Chapter 19.08 — DEFINITIONS

Whenever the following words are used in this title, unless otherwise defined, they shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in this chapter.

(Ord. 239 § 3.05, 1973)

"Conditional use" means a use subject to the procedures set forth in Chapter 18.81 of this code. (Ord. 239 § 3.10, 1973)

"Exploratory geothermal well" means a well drilled to explore for and to test geothermal resources.

(Ord. 239 § 3.15, 1973)

"Geothermal exploratory project" means any activity carried out for the purpose of discovering, studying or testing geothermal resources where such activities will not result in the construction of any permanent structures or major disturbances to the landscape. Such activities may include, but are not limited to:

• A. Studies of surface geology;

• B. Use of thermal infrared scanner;

• C. Gravity survey;

• D. Magnetic survey;

• E. Microseismic surveys;

• F. Heat flow studies;

• G. Geochemical surveys;

• H. Electrical resistivity surveys;

• I. Conventional seismic surveys;

• J. Temperature gradient surveys;

• K. Small diameter observation wells;

• L. Exploratory geothermal wells;

• M. Temporary geothermal test facilities. (Ord. 239 § 3.20, 1973)

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Inyo County, CA

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

§ 19.08.050

§ 19.08.120

"Geothermal production project" means any activity carried out for the purpose of testing, producing, processing, transporting and/or selling geothermal resources and/or by-products, such as electrical power, desalinated water, minerals and heat, etc. where the activity results in the construction of permanent structures and significant alteration to the landscape. (Ord. 239 § 3.25, 1973)

"Geothermal resource" means the natural heat of the earth, the energy, in whatever form, below the surface of the earth present in, resulting from, or created by, or which may be extracted from, such natural heat, and all minerals in solution or other products obtained from naturally heated fluids, brines, associated gases, and steam, in whatever form, found below the surface of the earth, but excluding oil, hydrocarbon gas or other hydrocarbon substances. (Ord. 239 § 3.35, 1973)

"Geothermal resource area" means the general surface area which is underlaid or reasonably appears to be underlaid by geothermal resources. (Ord. 239 § 3.30, 1973)

"Geothermal well" means any well drilled for the discovery of geothermal resources or any well on lands producing geothermal resources or reasonably presumed to contain geothermal resources, or any special well, converted producing well or reactivated or converted abandoned well employed for reinjecting geothermal resources or residue thereof. (Ord. 239 § 3.40, 1973)

"Injection well" means any well drilled or converted for specific use for injecting waste geothermal fluids for disposal or injecting geothermal fluids or other fluids for reservoir pressure maintenance or augmentation of reservoir fluids. (Ord. 239 § 3.45, 1973)

"Observation well" means a small diameter well not exceeding four inches drilled strictly for temperature monitoring purposes. In no case, shall an observation well be drilled to a depth greater than five hundred feet or completed to production of geothermal resources. (Ord. 239 § 3.50, 1973)

"Operator" means any person, firm, corporation or public agency drilling, maintaining operating, pumping or in control of any well or related facilities utilizing geothermal resources for any purposes.

(Ord. 239 § 3.55, 1973)

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Inyo County, CA

INYO COUNTY CODE

§ 19.08.120

§ 19.08.130

"Sound level measurement" means the sound pressure level measured with a sound level meter and associated octave band analyzer conforming to the standards prescribed by the United States of America Standards Institute Criteria relating to sounds and noise measurement. (Ord. 239 § 3.60, 1973)

"Test facilities" means any lines, pumps, separators, metering facilities, ponds and sumps used during the testing of a geothermal well or injection well.

(Ord. 239 § 3.65, 1973)

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Inyo County, CA

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

§ 19.12.010

§ 19.12.020