H.R. 5576: Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

The bill titled "Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act" aims to modify existing legislation governing geothermal resources on federal lands, specifically the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. It introduces new regulations to facilitate and expedite the exploration and development of geothermal energy. Below are the key components of the bill:

Geothermal Exploration Projects

• The bill defines a "geothermal exploration project" as any drilling activity for geothermal resources on lands leased for this purpose. It outlines criteria for such projects, including:
• The drilling must involve certain types of wells and be completed within 180 days.
• The project area must not exceed 8 acres of unreclaimed surface disturbance, not counting access roads.
• The area must be restored to its pre-drilling condition within three years unless further energy development occurs there.

Covered Activities

• The bill specifies what activities are included in geothermal exploration, development, or production:
  • Geotechnical investigations.
  • Off-road travel on established rights-of-way.
  • Construction and maintenance of roads necessary for geothermal project activities.

Environmental Impact Consideration

• Geothermal exploration projects and covered activities will not be classified as major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This designation streamlines the process for approval, as these projects won’t undergo extensive environmental review typically required for major actions.
• The bill requires the leaseholder to notify the Secretary of their intent to begin a geothermal exploration project at least 30 days prior to drilling.

Geothermal Leasing Priority Areas

• The bill establishes a process for designating "geothermal leasing priority areas" on federal land, which will be identified by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Energy. This includes:
  • Land that is federal and not excluded from geothermal development.
  • Criteria for designating these areas will include considerations such as economic viability and suitability for geothermal production.
  • New areas can be designated or existing ones modified to reflect changing conditions at least once every five years.

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

• After the designation of a geothermal leasing priority area, the Secretary must prepare supplementary environmental impact statements to ensure all areas are properly evaluated for environmental effects. This must be done in consultation with state, tribal, and local authorities as well as industry stakeholders.

Compliance with NEPA

• If an area has already been analyzed under NEPA, the bill restricts further analysis for a period of ten years unless significant new information arises.

Beneficiaries and Economic Impact

• The legislation aims to increase the production of geothermal energy by simplifying the administrative process and accelerating project timelines, which could enhance economic viability in areas with geothermal potential.

Relevant Companies

• None found