summary
Introduced
02/25/2015
02/25/2015
In Committee
02/25/2015
02/25/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Act of 2015 This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to categorically exclude from the requirements for an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) a geothermal exploration test project on National Forest System land or land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) if the project is either: a geophysical exploration activity that does not require drilling; test drilling causing soil or vegetation disruption of fewer than 10 acres, including access, that is completed in fewer than 90 days and meets other requirements, such as for restoration of the site; test drilling causing an individual surface disturbance of fewer than 5 acres with a total surface disturbance of fewer than 150 acres when a site specific analysis has been prepared; test drilling on a site at which drilling has occurred within 5 years; or test drilling on the site of a developed field that has been approved for drilling in the last 10 years pursuant to an approved land use plan or any NEPA environmental documents. A leaseholder of a geothermal lease on federal land intending to carry out a geothermal exploration test project must provide notice to the Department of the Interior, with respect to BLM land, or to the Department of Agriculture (USDA), with respect to National Forest System land . BLM and USDA must: review those projects, notify the leaseholder of project deficiencies that preclude the NEPA exemption, and allow leaseholders an opportunity to remedy those deficiencies prior to the date that the leaseholder intended to start drilling.
AI Summary
This bill, the Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Act of 2015, amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to streamline the process for geothermal exploration projects on federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the U.S. Forest Service. Specifically, it allows certain geothermal exploration test projects to be categorically excluded from the environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), which typically mandates environmental assessments or environmental impact statements. This exclusion applies to activities like geophysical surveys that don't involve drilling, or test drilling projects that meet specific criteria, such as limited soil and vegetation disruption (under 10 acres for drilling and access combined, or under 5 acres per well with a total of 150 acres if a site-specific analysis is done), completion within 90 days, restoration of the site, or if drilling has occurred at the site within the last 5 years or in a developed field approved for drilling within the last 10 years. Leaseholders intending to conduct such projects must notify the relevant agency (Department of the Interior for BLM land, or Department of Agriculture for National Forest land) at least 30 days before drilling, and the agency will review the project to ensure it qualifies for the exclusion, providing an opportunity to fix any deficiencies.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. (on 05/19/2015)
Official Document
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