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Geothermal Rules <br />Effective Date: September 30, 2004 <br />5.12 Discharge of Geothermal Fluids - An owner or operator of a geothermal well is <br />responsible for being knowledgeable about, and complying with, regulations for <br />discharge (as defined in Rule 4.2.11). All geothermal fluids produced by a well shall be <br />disposed of in such a manner as to protect the environment and the public health. The <br />well owner shall be responsible for obtaining and maintaining any discharge permits <br />required by the Colorado Water Quality Control Division. (Note: Disposal of geothermal <br />discharges to a sanitary or storm sewer may require approval from the owner or <br />operator of the sewer system. Disposal of geothermal discharges into an individual <br />sewage disposal system requires that the system has been specifically designed and <br />approved for such disposal). <br />5.13 Tests and Surveys - When deemed necessary or advisable, the State Engineer <br />has authority to require the well owner or operator to test for waste or contamination <br />from a geothermal well. When requiring such tests or surveys, the State Engineer shall <br />designate the time allowed for compliance, which deadline shall prevail over any other <br />time provisions in these Rules. <br />5.14 Noncompliant Conditions - The well owner or operator shall notify the State <br />Engineer within five (5) working days after the discovery of noncompliant conditions, or <br />a violation of the terms and conditions of a permit. Notice shall be given to the State <br />Engineer immediately upon discovery in the event of any fire, break or leak when the <br />public health and safety or the environment are endangered, and the noncompliant <br />condition or violation shall be corrected immediately. The notice shall contain the <br />following information: <br />a. the permit number and name of the well; <br />b. a description of the violation and its cause; <br />C. the duration of the violation, including dates and times; if not corrected or <br />use of the well discontinued, the anticipated time of correction; and, <br />d. steps being taken to reduce, eliminate, and prevent recurrence of the <br />violation. <br />5.15 Well Repairs - All well repairs shall comply with the standards for new wells as <br />established by these Rules. Owners or operators of Type A -OS, Type B, or reinjection <br />wells shall provide a written repair plan to the State Engineer, and obtain State Engineer <br />approval of the plan prior to commencing the repairs. <br />5.16 Corrective Action and Well Plugging - The State Engineer shall require <br />corrective action in a manner or method approved by him of any condition that is <br />causing or is likely to cause waste or contamination, or is threatening the public health <br />and safety, and the environment. When deemed necessary by the State Engineer, the <br />owner of a geothermal well shall be responsible for plugging the well in accordance with <br />these Rules. Any order issued by the State Engineer requiring corrective action or the <br />plugging of a geothermal well, shall specify the time period to complete the correction or <br />plugging. <br />9 <br />