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey. This report pr€'-

seuts the classification standards for determining which 

Federal lands are classifiable as geothermal steam and 

associated geothermal resources lands under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1566). 

The concept of a geothermal resources province is 

established for classification of lands for the purpose 

of retention in Federal ownership of rights to geothermal resources upon disposal of Federal lands. A 

geothermal resources province is defined as an area in 

which higher than normal temperatures are likely to 

occur with depth and in whieh there is a reasonable 

possibility of finding reservoir rocks that will yield 

steam or heated fluids to wells. 

The detennination of a "known geothermal resources 

area" is made after careful evaluation of the available 

geologic, geochemical, and geophysical data and any 

evidence derived from nearby discoveries, competitive 

interests, and other indicia. The initial classification 

required by the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 is 

presented. 

INTRODUCTION 

The Organic Act of 1879 (43 U.S.C. 31) 

that established the U.S. Geological Survey 

provided, among other things, for the classification of the public lands and for the examination of the geological structure, mineral 

resources, and other products of the national 

domain. With the enaetment of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, that authority and 

responsibility now includes, without limitation, 

1 

to the same extent as in classifying lands under 

the mineral leasing laws, the authority and 

responsibility to classify lands as val·~Q..ble for 

geothermal steam an(l associated gf'.othermal 

resources. Land is so classified in orrler to reserve or retain those substances in Federal 

ownership and to determine for th~ Department of the Interior which lands are included 

within "known geothermal resources areas" 

and thus subject to the competitive le€~ing provisions of the Geothermal Steam Ae.._, of 1970 

( 84 Stat. 1566) . 

The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (see 

"Appendix"), effective December 24, 1970, includes the following provisions: 

SEc. 2 (e). "known geothermal resources at"ea" means 

an area in which the geology, nearby discoY~ries, competitive interests, or other indieia would, in the opinion 

of the Secretary, engender a belief in men ''ilo are experienced in the subject matter that the prospects for 

extraction of geothermal steam or assor.iated geothermal resources are good enough to warrant expenditures of money for that purpose~ 

SEC. 4. If lands to be leased under this Ac"'". are within 

any known geothermal resources area, they shall be 

leased to the highest responsible qualified bidder by 

competitive bidding under regulations fornulated by 

the Secretary. If the lands to be leased are not within 

any known geothermal resources ar£a, tl ~ qualified 

person first making application for the le! se shall be 

entitled to a lease of such lands without competitive 

bidding. * * * 

SEC. 21 (a). Within one hundred and twenty days 

after the effective date of this Act, the Secretary shall 

cause to be published in the Federal Register a. deter~ 

mination of all lands which were included within any 

known geothermal resources area on the .efective date 

of the Act. He shall likewise publish in the Federal 

Register from time to time his determinatbn of other 

known geothermal resources areas speeifyfng in each 

case the date the lands were included in such area; 
SEc. 25. As to any land subject to geothermal leasing under section 3 of this Act, all laws which either 

(a) provide for the disposal of land by patent or other 

form of conveyance or by grant or by operation of law 

subject to a reservation of any mineral or (b) prevent 

or restrict the disposal of such land because of the 

mineral character of the land, shall hereafter be deemed 

to embrace geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources as a substance which either must be 

reserved or must prevent or restrict the disposal of 

such lamd, as the case may be. [Italics added.] This 

section shall not be construed to affect grants, patents, 

or other forms of conveyances made prior to the date 

of enactment of this Act. 

In order to assure uniform executive action 

in the classification of leasable mineral lands 

in the public domain, standards for determining which lands are mineral lands have been 

prepared from time to time by the U.S. Geological Survey. It is the duty of the Geological 

Survey to use geologic expertise to identify 

those Federal lands that are underlain by or 

have a reasonable expectation of containing 

mineral deposits or other products that meet 

or exceed the minimum limits set by the classification standards. Field examin~tion and a 

study of subsurface, geophysicrl, and geochemical data may precede classification. Similarly, all known pertinent geolog'ic facts are 

considered in determining which legal subdivisions of lands are classified as geothermal 

steam and associated resources lands. 

The purpose of this report is t'> present the 

classification standards that have been established to implement the Geotherm'='.l Steam Act 

of 1970. Figures 1 and 2 show those areas 

which include, in part, Federal lands classified 

as known geothermal resources ar~as that may 

be· leased only competitively to the highest 

qualified bidder and those lands classified as 

valuable prospectively for the pnrpose of retention of geothermal rights in Federal ownership upon disposal of the lands. Table 1 lists 

the known geothermal resources areas effective 

December 24, 1970. 

TABLE 1.-Known geothe1·mal resources areas 

[Number corresponds to location shown in fig. 1 or 2. Detailed land descriptions of these areas have been published in the "Federal Register," v. 36, p. 5626, March 25, 1971; v. 36, p. 6118, April 2, 1971; v. 36, p. 6441, April 3, 1971; v. 36, p. 7319, April 17, 1971; and 

v. 36, p. 7759, April 24, 1971] 

Locality Name Locality Name 

Alaska Nevada-Continued 

L ................ Pilgrim Springs 

2 .................. Geyser Spring Basin and Okmok Caldera 

4 .................. Steamboat Springs 

5 .................. Brady Hot Springs 

California 

1.. .............. _ The Geysers 

2 .................. Salton Sea 

3 .................. Mono-Long Valley 

4 .................. Calistoga 

5 .................. Lake City 

6 .................. Wendel-Amedee 

7_ ................ Coso Hot Springs 

8-................ Lassen 

9 ................ _Glass Mountain 

6 .................. Stillwater-Soda Lake 

7 .................. Darrough Hot Springs 

8 .................. Gerlach 

9 .................. Moana Springs 

10 ................ Double Hot Springs 

11 ................ Wabuska 

12 ................ Monte Neva 

13 ................ Elko Hot Springs 

New Mexico 

L ................ Baca Location No. 1 

10 ................ Sespe Hot Springs 

ll.. .............. Heber 

12 ................ Brawley 

13 ................ Dunes 

14 ................ Glamis 

! .................. Yellowstone 

2 .................. Frazier 

Idaho 

Montana 

1 .................. Yellowstone 

Nevada 

! .................. Beowawe 

2 .................. Fly Ranch 

3 .................. Leach Hot Springs 

Oregon 

L ................ Breitenbush Hot Springs 

2 .................. Crump Geyser 

3 .................. Vale Hot Springs 

4 .................. Mount Hood 

5 .................. Lakeview 

6 .................. Carey Hot Springs 

7 .................. Klamath Falls 

Utah 

L ................ Crater Springs 

2 .................. Roosevelt 

Washington 

L ................ Mount St. Helens 

2 
Western limit of Aleutian Islands 

EXPLANATION 

Known ~-IIIIMII • Rnourc. Ar .. 

[QJ 

Areas Valuable Pros,ectiYely 

FIGURE 1.-Map of Alaska showing lands classified for geothermal resources effective December 24, 1970. Numbers correspond to areas listed in table 1. 

3 
WASHINGTON 

D 

0 0 

0 

EXPLANATION 

II 

Known Geotta.,.al "••ourOM Areae 

[QJ D 

Areas Valua&tle Prospectively CALIFORNIA 

FIGURE 2.-Map of the Western United States showing lands classified for geothermal 

4 
IDAHO 

0 

0 

0 a [Jl 2 

0 i!.l 

0 

MONTANA 

D 

CJ 

~---f..£..r,..<.4o""' YELLOWSTONE 

NATIONAL PARK 

a c D 

IJ 

0 

0 

WYOMING 

UTAH 

C::J 

G 

0 

0 

[) 0 

"b 

0 

ARIZONA 

0 

0 

0 

0 0 

0 

SOUTH DAKOTA 

0 0 

0 

0 

G COLORADO 

Cl 

0 0 

0 

oo 0 

0 

~ D oo tP 0 0 

0 0 0 

0 0 

0 0 

NEW MEXtCO 

0 

resources effective December 24, 1970. Numbers correspond to areas listed in table 1. 

5 
Several Geological Survey personnel contributed helpful suggestions in critical reviews 

during the preparation of this report, and their 

assistance is gratefully acknowledged. The review and suggestions made by John F. Hughes, 

Office of the Solicitor, concerning the classification standards were especially useful. 

NATURE OF GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES 

The earth is an immense reservoir of energy, 

but most of this energy is contained in the 

earth's core and mantle at depths unlikely ever 

to be tapped by any fores,eeable drilling technology. Within the earth at depths potentially 

accessible to drilling (about 6 miles) are stored 

approximately 10:!4 British thermal units of 

heat (White, 1965, p. 2), but most of this heat 

is far too diffuse to be considered as a potential 

resource. However, economically significant 

concentrations of geothermal energy do occur 

in local "hot spots" where high temperatures 

(150° to 650°F) are found in porous rocks containing liquid water and (or) steam; such 

concentrations of extractable heat are known 

as "geothermal reservoirs." The reservoirs are 

found in regions of recent volcanism and mountain-building and in the deep parts of many 

sedimentary basins. 

The energy in a geothermal reservoir consists of heat, largely stored in rocks and to a 

lesser extent in liquid water and (or) steamfilling pores· and fractures. The water and 

steam provide the means by which heat from 

deep sources is transferred by convection to 

depths shallow enough to be tapped by drilling. Water and steam also serve as the agents 

by which geothermal heat escapes at the surface in hot springs and fumaroles and through 

which geothermal heat can be tapp~d commercially by wells. 

The fluid in most geothermal reservoirs is 

liquid water (White and others, 1971) that is 

held at temperatures above surface boiling by 

the confining pressure. -Decrease in pressure 

upon withdrawal of the liquid water causes 

steam to form by boiling, and a mixture of 

steam and water is produced at the surface. 

A few reservoirs contain primarily stean1, and 

the wells produce dry or superheated steam 

with no water. These dry steam reservoirs are 

6 

positively known only in the Larderello-Mt. 

Amiata region of Italy and at Tr~ Geysers, 

Calif. 

For a geothermal reservoir to have appreciable potential for exploitation, it must meet 

the following requirements: ( 1) relf.tively high 

temperature (greater than 150° to 400°F, depending on processing technology), (2) a depth 

shallow enough to permit drilling (currently 

10,000 ft or less), (3) sufficient rock permeability to allow the heat transfer agent (water 

and (or) steam) to flow continuously at a high 

rate, and ( 4) sufficient water rechar.~e to maintain production over many years. 

Limited exploitation of geothernal resources has occurred since the turn of the century, 

primarily to generate electric power. Geothermal resources also have been used for space 

heating, product processing, and r.gricultural 

heating, and in addition some geothermal fluids 

contain chemicals and metals that are potentially valuable byproducts. Furthermore, geothermal energy appears to have an important 

potential use in desalination, either of the geothermal fluid itself or of other saline waters 

that may occur near a source of geothermal 

energy. 

PRESENT STATE OF GEOTHERMAL KNOWLEDGE 

Geothermal areas exist throughout the world, 

primarily along the belts of youn~ volcanism 

that ring the Pacific Ocean and that follow the 

:r:nidoceanic ridges. Geothermal ar~as of the 

United States are found primarily in the Western States, along the circum-Pacific belt of 

young volcanism and mountain-building and 

where the Pacific ridge system (a lccus of high 

heat flow) intersects the North Arn.erican continent along the Gulf of California and the 

Imperial-Coachella Valley of California. In the 

Eastern United States, potentially economic 

reservoirs of geothermal heat have been identified in the deep parts of the Gulf of Mexico 

sedimentary basin. 

The distribution, extent, and magnitude of 

the geothermal resources of the United States 

are, at present, poorly known. The general extent of the resource in the Westerr States can 

be inferred from the distribution of hot springs 

and in a more general way from the distribu-
tion of young volcanic rocks. In the past, geothermal exploration was primarily on sites 

identified by hot springs (an exploration 

method analogous to the primitive oil exploration methods of the turn of the century when 

oil fields could be located only by finding surface oil seeps). Available geologic and geochemical techniques have not been used adequately in discovering and evaluating new 

fields, and geophysical principles and techniques are only now beginning to be adapted 

to geothermal exploration. 

Knowledge of the characteristics and parameters of individual geothermal systems in the 

United States has come from exploratory drilling in about 40 hot-spring areas (J. B. Koenig, 

"Geothermal Exploration in the Western 

United States": Paper II/19, United Nations 

Symposium on the Development and Utilization of Geothermal Resources, Pisa, Italy, September 1970), from developmental drilling 

(mainly at The Geysers of northern California 

~nd the Salton Sea in southern California), and 

from scientific studies of a few major thermalspring Rreas, supplemented by shallow research 

drilling. Extrapolation of knowledge from 

other countries, mainly New Zealand, Italy, and 

Iceland, has proven useful, but techniques for 

estimating the size and power potential of geothermal sites prior to drilling are only beginning to be developed. Techniques for efficiently utilizing all the energy produced from 

geothermal wells (that is, by desalination or by 

two-phnse generation) are~ only beginning to 

be investigated and developed. 

CLASSIFICATION FACTORS FOR RETENTION 

The petroleum province is an established 

concept in classification of oil and gas lands 

for purposes of retention of Federal mineral 

rights upon disposal of public lands. A geothermal resources province ( G RP) similar in 

concept to a petroleum province is necessary to 

define those areas valuable prospectively for 

geothermal steam and associated geothermal 

resources. 

A geothermal resources province is an area 

in which higher than normal temperatures are 

likely to occur with depth and there is a reasonable possibility of finding reservoir rocks 

that will yield steam or heat~d fluids to wells. 

7 

In most prospective areas, data on ~~~othermal 

gradients and conductive heat flow are scarce. 

Adequate temperature-depth data exist only in 

sedimentary basins that have been extensively 

explored for oil and gas. Most of these basins 

are characterized by nearly "normal" geothermal gradients rather than the abnormally high 

rates needed for development of geothermal 

energy. 

The present-day use of geothern1al energy 

includes generation of electricity, manufacturing, agriculture, and space heating. The minimum present-day use for geothermal resources 

is the exploitation of stored heat energy for 

space heating. Geothermal fluids used for space 

heating are generally delivered at al','lve 100°F 

and are available at the surface or at shallow 

depths below the surface. S. S. Einarsson 

("Utilization of Low Enthalpy Water for Space 

Heating, Industrial, Agricultural and Other 

Uses": Rapporteur rept., Sec. X, United Nations Symposium on the Development and Utilization of Geothermal Resources, Pisa, Italy, 

September 1970) reported use of 11 8°F water 

in space heating in Olafsfjordhur, Iceland, and 

104°F water in Japan. S. H. Ross ("Geothermal Potential of Idaho": Paper II/1, 

United Nations Symposium on the Development and Utilization of Geothermal Res·ources, 

Pisa, Italy, September 1970) reported use of 

104°F water for agricultural purposes in 

Idaho. Because a heat exchanger c:an extract 

the heat from the geothermal fluid, the chemical composition or the corrosiveno.ss of the 

fluid is not necessarily a controlling factor in 

classification. 

The classification of geothermal resources 

provinces is based on geologic inference similar 

to that used by the Geological Surve.y in classifying lands for retention of oil and gas mineral 

rights and should provide adequate protection 

against alienation of leasable geothermal resources. One or more of the following indicia 

are necessary for the retention classification 

of lands in geothermal resources provinces : 

1. Volcanism of late Tertiary or Quaternary 

age-especially caldera structures, cones, 

and volcanic vents. 

2. Geysers, fumaroles, mud volcanoes, or 

thermal springs at least 40°F higher than 
average ambient temperature. 

3. Subsurface geothermal gradients generally 

in excess of two times normal, as reflected 

in deep water wells, oil well tests, and 

other test holes. 

CLASSIFICATION FACTORS FOR A KNOWN 

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES AREA 

Lands shall be classified as a "known geothermal resources area" (KGRA) when "the 

prospects for extraction of geothermal steam 

or associated geothermal resources from an 

area are good enough to warrant expenditures 

of money for that purpose." The accumulation 

of geothermal resources is in some ways similar to the accumulation of oil and gas resources, and only a test hole can establish with 

certainty the existence of adequate temperatures, pressures, and production capacity of 

an ar·ea. However, the definition of a "known 

geothermal resources area" departs from the 

concept of a "known geologic structure of a 

producing oil or gas field" (Finley, 1959) in 

that it does not require a producible well. Thus, 

any relevant data and information p•ertaining 

to the criteria enumerated in sec. 2 (e) of the 

Geothermal Steam Act can be considered in 

determining whether lands are included within 

any KGRA. 

The extent of a KGRA is influenced by such 

geologic factors as the pattern of temperature 

gradient, structure, stratigraphy, porosity, conductivity, permeability, heat source, and rate 

of recharge of fluids. The determination of a 

KGRA is made after evaluating the net effect 

of all geologic, geochemical, and geophysical 

data and any evidence derived· from nearby 

discoveries, competitive interests, and other 

indicia. 

GEOLOGY (INCLUDING GEOPHYSICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL 

DATA) 

The following kinds of data, considered together, indicate that the prospects for extraction of geothermal steam or associated geothermal resources are good enough to warrant 

expenditures of money for that purpose: 

1. Siliceous sinter and natural geysers both 

imply high subsurface temperatures, generally 350°F or greater (D. E. White, 

"Geochemistry Applied to the Discovery, 

8 

Evaluation and Exploitation of Geothermal Energy Resources" : Rapporteur 

rept., Sec. V, United Nations Symposium 

on the Development and Utilization of 

Geothermal Resources, Pis·a, Italy, September 1970) in hot-water f'ystems, because of relationships generr.Ily existing 

between temperature and SiO:l content of 

liquid water. 

2. The temperatures of fumarol~s, thermal 

springs, and mud volcanoes provide minimum subsurface temperatures. 

3. The SiO~ content of spring water is a very 

useful chemical geothermometer for indicating the reservoir temperatures of many 

hot-water systems (R. 0. Fournier and 

A. H. Truesdell, "Chemical Indicators of 

Subsurface Temperature Applied to Hot 

Spring Waters of Yellowstone National 

Park, Wyoming, U.S.A.": Paper V /2, 

United Nations Symposium on the Development and Utilization of Geothermal Resources, Pisa, Italy, September 1970; 

D. E. White, see above) . 

4. The Na/K ratio in spring waters of many 

hot-water systems is also a useful chemical geothermometer when there is adequate knowledge of competirg influences 

(D. E. White, see above). 

5. Most known potential geother:'llal systems 

occur in or near volcanoes and calderas 

of late Tertiary or Quaternary age. 

6. Abnormally high conductive heat flow and 

the geothermal gradient are the best indicators of deep, concealed geothermal 

reservoirs. Although specific limits have 

not yet been established, two to 10 times 

the world-wide average (heat flow of 1.5 

microcalories per em:! per r~cond; temperature gradient of 1 °F per 100 ft) extended consistently over hundreds of feet 

of depth appears favorable. 

7. The porosity and the permeability of a potential reservoir are impor~ant parameters but can be established only by drilling and testing. Where stratigraphic control of the reservoir fluid or steam by a 

caprock is expected, near-s,1rface characteristics of the rocks may provide preliminary evaluations. 

8. Electrical resistivity surveys are probably 
the best geophysical means to geothermal 

evaluation available at this time, especially for the hot-water systems. 

9. Magnetic, gravity, and airborne infrared 

geophysical surveys may provide useful 

suplemental data. 

10. Other geophysical methods such as microseismic, seismic ground noise, electromagnetic, and telluric surveys may have 

significant future use in evaluation. 

NEARBY DISCOVERIES 

In classifying land as a KGRA, the discovery of a deposit of geothermal steam or 

associated geothermal resources in the vicinity 

of such lands is evaluated together with the 

available data concerning the other criteria 

enumerated in sec. 2 (e) of the Act which are 

to be considered in classification action. 

COMPETITIVE INTERESTS 

Competitive interest is considered together 

with the available data concerning the other 

criteria enumerated in sec. 2(e) of the Act in 

classifying lands as being within a KGRA. 

Available information which could be considered in determining the existence of competitive interest in connection with an application for a geothermal lease would include 

information concerning the existence of bona 

fide, allowable applications for geothermal 

leases which have been filed for all or any part 

of the lands sought under the application being 

considered, or for lands in the vicinity of the 

lands being sought. The circumstance that two 

or more GOmpanies are exploring, applying for, 

or actually leasing available State or fee lands 

for geothermal resources in the same general 

area might constitute competitive interest that 

9 

would affect Federal lands considerec1 valuable 

prospectively for geothermal resources and 

could warrant its classification as a KGRA. 

The absence of indicated competitivE: interest, 

however, is, in and of itself, no bar to classification of lands for inclusion in a KGRA and 

would not be sufficient to warrant r~vocation 

of a KGRA. 

OTHER INDICIA 

Any pertinent engineering and (or) economic data may be considered toget.her with 

other available data relating to tho. criteria 

enumerated in sec. 2 (e) of the Geothermal 

Steam Act in clas·sifying land for inn.lusion in 

a KGRA. 

In defining the lands valuable for geothermal 

resource development under the proposed withdrawal published in the "Federal Re.~ister," v. 

32, p. 4506, March 24, 1967, the D.~rector' of 

the Geological Survey used primarily a combination of the then known geologic. and geophysical data as well as temperature and chemical data, in part supplied by induf~ry, from 

areas that had been drilled in exploration for 

geothermal steam. Future developinents will 

provide substantially more geologic and geophysical information as well as engineering 

and economic data. These factors will be considered in future determinations of KGRA's. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Finley, E. A., 1959, The definition of kncwn geologic 

structures of producing oil and gas fields: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Circ. 419, 6 p. 

White, D. E., 1965, Geothermal energy: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Circ. 519, 17 p. 

White, D. E., Muffler, L. J. P., and Truesdell, A. H., 

1971, Vapor-dominated hydrothermal systems, 

compared with hot-water systems: Econ. Geology, 

v. 66, no. 1, p. 75-97. 
Public Law 91-581 

91 st Congress, S. 368 

December 24, 1970 

S!n9tt 

To mithorize the Secretary of the Interior to make disposition of geothermal 

steam and associated geothermal resources, and for other purposes. 

84 STAT. 1566 

Be it enacted by the Se·nate and H01.use of Representatives of the 

United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may Geothenna1 Stean 

be cited as the "Geothermal Steam Act of 1970". Aot of 1970. 

SEc. 2. As used in this Act, the term- Definitions. 

(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 energy found in geothermal formations; 

and (iv) any byproduct denved from them; 

(d) "byproduct" means any mineral or minerals ( exclusi ''e of 

oil, hydrocarbon gas, and hehum) 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 Secre- Leases. 

tary 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 pubhc, withdrawn1 and acqmred 

lands, ( 2) in any national forest or other lands admimstered 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 Bids. 

geothermal 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 Jands without competitive bidding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time Conversion. 

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 41 Stat. 437. 

under the Mineral Leasing Act of Acquired Lands, as amended 

(30 U.S.C. 351, 358), or to existing mining claims located on or 61 Stat. 913. 

prior to September 7~ 1965, the lessees or v.ermittees or claimants or their successors in mterest who are qualified to hold geothermal 

53-837 0 

10 
Pub. Law 91-581 

84 STAT. 1567 

December 24, 1970 

Acreage 

limitation. 

Lease 

provisions. 

Royalties. 

41 Stat. 437. 

Rent. 

leases shall have the right to convert such leases or permits or claims to geothermal leases covering the same lands; 

(b) where there are conflicting claims, leases, or permits therefor embracing the same land, the person who first was issued a lease or permit, or who first recorded the mining claim shall be 

entitled to first consideration; 

(c) with respect to all lands which were on September 7,1965, 

the subject of applieations for leases or permits under the above 

Acts, the applicants may convert their applications to app1ications 

for geothermal leases ha.ving priorities dating from the time of 

filing of such applications under such Acts; 

(d) no person shall be permitted to convert mineral leases, 

permits, applications therefor, or mining claims for more than 

10,240 acres; and 

(e) the conversion of leases, permits, and mining claims and 

applications for leases and permits shall be accomplished in 

accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. No right 

to conversion to a geothermal lease shall accrue to any person 

under this section unless such person shows to the reasonable satisfaction of the Secretary that substantial expenditures for the 

exploration, development, or production of geothermal steam have 

been made by the applicant who is seeking conversion, on the lands 

for which a lease is sought or on adjoining, adjacent, or nearby 

Federal or non-Federal lands. 

(f) ·with respect to lands within any known geothermal resources area and whieh are subject to a right to conversion to a ~eothermal lease, such lands shall be leased by competitive 

bidding: Pro1.lided, That, the competitive geothermal lease shall 

be issued to the person owning the right to conversion to a geothermal lease if he makes payment of an amount equal to the 

highest bona fide. bid for the competitive geothermal lease, plus 

the rental for the first year, within thirty days after he receives 

written notice from the Secretary of the amount of the highest 

bid. 

SEc. 5. Geothermal leases shall provide for-

( a) •a royalty of not less than 10 per centum or more than 15 

per centum of the amount or value of steam, or any other form of 

heat or energy derived from production under the lease and sold or utilized by the lessee or reasonably susceptible to sale or utilization by the lessee; 

(b) a royalty of not more than 5 per centum of the value of any 

byproduct derived from production under the lease and sold or utilized or reasonably susceptible of sa]e or utilization by the 

lessee, except that as to any byproduct which is a mineral named 

in section 1 of the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181), the rate of royalty for such mineral 

shaH be the same as that provided in that Act and the maximum 

rate of royalty for such mineral shall not exceed the maximum 

royalty applicable under that Act; 

·(c) payment in advance of an annual rental of not less than $1 

per acre or fraction thereof for each year of the lease. lfthere is no well on the leased lands capable of producing geothermal resources in commercial quantities, the failure to pay rental on or before the 

anniversary date shall terminate the lease by operation of law: 

Provided, ho~oever, That whenever the Secretary discovers that 

the rental payment due under a lease is paid timely but the amount 

of the payment is deficient because of an error or other reason and 

the deficiency is nominal, as determined by the Secretary pursuant 

to regulations prescribed by him, he shall notify the lessee of the 

deficiency and such lease shall not automatically terminate unless 

11 
December 24, 1970 Pub. Law 91-581 

the lessee fails to pay the deficiency within the period prescribed 

in the notice: Pro~·ided further, That, where any lease has b~en 

terminated automatically by operation of law under this section 

for failure to pay rental timely and it is shown to the satisfaction 

of the Secretary of the Interior that the failure to pay timely the 

lease rental was justifiable or not due to a lack of reasonable diligence, he in his judgment may reinstate the lease if--

( 1) a petition for reinstatement, together with the required 

rental, is filed with the Secretary of the Interior; and 

(2) no valid lease has been issued affecting any of the 

lands in the terminated lease prior to the filing of the petition 

for reinstatement; and 

(d) a minimum royalty of $2 per acre or fraction thereof in lieu 

of rental payable at the expiration of each lease year for each producing lease, commencing with the lease year beginning on or after 

the commencement of production in commercial quantities. For 

the purpose of determining royalties hereunder the value of any 

geothermal steam and byproduct used by the lessee and not sold 

and reasonably susceptible of sale shall be determined by the 

Secretary, who shall take into consideration the cost of exploration 

and production and the economic value o£ the resource in terms of 

its ultimate utilization. 

84 STAT • 1568 

SEc. 6. (a) Geothermal leases shall be for a primary term of ten Term. 

years. If geothermal steam is produced or utilized in commercial 

quantities within this term, such lease shall continue for so long thereafter as geothermal steam is produced or utilized in commercial quantities, but such continuation shall not exceed an additional forty years. Limitation. 

(b) If, at the end of such forty years, steam is produced or utilized Renewal. 

in commercial quantities and the lands a.re not needed for other purposes, the lessee shall have a preferential right to a renewal of such 

lease. f?r a second forty-year term in accordance with such terms and 

concht10ns as the Secretary deems appropriate. 

(c) Any lease for land on which, or for which under an approved Extension. 

cooperative or unit plan of development or operation, actual drilling 

operations were commenced prior to the end of its primary term and are being diligently prosecuted at that time shall be extended for five 

years and so long therea.fter, but not more than thirty-five years, as geothermal steam is produced or utilized in commercial quantities. If, 

at the end of such extended term, steam is being produced or utilized 

in commercial quantities and the lands are not needed for other purposes, the lessee shall have a preferential right to a renewal of such 

lease for a second term in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate. 

(d) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, production or utilization of geothermal steam in commercial quantities shall be 

deemed to include the completion of one or more wells producing or capable of producing geothermal steam in commercial quantities and a bona fide sale of sueh geothermal steam for delivery to or utilization 

bv a facilitv or facilities not vet installed but scheduled for installation 

not later than fifteen years~ from the date of commencement of the 

primary term. of the iease. 

(e) Leases which have extended bv reasons of production, or which 

have produced geothermal steam, and have been determined by the 

Secretary to be incapable of further commercial production and utilization of geothermal steam may be further extended for a period of 

not more than five years from the date of such determination but only 

for so long as one or more valuable byproducts are produced in com- mercial quantities. If such byproducts are leasable under the Mineral 

Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181, et seq.), 41 stat. 437. 

or under the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 

12 
84 STAT. 1569 

61 Stat. 913. 

Leases, 

acreage. 

Limitation. 

Increase. 

Readjustment. 

No1iioe. 

Pub. Law 91-581 December 24, 1970 

351-358) , and the leasehold is primarily valuable for the production 

thereof, the lessee shall be entitled to convert his geothermal lease to a mineral lease under, and subject to all the terms and conditions of, such 

appropriate Act upon application at any time before expiration of 

the lease extension by reason of byproduct production. The lessee shall 

be entitled to locate under the mining la.\\'"8 all minerals which are not 

leasable and which would constitute a byproduct if commercial production or utilization of geothermal steam continued. The lessee in 

order to acquire the rights herein granted him shall com_{>lete the location of mineral claims within ninety days after the termmation of the 

lease for geothermal steam. Any such converted lease or the surface of 

any mining claim located for geothermal byproducts mineral affecting 

lands withdra"\\'11 or acquired rn aid of a function of a Federal department or agency, including the Department of the Interior, shall be 

subject to such additional terms and conditions as may be prescribed 

by such department or agency with respect to the additional o_perations or effects resulting from such conversion upon adequate utilization of 

the lands for the purpose for which they are administered. 

(f) Minerals locatable tmder the mining laws of the United States 

in lands subject to a geothermal lease issued under the provisions of 

this Act which are not associated with the geothermal steam and asso- ciated geothermal resources of such lands as defined in section 2 (c) 

herein shall be locatable under said mining laws in accordance w1th 

the principles of the Multiple Mineral Development Act (68 Stat. 708; 

found in 30 U.S. C. 521 et seq.). 

SEc. 7. A geothermal lease shall embrace a reasonably compact area of not more than two thousand five hundred and sixty acres, except 

where a departure therefrom is occasioned by an irregular subdivision or subdivisions. No person, association, or corporation, except as otherwise provided in this Act, shall take, hold, own, or control at one time, 

whether acquired directly from the Secretary under this Act or otherwise, any direct or indirect interest in Federal geothermal leases in 

any one State exceeding twenty thousand four hundred and eighty 

acres, including ]eases acquired under the provisions of section 4 of 

this Act. 

At any time after fifteen years from the effective date of this Act 

the Secretary, after public hearings, may increase this maximum holding in any one State by regulation, not to exceed fifty-one thousand 

two hundred acres. SEc. 8. (a~ The Secretary may readjust the terms and conditions, 

except as otherwise provided herein, of any geothermal lease issued 

under this Act at not less than ten-year intervals beginning ten years 

after the date the geothermal steam is produced, as determined by the 

Secretary. Each geothermal lease issued under this Act shall provide 

for such readjustment. The Secretary shall give notice of any proposed 

readjustment of terms and conditions, and, unless the lessee files with 

the Secretary objection to the proposed terms or relinquishes the lease 

within thirty days after receipt of such notice, the lessee shall con- clusively be deemed to have agreed with such terms and conditions. 

If the lessee files objections, and no agreement can be reached between 

the Secretary and the lessee within a period of not less than sixty days, 

the lease ma_y be terminated by either party. 

(b) The Secretary may readjust the rentals and royalties of a.ny 

geothermal lease issued under this Act at not less than twenty-year 

intervals beginning thirty-five years after the date geothermal stea.m is 

produced, as determined by the Secretary. In the event of any such 

readjustment neither the rental nor royalty may be increased by more than 50 per centum over the rental or royalty paid during the preceding period, and in no event shall the royalty J.>ayahle exceed 221;2 

per centum. Each geothermal lease issue under thiS Ac-t shall provide 

13 
December 24, 1970 Pub. Law 91-581 

for such readjustment. The Secretary shall give notice of any proposed 

readjustment of rentnls and royalties, and, unless the lessee files with 

the Secretary objection to the proposed rentals and royalties or relinquishes the lease within thirty days after receipt of such notice, the 

lessee shall conclush·ely be deemed to have agreed with such tenns 

and conditions. If the lessee files objections, and no agreement can be 

reached between the Secretary und the lessee within a period of not 

less than sixty days, the leas£> may be terminated by either party. 

(c) Any readjustment of the terms and conditions as to use, protection, or restoration of t.he surface of any lease of lands withdrawn 

or acquired in aid of a function of a Federal department or agency 

other than the Department of the Interior may be made only upon 

not.ice to, and with the a.pproval of, such department or agency. 

SEc. 9. If the production, use, or conversion of geothermal steam is 

susceptible of producing a valuable byproduct or byproducts, including 

eomme,r<'ially demineralized water for beneficial uses in accordance 

with applicable State water laws, the Secretary shall require substantial beneficial production or use thereof unless, in individual circumstanees he modifies or waives this requirement in the interest of 

eonservation of natural resources or for other reasons sati~factory to 

him. However, the production or use of such byproducts shall be subject to the rights of the holders of preexisting leases, claims: or permits 

covering the same land or the same minerals, if any. 

SEc. 10. The holder of any geothermal lease at any time may make 

and file in the appropriate land office a written relinquishment of all 

rights under such lease or of any legal subdivision of the area covered 

by sueh lease. Such relinquishment shall be effective as of the date of 

its filing. Thereupon the lessee shall be released of all obligations thereafter accruing under said lease with respect to the lands relinquished, 

hut no such relinquishment shall release such lessee, or his surety or 

bond, from any liability for breach of any obligation of the lease, other 

than an obligation to drill, accrued at the date of the relinquishment, 

or from the continued obliga.tion, in aecordance with the applicable 

lease terms and regulations, ( 1) to make payment of all accrued rentals 

and royalties, (2) to place all wells on the relinquished lands in condition for suspension or abandonment, and ( 3) to protect or restore substantially the surface and surface resources. 

SEC.ll. The Secretary, upon application by the lessee, may authorize 

the lessee to suspend ope.rations and production on a producing lease 

and he may, on his own motion, in the interest of conservation suspend 

operations on any lease but in either case he may extend the lease term 

for the period of any suspension, and he may waive, suspend, or reduce 

the rental or royalty required in such lease. 

SEC. 12. Leases may be terminated by the Secretary for any violation 

of the regulations or lease tenns after thirty days notice provided that 

such violation is not corrected within the notice period, or in the event 

the violation is such that it cannot be corrected within the notice period 

then provided that lessee has not commenced in good faith withm said 

notice period to correct such violation and thereafter to proceed dilig-ently to correct such violation. Lessee shall be entitled to a hearing on 

the matter of such claimed violation or proposed tennination of lease 

if request for a hearing- is made to the Secretary within the thirty-day 

period after notice. The period for correction of violation or commencement to correct such violation of regulations or of lease terms, as 

aforesaid, shall be extended to thirty days after the Secr·etary's decisi<?n after such hearing if the Secretary shall find that a violation 

exists. 

SEc. 13. The Secretary may waive, suspend, or reduce the rental or 

royalty for any lease or portton thereof m the interests of conservation and to encourage the greatest ultimate recovery of geothermal 

14 

84 STAT. 1570 

Notioe. 

Byproduots. 

Relinquishrne:nt. 

Suspension. 

Leases, 

termination. 

Notioe. 
84 STAT. 1571 

Surfaoe 

land, use. 

41 Stat. 1075; 

62 Stat. 275. 

16 usc 1. 

Lessees, 

oi tizenship 

re qui remerrt. 

Cooperative 

or unit 

plan. 

Pub. Law 91-581 December Z4, 1970 

resources, if he determines that this is necessary to promote development or that the lease cannot be successfully operated under the lease 

terms. 

SEc. 14. Subject to the other provisions of this Act, a lessee shall be 

entitled to use so much of the surface of the land covered by his geothermal lease as may be found by the Secretary to be necessary for 

the production, utilization, and conservation of geothermal resources. 

SEC. 15. (a) Geothermal leases for lands withdrawn or acquired in 

aid of functions of the Department of the Interior may be issued only 

under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe to 

insure adequate utilization of the lands for the purposes lor which they 

were withdrawn or acquired. 

(b) Geothermal leases for lands withdrawn or acquired in aid of 

functions of the Department of Agriculture may be issued only with 

the consent of, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be 

prescribed by, the head of that Department to insure adequate utilization of the lands for the purposes for which they were withdrawn or 

acquired. Geothermal leases for lands to which section 24 of the Federal 

Power Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 818), is applicable, may be issued 

only with the consent of, and subject to, such terms and conditions as 

the Federal Power Commission may prescribe to insure adequate 

utilization of such lands for power and related pur(>08es. 

(c) Geothermal leases under this Act shall not be Issued for lands 

administered in accordance with (1) the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 

Stat. 535), as amended or supplemented, (2) for lands within a national 

recreation area, (3.) for lands in a fish hatchery administered by the 

Secretary, wildlife refuge, wildlife range, game range, wildlife management area, waterfowl production area, or for lands acquired or 

reserved for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife that 

are threatened with extinctionl ( 4) for tribally or individually owned 

Indian trust or restricted lands, within or without the boundaries of 

Indian reservations. 

SEc. 16. Leases under this Act may be issued only to citizens of the 

United States, associations of such citizens, corporations or,f!anized 

under the laws of the United States or of any State or the District 

of Columbia, or governmental units, including, without limitation, 

municipalities. 

SEc. 17. Administration of this Act shall be under the principles of 

multiple use of lands and resources, and geothermal leases Shall, insofar 

as feasible, allow for coexistence of other leases of the same lands for 

deposits of minerals under the laws applicable to them, for the location 

and production of claims under the mining laws, and for other uses of 

the areas covered by them. Operations uJ).der such other leases or for 

such other uses, however, shall not unreasonably interfere with or 

endanger operations under any lease issued pursuant to this Act. nor 

shaH operations under leases so issued unreasonably interfere with or 

endanger operations '!1-:r:tder any lease, license, claim, or permit issued 

pursuant to the provisions of any other Act. 

SEc. 18. For the purpose of properly conserving the natural resources 

of any geothermal pool, field, or like area, or any part thereof, lessees 

thereof and their representatives may unite with each other, or jointly 

or separately with others, in -collectively adopting and opera tin~ under 

a cooperative or unit plan of development or operation of such pool, 

field, or 1ike area, or any part thereof, whenever this is determined and 

certified by the Secretary to be necessary or advisable in the public 

interest. The Secretary may in hie discretion and with the consent of 

the holders of leases "invoived, establish, alter, change, revoke, and 

make such regulations with reference to such leases in connection with 

the institution and operation of any such cooperative or unit plan as 

he may deem necessary or proper to secure reasonable protection of the 

15 
December Z4, 1970 Pub. Law 91-581 

public interest. He may include in geothermal leases a provision requirmg the lessee to operate under such a reasonable cooperative or unit 

plan, and he may prescribe such a plan under which such lessee shall 

operate, which shall adequately protect the ris-hts of all parties in 

interest, including the United States. Any such plan may, in the discretion of the Secretary, provide for Yesting in the Secretary or any other 

person, committee, or Federal or State agency designated therein, 

authority to a.lter or modify from time to time the rate of prospecting 

and development and the quantity and rate of production under such 

plan, All leases operated under any such plan approved or prescribed 

by the Secretary shall be excepted in determining holdings or control 

for the purposes of section 7 of this Act. 

When separate tracts cannot be independently developed and operated in conformity with an established well-spacing or development 

program, any lease, or a portion thereof, may be pooled with other 

lands, whether or not owned by the United States, under a communitization or drilling agreement providing for an apportionment of production or royalties among the separate tracts of land comprising the 

drilling or spacing unit when determined by the Secretary to be in the 

public interest, and o~erations or production pursuant to such an agreement shall be deemed to be operations or production as to each lease 

committed thereto. 

The Secretary is hereby authorized, on such conditions as he may 

prescribe, to approve operating, drilling, or development contracts 

made by one or more lessees of geothermal leases~ with one or more persons, associations, or corporatiOns whenever, in his discretion, the conse,rvat~on of natu!al products or the public conYenience or necessity 

may reqmre or the mterests of the Umted States may be best served 

thereby. All leases operated under such approved operating, drilling, or development contracts, and interests thereunder, shall be excepted 

in determining holdings or control under section 7 o£ this Act. 

SEc. 19. Upon request of the Secretary, other Federal departments 

and agencies shall furnish him with any relevant data then in their 

possession or knowledge concerning or having bearing upon fair and 

adequate charges to be made for geothermal steam produced or to be 

produced for conversion to electric power or other purposes. Data 

given to any department or agency as confidential under law shall not 

be furnished in any fashion which identifies or tends to identify the 

busines3 entity whose activities are the subject of such data or the per- son or persons who furnished such information. 

SEc. 20. All moneys received under tihis Act from public lands 

under the jurisdiction of the Secretary shall be disposed of in the same manner as moneys received from the sale of public lands. Moneys 

received under this Act from other lands shall be disposed of in the same manner as other receipts from such lands. 

SEc. 21. (a) Within one hundred and twenty days after the effective 

date of this Act, the Secretary shall cause to be published in the 

Federal Register a determination of all lands which were included 

within any known geothermal resources area on the effective date of 

the Act. He shall likewise publish in the Federal Register from time 

to time his determination of other known geothermal resources area.s specifying in each case the date the lands were included in such area; 

and 

(b) Geothermal resources in lands the surface of which has passed 

from Federal ownership but in which the minerals have been reserved 

to the United States shall not be developed or produced except under ~thermal leases made pursuant to this Act. If the Secretary of the 

Interior finds that such development is imminent, or that prOduction 

from a well heretofore drilled on such lands is imminent, he shall so report to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General is authorized 

16 

84 STAT. 1572 

Moneys. 

Publication in 

Federal Re~ster. 
84 STAT. 15 73 

Waste, 

prevention. 

Rules a.nd 

regula.ti ons. 

30 usc 530. 

30 usc 181. 

30 usc 281. 

Pub. Law 91-581 December 24, 1970 

and directed to institute an appropriate proceeding in the United 

States district court of the district in which such lands are located, to 

quiet the title of the·United States in such resources, and if the court 

determines that the reservation of minerals to the United States in 

the lands involved included the geothermal resources, to enjoin their 

production otherwise than under the terms of this Act : Provided, 

That upon an authoritative judicial determination that Federal mineral reservation does not include geothermal steam and associated 

geothermal resources the duties of the Secretary of the Interior to 

report and of the Attorney General to institute proceedings, as hereinbefore set forth, shall cease. SEc. 22. Nothing in this Act shall constitute au express or implied 

claim or denial on the part of the Federal Government as to its 

exemption from State water laws. 

SEc. 23. (a) All leases 1mder this Act shall be subject to the condition that the lessee will, in conducting his exploration, development, 

and producing operations, use all reasonable precautions to prevent 

waste of geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources developed in the lands leased. 

(b) Rights to develop and utilize geothermnl steam and associated 

geothermal resources underlying lands owned by the United States 

mal be acquired solely in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 

SEc. 24. The Secretary shall prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such 

regulations may include, without limitatiOn, provisions for (a) the 

prevention of waste, (b) development and conservation of geothermal 

and other natural resources, (c) the protection of the pubhc interest, 

(d) assignment, segregationt extension of terms, relinquishment of 

leases, development contracts, unitization, pooling, and drilling agreements, (e) compensatory royalty agreements, suspension of operations or production, and suspension or reduction of rentals or royalties, 

(f) the filing of surety bonds to assure compliance with the terms of 

the lease and to protect surface use and resources, (g) use of the sur- face by a lessee of the lands embraced in his lease, (h) the maintenance 

by the lessee of an active development pro~ram, and ( i) protection of 

water quality and other environmental qualities. 

SEc. 25. As to any land subject to geothermal leasing under section :~ of this Act, all laws which either (a) provide for the disposal of land 

by patent or other form of conveyance or by grant or by operation of 

law subject to a reservation of any mineral or (b) prevent or restrict 

the disposal of such land because of the mineral character of the land1 shall hereafter be deemed to embrace geothermal steam and associated 

geothetmal resom-ces as a substance which either must be reserved or must prevent or restrict the disposal of such land, as the case may he. 

This section shall not be construed to affect grants, patents, or other 

forms of conveyances made prior to the date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 26. The first two clauses in section 11 of the Act of August 13, 

1954 ( 68 Stat. 708, 716), are amended to read as follows: 

"As used in this Act, 'minera.lleasing la""S-' shall mean the Act of 

February 25, 1920 (41 Stat. 437); the Act of Apri117, 1926 {44 Stat. 

301); the Act of February 7, 1927 {44 Stat. 1057}; Geothermal Stenm 

Act of 1970, and all Acts heretofore or hereafter enacted which are amendatory of or supplementary to any of the foregoing Acts; 'Lensing Act mmerals' shall mean a.U minerals which, upon the effective 

date of this Act, are provided in the mineral leasing laws to be disposed 

of thereunder and all geothermal steam a.nd associated geothermal resources which, upon the effective date of the Geothermal Steam Act 

of 1970, are provided in that Act to be disposed of thereunder;". 

17 
December 24, 1970 Pub. Law 91-681 84 STAT. 1574 

SEC. 27. The United States reserves the ownersh!p of and the right 

to extract under such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe oil~ hydrocarbon gas, and helium from aU geothermal steam 

and assoCiated geothermal resources produced from lands leased under 

this Act in accordance with presently applicable laws: Provided, That 

whenever the right to extract oil, hydrocarbon gas, and helium from 

geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources produced from 

such lands is exercised pursuant to this section, it shall be exercised 

so as to cause no substantial interference with the production of geo--

thermal steam and associated geothermal resources from such lands. 

Approved December 24, 1970. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 

HOUSE REPORT No. 91-1544 ( Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 

SENATE REPORT No. 91-1160 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 116 (1970): 

Sept. 16, Oct. 14, Deo. 4, 10, oonsidered and passed Senate. 

Oct. 5, Deo. 9, considered and passed House. 

0 

18 

Certain mineral 

rights, retention 

by u. s.