S*320 Session 105 (1983-1984)
S*0320(Rat #0428, Act #0375 of 1984) General Bill, By T.E. Garrison
A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 5
to Chapter 9 of Title 10, so as to establish the ownership of geothermal
resources and regulate the use of such resources and to amend Act 179 of 1977
relating to oil and gas and their products so as to provide that all
provisions relating to leasing, drilling, transporting, and production of gas
and oil apply to geothermal resources to the extent possible and to exclude
drilling for water supply from the provisions of Act 179 of 1977.-amended
title
03/15/83 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-696
03/15/83 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources SJ-696
05/11/83 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Agriculture and Natural Resources SJ-1331
06/09/83 Senate Read second time SJ-2018
06/09/83 Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
amendments SJ-2018
01/12/84 Senate Amended SJ-377
01/12/84 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-378
01/17/84 House Introduced and read first time HJ-468
01/17/84 House Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
Industry HJ-468
01/18/84 House Recalled from Committee on Labor, Commerce and
Industry HJ-548
01/18/84 House Committed to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources HJ-548
03/29/84 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Agriculture and Natural Resources HJ-2059
04/04/84 House Objection by Rep. Aydlette, J. Bradley & P.
Bradley HJ-2159
04/05/84 House Recommitted to Committee on Agriculture and
Natural Resources HJ-2272
04/19/84 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Agriculture and Natural Resources HJ-2512
04/25/84 House Amended HJ-2619
04/25/84 House Read second time HJ-2620
04/26/84 House Read third time HJ-2656
04/26/84 House Returned HJ-2656
05/01/84 Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-1625
05/15/84 Ratified R 428
05/17/84 Signed By Governor
05/17/84 Effective date 05/17/84
05/17/84 Act No. 375
05/31/84 Copies available
(A375, R428, S320)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 5
TO CHAPTER 9 OF TITLE 10, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE OWNERSHIP OF GEOTHERMAL
RESOURCES AND REGULATE THE USE OF THE RESOURCES AND TO AMEND ACT 179 OF 1977
RELATING TO OIL AND GAS AND THEIR PRODUCTS SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL PROVISIONS
RELATING TO LEASING, DRILLING, TRANSPORTING, AND PRODUCTION OF GAS AND OIL APPLY
TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AND TO EXCLUDE DRILLING FOR WATER
SUPPLY FROM THE PROVISIONS OF ACT 179 OF 1977.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Geothermal resources
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding to Chapter 9 of Title 10:
"Article 5
Section 10-9-310. For purposes of this article geothermal resources mean the
natural heat of the earth at temperatures greater than forty degrees Celsius and
includes:
(1) The energy, including pressure, in whatever form present in, resulting
from, created by, or that may be extracted from that natural heat.
(2) The material medium, including the brines, water, and steam naturally
present, as well as any substance artifically introduced to serve as a heat
transfer medium.
(3) All dissolved or entrained minerals and gases that may be obtained from the
material medium but excluding hydrocarbon substances and helium.
Section 10-9-320. The State Budget and Control Board (board) may lease
development rights to geothermal resources underlying surface lands owned by the
State. The board must promulgate regulations regarding the method of lease
acquisition, lease terms, and conditions due the State under lease operations.
The South Carolina Water Resources Commission is designated as the exclusive
agent for the board in selecting lands to be leased, administering the
competitive bidding for leases, administering the leases, receiving and compiling
comments from other state agencies concerning the desirability of leasing the
state lands proposed for leasing and such other activities that pertain to
geothermal resource leases as may be included herein as responsibilities of the
board.
Section 10-9-330. Any lease of rights to drill for and use oil, natural gas, or
minerals on public or private lands must not allow drilling for or use of
geothermal energy by the lessee unless the instrument creating the lease
specifically provides for such use."
Definition
SECTION 2. Section 1 of Part 1 of Act 179 of 1977 is amended by adding at the
end:
"(V) 'Geothermal resources' mean the resources defined in Section 10-9-310
of the 1976 Code."
Applicability
SECTION 3. Part 1 of Act 179 of 1977 is amended by adding after Section 4:
"Section 4A. All provisions of this act regulating the leasing for,
exploration for, drilling for, transportation of, and production of oil and gas
and their products apply to geothermal resources to the extent possible. The
provisions of this act do not apply to wells drilled for water supply only."
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor. |