§ 5-601

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Construction” means any clearing, grading, excavation, building, or the commencement of any of these activities.

(c) “Department” means the Department of the Environment.

(d) “Exploratory activities” means any activity involving the drilling of test wells for geothermal resources.

(e) (1) “Geothermal resources” means the natural heat of the earth higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 49 degrees centigrade, or the energy, in whatever form, below the surface of the earth present in, resulting from, or created by, or which may be extracted from, this natural heat, the natural or artificial medium containing that 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.

(2) “Geothermal resources” do not include oil, hydrocarbon gas, and other hydrocarbon substances.

(f) “Person” includes corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, joint stock companies, individuals, and government agencies.

(g) “Well” means any excavation or other alteration of the earth’s surface or crust by means of which geothermal resources may be obtained.