Chapter 19 — Chapter 19

All geothermal resource leases issued by the commissioner of public lands prior to the effective date of this section are declared to be valid and existing contracts with the state according to their terms and provisions where: A. such leases were made in substantial conformity w…

Any person engaged in the production of geothermal resources under a lease issued by the commissioner may commingle geothermal resources from any two or more wells without regard to whether such wells are located on the lands for which such lease was issued or elsewhere; provided…

Any person holding a lease may, upon approval of the commissioner, drill special wells, convert producing wells or reactivate and convert abandoned wells for the sole purpose of reinjecting geothermal resources or the residue thereof. History: 1953 Comp., § 7-15-13, enacted by La…

For the purpose of more properly conserving the natural resources of any geothermal resources lands, or any part thereof, the holders of leases may unite with each other or with others in collectively adopting and operating under a cooperative or unit plan of development or opera…

When newly acquired acreage is posted to the tract books, or when other acreage is designated upon the tract books to be open acreage after having been previously leased or after having been withdrawn from leasing by the commissioner, all applications for leases filed thereon wit…

In addition to any other requirements of law, in all leases, deeds or sales contracts of state lands for any purpose, there shall be inserted a clause reserving the right to execute leases for geothermal resource development and operation thereon; the right to sell or dispose of …

Subject to the provisions of the Geothermal Resources Act, any person holding a lease for geothermal resources shall be entitled to use so much of the surface as is reasonably necessary as determined by the commissioner for the production and conservation of geothermal resources.…

A. Before any person commences development or operations of geothermal resources under a lease, including any prospecting activity on the leased land, the person holding the lease shall execute and file with the commissioner, a bond or undertaking in an amount fixed by the commis…

Where the surface of state lands sought for use or development of geothermal resources or the waters thereon are under the jurisdiction of a state department or agency other than the commissioner, the commissioner may issue leases under the Geothermal Resources Act only with the …

As used in the Geothermal Resources Act: A. "geothermal resources" means the natural heat of the earth in excess of two hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or the energy in whatever form below the surface of the earth present in, resulting from, created by or which may be extracted…

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Geothermal Resources Act, at any time within ninety days following the effective date of the Geothermal Resources Act, any person who held prior to January 1, 1967 and who holds on the effective date of the Geothermal Resources Act, a ge…

Any lease pursuant to the Geothermal Resources Act may be assigned, transferred or sublet with the approval of the commissioner. History: 1953 Comp., § 7-15-21, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 158, § 21.

The commissioner or his representative shall have the right to inspect all records, books or accounts pertaining to geothermal resources taken from leased state lands, and at the request of the commissioner, the holder of the lease shall furnish such reports, samples, logs, assay…

The commissioner may cancel any lease issued pursuant to the Geothermal Resources Act for nonpayment of rentals, nonpayment of royalties or for violation of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of the lease. Before any cancellation shall be made, the commissioner shall mail …

Upon termination of any lease issued pursuant to the Geothermal Resources Act by reason of forfeiture, surrender, expiration of term or for any other reason, the lessee may remove all improvements and equipment as can be removed without material injury to the premises; provided, …

Pursuant to the Geothermal Resources Act, the commissioner shall adopt such reasonable regulations as he may determine are necessary to carry out the provisions of the Geothermal Resources Act. The regulations shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the state land office for a …

bids. Nothing in the Geothermal Resources Act [19-13-1 to 19-13-28 NMSA 1978] shall be construed to require the commissioner to offer any tract or tracts of state lands for lease. The commissioner may withhold any tract or tracts from leasing for geothermal resources purposes, if…

A public hearing pursuant to the Geothermal Resources Act [19-13-1 to 19-13-28 NMSA 1978] shall only be held after notice of the public hearing has been posted in a conspicuous place in the state land office for a period of at least fifteen consecutive days and after a copy of th…

Any lease for geothermal resources in good standing, together with improvements placed on the land thereunder, may be assigned as collateral security under the same procedures and in the same manner as provided by law for filing, recording, approval, release and foreclosure of st…

Administration of the Geothermal Resources Act shall be based on the principle of multiple use of state land and resources and shall allow coexistence of other leases on the same lands for deposits of other minerals, and the existence of leases issued pursuant to the Geothermal R…

Where it is determined by the commissioner that the production or use of geothermal energy is also susceptible of economically producing other of the geothermal resources in commercially valuable quantities, and a market therefor exists, production of the other geothermal resourc…

A. Leases may be issued by the commissioner according to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Geothermal Resources Act which the commissioner determines to be in the best interest of the state. B. An application for a lease on state lands shall no…

A. The commissioner shall, after consultation with the director of the bureau of geology and mineral resources, make a classification of geothermal areas that he has determined may be capable of producing geothermal resources in commercial quantities. These geothermal areas shall…

A. Each lease issued pursuant to the Geothermal Resources Act shall provide for the following base rentals, royalties and percentage rentals with respect to geothermal resources produced or sold from the lands included within the lease: (1) a base lease rent to be charged under e…

A. The holder of any lease may at any time relinquish all his rights under the lease by filing a written relinquishment of all rights under the lease with the commissioner. The relinquishment shall be effective as of the date of its filing, subject to the continued obligation of …

The commissioner may, after a public hearing, waive, suspend or reduce the rental or minimum royalty for the lands included in a lease, or any portion thereof, and waive, suspend, alter or amend the operating requirements contained in a lease or regulation in the interest of cons…

the state in leases or other conveyances of any mineral interests or rights to minerals in state lands. In any lease or other conveyance of state lands granting any interest in or rights to minerals of whatsoever kind, including oil and gas, in those lands executed by the commiss…

or conveyance for specific minerals; procedures for waiver. A. The commissioner of public lands may waive by written order the reservation of rights required under Section 1 [19-14-1 NMSA 1978] of this act in respect to any specific mineral, other than fossil fuels, for which the…

The commissioner of public lands shall dispose of any minerals reserved under this act [19-14-1 to 19-14-3 NMSA 1978] at the best price available in order to gain the maximum benefit for the trust beneficiaries. History: 1953 Comp., § 7-16-3, enacted by Laws 1973, ch. 26, § 3. AR…