Section 5-603 - Powers and duties of Department. - Maryland Statutes

§ 5-603. Powers and duties of Department.
 

(a)  Management and regulation of resources.- The Department shall be responsible for the management and regulation of the geothermal resources in the State. 

(b)  Contracting for research and scientific investigation.- The Department may contract for research and scientific investigation in order to determine the potential of the geothermal resources in the State. 

(c)  Development projects.- The Department may conduct and participate in development projects designed to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing the State's geothermal resources. 

(d)  Use of funds.- The Department may use any funds made available for the purpose of exploring, analyzing, developing, and using geothermal resources. 

(e)  Establishment of fees.- The Department may establish reasonable fees to cover the cost of processing permit applications. 

(f)  Regulations - Safety in operations.- The Department shall adopt regulations necessary to assure safe and efficient undertaking of any operation to bore, core, dig, or construct a well. These regulations may allow for reinjection if there is adequate determination that the reinjection would maintain the integrity of the supply. 

(g)  Regulations - Implementation of subtitle.- The Department may adopt regulations necessary to implement this subtitle. 
 

[1978, ch. 549; 1981, ch. 499; 1990, ch. 6, § 2; 1995, ch. 488, § 1.]