Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 3715.5 — Geothermal Resources

(a) For the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (commencing with Section 21000), the division shall be the lead agency as defined in Section 21067 for all geothermal exploratory projects as defined in Section 21065.5.

(b) (1) The division may delegate its lead agency responsibility under this section to a county that has adopted a geothermal element, as defined in Section 25133, for its general plan.

(2) Upon the request of an applicant, the county in which a geothermal exploratory project is located, regardless of whether the county has adopted a geothermal element for its general plan, shall assume responsibilities of a lead agency, as defined in Section 21067, for the project. The applicant shall make the request to the county and the division.

(c) If a county assumes lead agency responsibility pursuant to subdivision (b), the county and the division shall confer regarding necessary information that should be included in the environmental review for the project to facilitate the division’s exercise of its authority as a responsible agency, as defined in Section 21069.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to geothermal exploratory projects, as defined in Section 21065.5, where, before January 1, 1979, preparation of an environmental impact report for a geothermal exploratory project has begun or an application for a geothermal exploratory project that will require preparation of an environmental impact report has been filed.