Bill > S2270

This bill, the Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act, amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources on federal lands. It establishes a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for certain geothermal exploration test projects that meet specified criteria, such as limited surface disturbance and short duration. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to designate "geothermal leasing priority areas" on federal lands and prepare programmatic environmental impact statements to facilitate geothermal leasing in those areas. Additionally, the bill facilitates the coproduction of geothermal energy on oil and gas leases and allows for noncompetitive leasing of adjoining federal lands for geothermal development if certain conditions are met.