Geothermal Direct Use - Montana

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A Regulatory Guide to Geothermal Direct Use Development

Prepared by Kim Lyons of the Washington State University Extension Energy Program.

MONTANA

Introduction

Geothermal resource temperatures range from low temperatures of 50 to 80 degrees F (10


to 27 0 C), to temperatures exceeding 650 degrees F (3430 C). Although power can be
generated economically from resources as low as 218 degrees F (103o C), power
generation projects typically favor resource temperatures above 300 degrees F (149o C).
High temperature resources (>300 degrees F, 149o C) can also be used for direct-use
applications. However, lower temperature resources (< 212o F, 100o C) are often better
suited for these projects.

Low temperature, direct-use projects cover a variety of applications. Projects may include
traditional space heating applications, as well as greenhouse heating, spas and swimming
pools, aquaculture, crop drying, industrial processing and other activities requiring lower
temperatures. Because these projects are primarily water use applications, they often fall
under a different regulatory process than high temperature, power generation projects.
Typically this process is shaped by water and wastewater laws and regulations, and
administered by their respective state, and in some cases, federal water and wastewater
resource agencies.

The intent of this document is to help guide developers of direct use geothermal projects
through the regulatory process of drilling, using and disposing of low temperature
geothermal fluids in Montana. This guide will provide background on the state regulatory
process and identify contact information necessary for completing the various
applications and permits. This guide; however, cannot substitute for direct
communication with the regulatory agencies. These agencies need to be contacted early
in the process so that any regulatory hurdles are identified upfront and in time. Projects
that are located on federal lands are regulated according to the national Geothermal
Steam Act and related federal regulations.

Regulatory Process for Direct Use Applications

Despite the abundance of geothermal resources, the State of Montana has not enacted a
Geothermal Resources Act, such as can be found in many other western states. In
Montana, specific statutes regarding geothermal resources are contained in Title 77- State
Lands, Chapter 4-Geothermal and Hydroelectric Resources, Montana Code Annotated.
These statutes primarily address the leasing of state or school lands for geothermal
resource development. They also define “geothermal resources” as “the natural heat
energy of the earth, including the energy, in whatever form, which may be found in any
position and at any depth below the surface of the earth, either present in, resulting from,

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created by, or which may be extracted from such natural heat and all minerals in solution
or other products obtained from the material medium of any geothermal resource”.

Montana further characterizes geothermal resources as sui generis (77-4-104,MCA),


“being neither a mineral resource nor a water resource, but closely related to and
possibly affecting and affected by water resources in many instances”. Title 77, Chapter
4, section 108 additionally states: “If any geothermal development located on state land
requires the utilization of water, the lessee may, at any time prior to 1 year before the
expiration of his lease, make application to the board for permission to secure a water
right to the land under his lease. Such application shall be in writing, show the
permanency of the water supply, and the estimated cost of utilizing such water resources.
If the proposed plan meets with the approval of the board, permission shall be granted to
the lessee to secure the desired water right for the land. Such right shall be secured in
accordance with Title 85, chapter 2, and shall be filed in the name of the state. Existing
water rights purchased by the geothermal lessee shall be the property of the lessee”.

What these statutes imply, is that, geothermal resources are to be regulated as water. As
a result, low temperature, direct use geothermal projects, including but not limited to
greenhouse heating, warm water aquaculture, space heating, irrigation swimming pools
and spas, are regulated in accordance with the rules and statutes governing groundwater
appropriation and well drilling regulations. A developer must acquire the resource by
means of an application, permit and license procedure.

The regulations governing low temperature, direct use geothermal projects differ from
conventional water development projects in that direct use projects also need to dispose
of the water once it has been used for its design application. Disposal is typically
accomplished through direct injection of the geothermal water via an injection well, or
through surface disposal to the ground or to surface waters if injection is not an option.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), is the lead
agency in charge of administering and enforcing the various rules and regulations
governing water use in the State of Montana. DNRC is responsible for issuing water
rights and well construction permits. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region
8, oversees the administration of underground fluid injection wells in Montana. The
Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is responsible for administering
surface disposal of wastewater, including geothermal fluids. In addition to state and
federal agencies, local and county agencies may also play a role in issuing local zoning
and construction permits, and should be contacted early on in the development of a direct
use, geothermal project.

The regulatory process for developing a low temperature, direct use geothermal project
consists of the following steps:

• Gain access to lands either through lease or direct ownership.


• Contact local and/or county agencies to ensure compliance with local land use
laws including building permits and zoning restrictions.

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• Secure water right. (DNRC)
• Obtain well construction permit/develop production well. (DNRC)
• Determine fluid disposal plan and obtain permits for either underground injection
or surface disposal. (EPA, DEQ)
• Contact state fish and wildlife agency if developing an aquaculture project.

Water Rights

Background

The constitution and statutes of the State of Montana guarantee the right to appropriate
the public waters of the State of Montana. The Montana Water Use Act (Title 85,
Chapter 2, MCA) codifies the states water right laws. The Department of Natural
Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is the lead state agency that regulates the
appropriation and distribution of water in the State of Montana. When a private right to
the use of public waters is established by appropriation, a water right is established that is
a real property right, much like property rights in land.

Water rights are granted through the principal known as the Doctrine of Prior
Appropriation. This means that those who first made beneficial use of water are entitled
to continued use in preference to those who came later. The date the water right was
established is called a priority date and determines who gets water when there is a
shortage. If there is not enough water available to satisfy all of the water rights, then the
persons with the oldest (or senior) water rights get their water rights satisfied first and so
on, in order, until there is no water left. It is the persons with the new (or junior) water
rights who do not get water when there is not enough to satisfy all the water rights.

Water rights must also meet the definition of beneficial use. In Montana, beneficial uses
include domestic use, irrigation, lawn and garden, stock-watering, manufacturing,
mining, hydropower, municipal use, agricultural spraying, recreation, fish and wildlife,
among others.

Water Rights Permit Process

In Montana, any person planning a new or additional development for a beneficial use of
water from groundwater must obtain a Permit to Appropriate Water or file a Notice of
Completion of Groundwater Development to get a Certificate of Water Right. The DNRC
has put together a useful guide on water rights entitled “Water Rights in Montana”, that
can be accessed by clicking here.

A permit is not needed to develop a well or a groundwater spring with an anticipated use
of 35 gallons per minute or less (2.2 liters/second), not to exceed 10 acre-feet per year
(12,330 cubic meters). In this case, the first step is to drill the well or develop the spring.
A Well Log Report, form 603, is completed by the driller and sent to DNRC within 60
days. A copy is also given to the well owner. Within 60 days after the development is put

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to use, the owner submits a Notice of Completion of Groundwater Development, form
602, along with a filing fee of $25 to DNRC. The priority date of the water right is the
date DNRC receives the completed Form 602. The applicant must have property interests
where the water right is put to a beneficial use, or written notification 30 days prior to the
intent to appropriate groundwater. Also, a person must have exclusive property rights in
the groundwater development works or written consent from the person with the property
rights. A Certificate of Water Right will then be issued to the owner for the specified use.

An applicant anticipating to use more than 35 gallons per minute (2.2 l/sec)or 10 acre-
feet per year of groundwater is required to obtain a Permit to Appropriate Water before
any development begins or water is used. The first step in obtaining a permit is to
complete an Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit, form 600. This form requests
information describing the intended use, place of use, source of supply, amount of water
to be used, and other particulars of the proposed appropriation. In addition, the applicant
must provide evidence that the criteria for issuance of a permit are met. These criteria are
outlined on the application form. An application fee of $200 must be submitted with the
application. Forms and instructions are available on-line at the DNRC website, or from
any county clerk or water resources regional office as shown in Appendix A.

The date DNRC receives the original permit application will be the priority date assigned
to the appropriation. DNRC will review and process the application, taking as much as
210 days to complete. If an application is not correct and complete, DNRC will notify the
applicant of any defects in the application. During the process period, an environmental
review is also made to determine whether the proposed project will have significant
environmental impacts and whether an environmental impact statement is needed. If there
is potential for adverse effect, DNRC will publish notice of the application once in a local
newspaper. DNRC will also mail notification of the application to existing water users
listed in the DNRC records indicating those areas which might be affected by the supply
source. At this point, local water users have an opportunity to file an Objection to
Application. If objections are filed, DNRC must hold a public hearing, at which point the
hearing examiner issues or denies a permit. If no objections are received and the
applicant proves the criteria, the permit is issued.

Upon receiving the permit, the applicant's next step is to construct the project, and put the
water to the intended use as outlined in the permit. When this is finished, the permittee
must provide DNRC with a certified statement describing how the appropriation has been
completed. This includes submitting a Project Completion Notice for Permitted Water
Development, form 617, to DNRC. In turn, DNRC will review the project completion
notice and determine whether the project was completed in substantial accordance with
the permit. DNRC will then issue a Certificate of Water Right.

Well Construction

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Water Resources


Division (DNRC) is the lead agency responsible for regulating all water wells in the State

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of Montana. The regulations governing well construction are described in TITLE 37,
CHAPTER 43 Montana Codes Annotated-Board of Water Well Contractors.
Administrative rules for well drilling are presented in TITLE 36, CHAPTER 21
Administrative Rules of Montana-Board of Water Well Contractors.
The State of Montana has also produced a guidebook for water well construction entitled
“Water Well Drilling for the Prospective Well Owner”.

A developer interested in low temperature geothermal resources may want to review data
from other wells in the area. The DNRC and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
(BMMG) maintains a database of well logs which can provide information about existing
wells including the well depths, aquifers size, and the chemical quality of the water.
Individuals can either contact DNRC directly, or can access a database of wells
maintained by BMMG. Click here for on-line access to this database. The Geo-Heat
Center, located in Klamath Falls, Oregon also maintains an extensive database covering
wells and springs greater than 50 0 C (122 0F) for 16 western states. Information on the
database can be found at http://geoheat.oit.edu/databse.htm.

The construction of a low temperature, geothermal resource wells follow the standards
and guidelines for the construction and abandonment of cold water wells. The first step is
to hire a licensed water well contractor. State law requires drillers to be bonded and
licensed by the state Board of Water Well Contractors. A list of licensed well drillers is
maintained by county health departments and by DNRC regional offices. The Board can
also verify a well drillers license. The Board contact information is presented in
Appendix A.

Prior to drilling, an owner must have a valid water rights permit, unless the withdrawal
meets the minimum use exemption as described in the water rights section. The owner of
the well may also want to set up a written contract with the water well contractor to
establish various conditions and cost for drilling. In Montana, a drilling permit is not
required. However, Montana Administrative Rule 36.21.639 requires that a licensed
Montana water well contractor/driller prepare a well log report form for each well drilled.
The contractor/driller must also supply a copy of the well log report to the water well
owner and DNRC as required by section 85-2-516 and 85-2-517, MCA.

The Board of Water Well Contractors has adopted mandatory water well construction
standards. These minimum standards are contained in Title 36, chapter 21, sub-chapter 6
and must be followed by all water contractors and drillers. Copies of the standards can be
purchased from the Board of Water Well Contractors or downloaded from the DNRC
website. The standards are in place to protect groundwater from contamination; to help
ensure supply and to provide an accurate record of well construction procedures.

Disposal of Geothermal Fluids

The regulations governing the disposal of low temperature geothermal fluids will depend
on the type of application. Non contact geothermal projects, where the geothermal fluids
are kept in a closed system and do not come in contact with outside contaminants, will

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typically have an easier compliance path then projects where contact with potential
contaminants is made. When contact is made and water quality is potentially degraded,
regulatory requirements may become more stringent to ensure that water quality is
maintained.

There are basically three disposal options available to a developer of a direct use
geothermal project: underground injection; disposal to surface waters; and/or, disposal to
the ground or land application. In some cases, the regulatory agency(s) will specify the
preferred disposal method. For example, in critical groundwater areas, reinjection may be
required to ensure that the aquifer is maintained. However, in most cases, it will be up to
the project developer to determine the best disposal method based on regulatory
requirements and the cost of compliance.

Underground Injection Control

The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program was established in 1982 when
Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This program regulates, to one degree or
the other, every "injection" of "fluid" into the subsurface. An "injection" is the
emplacement of "fluids" regardless of whether the injection requires the application of
pressure or not, and a fluid is defined as any liquid, gas or semisolid which can be made
to flow. The intent of the program is to preserve and protect underground water from
becoming polluted.

From a resource perspective, the preferred method of disposing of geothermal fluids is to


return them to the ground by way of injection wells. Injection wells are wells that are
used as an entry point for some type of fluid (such as geothermal fluid), which is injected
underground for temporary or permanent disposal or storage. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 8 has regulatory oversight of all underground injection wells
in the State of Montana with the exception of Class II, oil and gas wells.

The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program, created under the authority of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), is a preventative program aimed at protecting existing
and future underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). Shallow wells or disposal
systems that direct fluids into the subsurface are known as Class V wells and can be
authorized to inject by rule or permit. Class V wells that have the potential for ground
water contamination or degradation are usually permitted. Low temperature, direct use
injection wells fall under the definition of Class V wells. Those that do not have a
potential to contribute to contamination or degradation of ground water are usually rule
authorized, once inventory information has been submitted according to the requirements
of 40 CFR 144.26. Rule authorized means that a well meets the category definition and
does not need to go through individual permitting. In addition to the inventory
requirements, EPA may require the owner or operator of any well authorized by rule to
submit additional information to determine if a well may be endangering a USDW.

The following information is needed to evaluate the impact a shallow injection


well/disposal system will have on the local hydrogeologic system, potential for USDW

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contamination, and whether a permit for its operation should be required. An applicant
should be prepared to submit this information to EPA Region 8 prior to constructing a
well. Contacts are presented in Appendix x. In general, injection wells for direct use
geothermal projects do not require a permit and are rule authorized as long as they are
closed loops. Open loops system may require a permit depending on the operational
parameters and exposure of the fluid to potential contaminants.

• Property owner and/or operator of facility, including address and phone number.
• Responsible party for the operation, maintenance, and closure of the injection
system, including address and phone number.
• Name, address, phone number of contact at any State Agency associated with the
project.
• Site map including extraction and injection well locations and pertinent
hydrogeologic features.
• Description and operation of the injection well, including depth, construction
information, injection rate and pressure.
• Description of well construction features ensuring that overlying aquifers will be
isolated from injected and extracted geothermal brine.
• Analysis or description of the geothermal fluids being extracted/injected.
• Describe any impact to extracted water before re-injection.
• Review of current users of geothermal source and potential impacts on other
vested water rights.
• Drinking water wells tapping overlying formations within ¼ mile of injection
location.

Once an applicant receives EPA authorization to proceed, they still must work with
DNRC and follow the appropriate rules regarding well construction in the state.

Surface Disposal of Geothermal Fluids

The Montana Water Quality Act (MCA 75-5-101) and the accompanying administrative
rules ARM 17.30.101 through 2006 set forth the statutes and administrative rules
governing water quality in the state of Montana. Discharges to water of the State (surface
and groundwater) and discharges to municipal wastewater treatment plants are covered
under these laws and regulations which are administered by the Montana Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Typically, surface disposal of geothermal fluids to ground is preferable to discharging


into surface waters. Discharging to ground minimizes the chance of degrading existing
water quality. Disposal to the ground surface or land application also keeps the water
within the same geographic resource area.

Montana Ground Water Pollution Control System (MGWPCS) Permitting Process

Any discharge or source of pollutants that may discharge to ground water are required to obtain a
permit under the Montana Ground Water Pollutant Control System (MGWPCS) and comply with

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Montana ground water standards. As a result, some direct use geothermal projects discharging to
the ground may require a MGWPCS permit. However, thermal discharges from closed loop,
geothermal systems typically do not require a permit. Statutory details of the MGWPCS permit
process are contained in MCA 75-5-401, while administrative rules are presented in ARM
17.30.1301, 1341 and 17.30.1023. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has also
posted a website that describes the MGWPCS process. This site can be accessed by clicking here.

The MGWPCS permit program is carried out in three basic steps: 1) permit application
review, 2) environmental assessment and public comment, and 3) permit compliance
monitoring. The two-page permit application form must be submitted 180 days prior to
the operation of a point source. The submittal is then reviewed for completeness and
technical validity, at which time the applicant may be contacted for additional
information. Upon final review, a draft environmental assessment (EA) is written. Based
on the finding of the environmental assessment, the decision is made to issue the permit
as submitted, issue the permit with modifications, or deny the permit. With a decision to
issue or issue with modifications, a tentative permit is drafted. The tentative permit and
draft EA are then made available for a 30-day public comment period. Based on the
number of comments and the degree of controversy, the permitting process may require a
public meeting. Comments are incorporated into a final EA and a final, issued permit.

The permit is a ten to twelve page document consisting of a cover page and subsequent
pages describing permit stipulations. The cover page gives the permittee's name and
address, briefly describes the permitted facility or process, gives the legal location, and
gives the issuance and expiration dates. Permits are usually issued for a period of five
years. All permits contain operating stipulations.

Permit stipulations place conditions on how a discharge source is operated or managed in


order to prevent the placement of wastes where they would likely cause degradation of
state waters. Degradation is defined as any worsening of water quality that results from
the permitted discharge.

Permits typically contain a monitoring schedule of sampling and analysis to record


changes in the discharge and in ground water quality over time. Permit stipulations may
also require the monitoring of media other than water. Permit stipulations also commonly
require the permitee to record the volume and chemical content of process wastes or
effluent. Each permit also specifies a reporting schedule (quarterly, semiannual, annual)..

The third step, compliance monitoring, is accomplished by DEQ, which reviews and
analyzes monitoring reports and conducts compliance inspections. Annual permit
inspections may also be carried out to verify that permitted facilities are in proper
working order and that discharge stipulations are being carried out.

Permit forms can be downloaded by clicking here. A permittee will be assessed both an
application fee and an annual fee. A schedule of fees is posted on-line and can be
accessed by clicking here. There is no specific category for direct use geothermal project
fees. All MGWPCS permits are issued for a fixed term, not to exceed 10 years.

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Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES)

The goal of the Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination system (MPDES) program is to
control point source discharges of wastewater to ensure that the water quality of the
receiving streams is protected. Levels of water quality that are required to maintain the
various beneficial uses of the receiving streams are set forth in the Montana Water
Quality Act (MCA 75-5-101 et seq.) The Montana Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) is the lead agency authorized to regulate the discharge of pollutants into state
waters. The administrative rules for the MPDES program are presented in ARM
17.30.1301 through 1426 and can be viewed by clicking here.

All point sources of wastewater discharge are required to obtain and comply with
MPDES permits. This includes any direct use geothermal project. The effluent limitations
and other conditions contained in MPDES permits are based upon preservation of the
water quality standard (WQS), with certain categories of wastewaters being required to
be treated to a federally-specified minimum level (technology-based treatment) in
addition to WQS requirements.

The Nondegradation Rules are a part of the WQS that apply to new or increased sources
of pollution. These rules prohibit increases in discharge of toxic and deleterious materials
to state waters, unless it is affirmatively demonstrated to the DEQ that a change is
justifiable as a result of necessary economic or social development and will not preclude
present and anticipated use of these waters. Some common pollutants that are limited
under Nondegradation are nutrients, heavy metals, and toxic organic pollutants. These
same pollutants could also be limited under the WQS in existing dischargers’ permits.

Each MPDES permit issued is designed to protect the receiving stream quality at the
point of discharge. In addition, MPDES permits also address stream reach or basin wide
pollution problems. A calculation process called total maximum daily load (TMDL) is
used to apportion allowable pollutant discharge levels among the various dischargers. If
reductions of a given pollutant in a stream reach or basin are found necessary to meet
WQS, the TMDL process is used to apportion the reductions among the dischargers in
that reach or basin.

In obtaining a permit, a project developer must first complete Form 1, which provides
general project information. Non-contact, direct use geothermal project would then likely
use EPA form 2E for nonprocess wastewater discharges. However, DEQ may require an
applicant to complete Form 2D, which covers process wastewater discharges, if the direct
use application is an open system with exposure to potential pollutants. Currently DEQ
must issue an individual permit for most direct use geothermal discharges; as they have
not yet developed a general permit. Fees and forms are posted at the DEQ website and
can be downloaded by clicking here, or you can contact DEQ staff, listed in Appendix A,
for copies. All MPDES permits are issued for a fixed term, not to exceed 5 years. The
timeline for obtaining an individual permit is:

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• Submit initial application- DEQ review w/in 60 days, 30 additional days for
deficiency response.
• DEQ completes application
• DEQ issues tentative permit/public notice 30 days for comments
• Request for public hearing-20 days
• Public hearing- receive/respond to comments
• DEQ issues final permit-20 days
• Appeal- 20 days
• Board of Environmental Review hearing-20 days
• Final permit issued by Board.

Although not currently available in Montana, some states may offer the option to proceed
with a general permit versus an individual permit. A general permit covers a set of like
facilities, such as a coal facility or a fish farm. Here, a set of conditions are already
developed which meet the general operating conditions of these similar facilities. In these
cases, a developer would complete Form 1 to see if they qualify under the general permit.
If eligible the developer would also need to submit a Notice of Intent form or equivalent,
which provides additional information needed by the resources agency administering the
NPDES program. The advantage of the general form is that the resource agency can
issue the permit as soon as all information needs are satisfied. For individual permits,
there is an additional 30 day public notice process, as well as the potential for
intervention on the terms and conditions of the permit.

Aquaculture Projects

A permit is required from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (DFWP)
to operate a fish farm as per statute MCA 87-4-603. The DFWP will designate the
species of fish that may be grown and facility operating conditions. A license holder must
also furnish a corporate surety bond to the state for $500.Commercial licenses require an
annual report and expire on January 31st of each year. Licensing of commercial fish farms
is handled regionally by the regional fisheries manager.

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Appendix A

State Contact Information

Water Right Contacts

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation


Water Resources Division
Water Rights Bureau
48 North Last Chance Gulch
P.O. Box 201601
Helena, Montana 59620-1601
406-444-6610
Fax: 406-444-0533
wwwdnrc.state.mt.us/wrd/home.htm

Water Resources Regional Offices

BILLINGS
1371 Rimtop Drive Billings, MT 59105-1978
Phone: 406-247-4415 Fax: 406-247-4416
Serving: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Prairie, Rosebud,
Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, and Yellowstone Counties

BOZEMAN
151 Evergreen Drive, Suite C Bozeman, MT 59715
Phone: 406-586-3136 Fax: 406-587-9726
Serving: Gallatin, Madison, and Park Counties

GLASGOW
222 Sixth Street South PO. Box 1269 Glasgow, MT 59230-1269
Phone: 406-228-2561 Fax: 406-228-8706
Serving: Daniels, Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan,
Valley, and Wibaux Counties

HAVRE
210 Sixth Avenue PO. Box 1828 Havre, MT 59501-1828
Phone: 406-265-5516 Fax: 406-265-2225
Serving: Blaine, Chouteau, Glacier, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, and Toole Counties

HELENA
21 North Last Chance Gulch PO. Box 201601Helena, MT 59620-1601
Phone: 406-449-0944 Fax: 406-442-9315

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Serving: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Powell, and
Silver Bow Counties

KALISPELL
109 Cooperative Way, Suite 110 Kalispell, MT 59901-2387
Phone: 406-752-2288 Fax: 406-752-2843
Serving: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders Counties

LEWISTOWN
613 NE Main Street, Suite E Lewistown, MT 59457-2020
Phone: 406-538-7459 Fax: 406-538-7089
Serving: Cascade, Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Meagher, Musselshell,
Petroleum, and Wheatland Counties

MISSOULA
Town & Country Shopping Center 1610 S. 3rd St. West, Suite 103
PO. Box 5004 Missoula, MT 59806-5004
Phone: 406-721-4284 Fax: 406-542-1496
Serving: Granite, Mineral, Missoula, and Ravalli Counties

Water Well Contacts

Board of Water Well Contractors


Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
48 North Last Chance Gulch
Helena MT 59620-1601
(406) 444-6643

Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology


Montana Tech of the University of Montana
1300West Park
Butte MT 59701-8997
(406) 496-4336

Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology


1300 North 27th
Billings MT 59101
(406) 657-2939

Underground Injection Control Program

U.S Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Contacts:

Valois Shea
EPA Region 8
8P-W-GW-UIC

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Denver, Colorado 80202-2466
Phone: (303)-312-6276 , 1(800)-227-8917 x6276
shea.valois@epa.gov

Chuck Tinsley
303-312-6266
E-mail: tinsley.chuck@epa.gov

Douglas Minter
303-312-6079
E-mail: minter.douglas@epa.gov

Montana Pollution Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) and Montana Ground


Water Pollution Control System (MGWPCS)

Montana Department of Environmental Quality


Metcalf Building Office
(Main Office)
1520 E. Sixth Avenue
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-2544

Staff Contact:
Permitting/Compliance Division
Water Protection Bureau
Tom Reid
(406) 444-5329
toreid@state.mt.us

Aquaculture/Fish Farms

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks


1420 East Sixth Avenue
P.O. BOX 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
Phone: (406) 444-2535
Fax: (406) 444-4952
E-mail: fwpgen@state.mt.us

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Appendix B
Geothermal References and Contacts

References

Bloomquist, R.G., Black, G. L., Parker, D. S., Sifford, A., Simpson, S. J., Street, L.V.,
1985, Evaluation and Ranking of Geothermal Resources for Electrical Generation or
Electrical Offset in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington: Bonneville Power
Administration, US Department of Energy, pp. 1-504

Bloomquist, R. Gordon., Nimmons, John. T., Rafferty, Kevin, 1988,District Heating


Development Guide, Legal, Institutional and Marketing Issues, Volume 1: for the
Washington State Energy Office, funded by the US Department of Energy, pp. 1-268.

Bloomquist, R. Gordon, 1991, Geothermal, A Regulatory Guide to Leasing, Permitting,


and Licensing in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington: Bonneville Power
Administration, 1-277.

Lund, John W., Lienau, Paul J., Lunis, Ben C., 1998, Geothermal Direct-Use Engineering
and Design Guidebook: Geo-Heat Center Oregon Institute of Technology, sponsored by
the US Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office, pp. 1-454.

Rafferty, Kevin, 2000, Geothermal Power Generation, A Primer on Low-Temperature,


Small-Scale Applications: Oregon Institute of Technology, pp. 1-11.

Lund, John W., date, Pavement Snow Melting, Geo-Heat Center Oregon Institute of
Technology, pp1-13.

Rafferty, Kevin, 2001, An Information Survival Kit for the Prospective Geothermal Heat
Pump Owner: Geo-Heat Center, Oregon Institute of Technology, Grant No. DE-FG07-
90ID 13040, pp. 1-23.

Rafferty, Kevin, 2001, Small Geothermal Systems: A Guide For The Do-It Yourselfer:
Geo-Heat Center, Oregon Institute of Technology, Contract No. FG01-99-EE35098, pp.
1-30.

Lund, John W., date, Balneological Use of Thermal Waters: Geo-Heat Center, Oregon
Institute of Technology, pp. 1-10.

Boyd, Tanya, Rafferty, Kevin, date, Aquaculture Information Package: Geo-Heat Center,
Oregon Institute of Technology, Contract No. DE-FG07-90ID 13040, pp. 1-60.

Washington State University Extension Energy Program—2003 14


Rafferty, Kevin, Boyd, Tonya, date, Geothermal Greenhouse Information Package: Geo-
Heat Center, Oregon Institute of Technology, Contract No. DE-FG07-90ID 13040, pp.1-
80.

Contacts

Geo-Heat Center
Website: www.oit.edu/-geoheat

Geothermal Education Office


Website: www.geothermal.marin.org

Geothermal Resources Council


Website: www.geothermal.org

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium


Website: www.geoexchange.org

International Ground-Source Heat Pump Association


Website: www.igshpa.okstate.edu

U.S. Department of Energy


Website: www.eren.doe.gov/geothermal

Washington State University Energy Program


Website: http://www.energy.wsu.edu/projects/renewables/geothermal.cfm

Washington State University Extension Energy Program—2003 15

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