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 be classified as 'known geothermal resources fields'. B. If any lands to be leased are within a known geothermal resources field, the lands shall be leased to the highest responsible qualified bidder under rules prescribed by the commissioner. The rules prescribed by the commissioner shall include notice to the public of the terms and conditions of the sale and procedures of conducting the sale, including the receipt of written bids on a competitive basis and the issuing of the lease. History: 1953 Comp., § 7-15-6, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 158, § 6; 2001, ch. 246, § 1. ANNOTATIONSCross references. — For giving of legal notice, see 14-11-1 NMSA 1978 et seq. For establishment of bureau of geology and mineral resources, a division of the New Mexico institute of mining and technology, and duties thereof, see 69-1-1 NMSA 1978 et seq. -11-1 NMSA 1978 et seq. For establishment of bureau of geology and mineral resources, a division of the New Mexico institute of mining and technology, and duties thereof, see 69-1-1 NMSA 1978 et seq. The 2001 amendment, effective June 15, 2001, substituted 'bureau of geology' for 'bureau of mines' in Subsection A; and substituted 'rules' for 'regulations' in two places in Subsection B. Law reviews. — For comment on geothermal energy and water law, see 19 Nat. Resources J. 445 (1979).
New Mexico Legal Code