§22-33-4. Ownership of geothermal resources.
113 words·~1 min read·
/wv/chapter-22-environmental-resources/article-33-geothermal-energy-development/22-33-4·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
(a)Ownership of any geothermal resource is vested in the owner of the surface property overlying the geothermal resource unless severance of the geothermal resource is clear and unambiguous in an instrument conveying or reserving ownership of the geothermal resource.
(b)No mineral or water estate shall be construed to include any geothermal resource unless clearly and unambiguously included in an instrument reserving or conveying the geothermal resource.
(c)Nothing in this article shall divest any person or the state of any right, title, or interest they might have in any geothermal resource.
(d)Nothing in this article may be construed as vesting in the secretary the jurisdiction to adjudicate property rights disputes.