This Geothermal Permitting Guide was created as a reference tool for geothermal stakeholders interested in developing low temperature direct use and/or power production projects. It addresses the environmental regulatory requirements beginning after acquisition of the land and/or mineral rights. Organized by development activity, it begins with resource exploration and continues to well abandonment and project closure. No one set of standard regulations applies to geothermal projects due to the differences in land and/or mineral rights ownership, location and resource chemistry. Geothermal resources in California occur in disparate environments from mountainous to desert terrains. The resource also differs from being liquid dominated high or low temperature to steam-dominated high temperature. Regional regulators such as counties, regional water quality control boards and air districts develop regulations based on the needs of their jurisdictions. The document contains websites and regulatory citations as statutes and regulations change.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: GEOTHERMAL DRILLING ACTIVITY In 2008, 32 new high-temperature geothermal wells were drilled in California compared to 12 wells drilled in 2007. Twenty- two of these wells were drilled in the Brawley field, 3 in the Salton Sea field and 7 at The Geysers (Figure 1). Total footage drilled in 2008 increased 5.7 times over the total footage drilled in 2007-- 194,758 feet ompared to 49,355 feet (Figure 2). The need for sustainable power set against the turmoil of the world’s economies created a chaotic 2008. What 2009 will bring in terms of developing geothermal projects is uncertain. However, one thing is certain, the increasing population’s need for electricity. This need alone would seem to indicate increased geothermal development in California especially in areas of known potential. GEOTHERMAL REGULATIONS The regulations used by Division staff to regulate geothermal wells in California were updated in 2008. Requirements were added for the maintenance of leases, well construction, spill contingency plans, and subsidence monitoring. Definitions were made clearer for observation wells and injection projects. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) In 2008, no new applications were received. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS The Geysers Power Company, LLC (Calpine Corporation) received an award from the Department of Conservation for eight years of outstanding lease-enhancement activities at The Geysers Geothermal field. Mammoth Pacific also received an outstanding lease award for its maintenance of the Casa Diablo field.