1. The Administrator of the Division of Minerals of the Commission on Mineral Resources shall approve or reject an application for a permit to drill an exploratory well within 10 days after the Administrator receives the application in proper form. The permit must not be effective for more than 2 years, but may be extended by the Administrator.

2. Upon receipt of an application for a permit to drill or operate a geothermal well, the Administrator of the Division of Minerals shall transmit copies of the application to the State Engineer, the Administrator of the Division of Environmental Protection of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Director of the Department of Wildlife. After consultation with the State Engineer, the Administrator of the Division of Environmental Protection, and the Director of the Department of Wildlife, the Administrator of the Division of Minerals may issue a permit to drill or operate a geothermal well if it is determined that issuance of a permit is consistent with:

(a) The policies specified in NRS 445A.305 and 445B.100;

(b) The purposes of chapters 533 and 534 of NRS; and

(c) The purposes specified in chapter 501 of NRS.

3. The Administrator of the Division of Minerals shall approve or reject the application to drill or operate a geothermal well within 90 days after the Administrator receives it in proper form, unless it is determined that a conflict exists pursuant to subsection 2 or a public hearing is necessary pursuant to subsection 4. Notice of the conflict or need for a public hearing must be provided to the applicant within the 90-day period.

4. The State Engineer and the Administrator of the Division of Minerals may hold public hearings jointly or separately to gather such evidence or information as they deem necessary for a full understanding of all the rights involved and to guard properly the public interest.

5. A permit issued pursuant to this section must include any conditions:

(a) Deemed necessary by the Administrator of the Division of Minerals to carry out the purposes of this section; and

(b) Imposed by the State Engineer consistent with the provisions of chapters 533 and 534 of NRS.

(Added to NRS by 1983, 2091; A 1985, 1304; 1987, 778; 1993, 1701; 1997, 509; 1999, 3633; 2003, 1581)