Bill > HR5576

This bill aims to enhance geothermal energy production on federal lands by making several key changes to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. The bill introduces provisions for geothermal exploration projects, defining them as drilling activities with specific technical parameters, such as using smaller casing diameters and limiting surface disturbance to less than 8 acres. These exploration projects would be exempted from being classified as major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act, which could streamline the approval process. The bill also requires lease holders to provide 30 days' notice before starting an exploration project. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, designate geothermal leasing priority areas within three years, considering factors like economic viability and transmission access. The bill requires periodic review of these priority areas every five years and calls for developing programmatic environmental impact statements for these areas. Importantly, the bill provides a 10-year window where additional environmental analysis would not be required for these designated areas unless substantial new information emerges. The bill's findings also note that the Bureau of Land Management has already adopted categorical exclusions for geothermal exploration, which are expected to expedite review and approval processes for such projects on federal lands.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5576/all-info