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Geothermal Laws and Standards

Here you can find lists of U.S. federal geothermal laws and statutes under mineral, lands, and mining; conservation; and public health and welfare. You'll also find U.S. geothermal standards covering terminology, thermal performance specifications, testing of seal materials, and sampling for chemical analysis.

Mineral Lands and Mining

• Geothermal Steam and Associated Geothermal Resources (MS Word 129 KB)

• Geothermal Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration (MS Word 122 KB)

Conservation

• Public Utility Regulatory Policies (MS Word 126 KB)

Public Health and Welfare

• Energy Conservation and Resource Renewal (MS Word 224 KB)

U.S. Geothermal Standards

The following documents are available from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Most geothermal standards fall under the jurisdiction of the ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources.

Geothermal Field Development

• E947-83(2002) Standard Specification for Sampling Single-Phase Geothermal Liquid or Steam for Purposes of Chemical Analysis

• E1008-03 Standard Practice for Installation, Inspection, and Maintenance of Valve-body Pressure-relief Methods for Geothermal and Other High-Temperature Liquid Applications

• E1675-04e1 Standard Practice for Sampling Two-Phase Geothermal Fluid for Purposes of Chemical Analysis

Geothermal Utilization

• E974-00 Standard Guide for Specifying Thermal Performance of Geothermal Power Systems

• E957-03 Standard Terminology Relating to Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Materials

• E1068-85(2003) Standard Test Method for Testing Nonmetallic Seal Materials by Immersion in a Simulated Geothermal Test Fluid

• E1069-85(2003) Standard Test Method for Testing Polymeric Seal Materials for Geothermal and/or High Temperature Service Under Sealing Stress

Geotechnics of Waste Management

• D4319-93(2001) Standard Test Method for Distribution Ratios by the Short-Term Batch Method