(a) (1) The department shall develop recommended standards for the construction, maintenance, abandonment, or destruction of geothermal heat exchange wells.

(2) Until the department develops recommended standards pursuant to paragraph (1), a local enforcement agency with authority over geothermal heat exchange wells may adopt temporary regulations applicable to geothermal heat exchange wells that the local enforcement agency determines to be consistent with the intent of existing department standards to prevent wells from becoming conduits of contamination.

(3) The department, not later than July 1, 1997, shall submit to the state board a report containing the recommended geothermal heat exchange well standards.

(b) The state board, not later than January 1, 1998, shall adopt a model geothermal heat exchange well ordinance that implements the recommended standards developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a). The state board shall circulate the model ordinance to all cities and counties.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, not later than April 1, 1998, shall adopt a geothermal heat exchange well ordinance that meets or exceeds the recommended standards developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a). If a water agency that has permit authority over well drilling adopts a geothermal heat exchange well ordinance that meets or exceeds the recommended standards developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a), a county or city shall not be required to adopt an ordinance for the same area.

(d) If a county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, fails to adopt an ordinance that establishes geothermal heat exchange well standards, the model ordinance adopted by the state board pursuant to subdivision (b) shall take effect on May 1, 1998, and shall be enforced by the county or city and have the same force and effect as if adopted as a county or city ordinance.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 581, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1997.)