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Union Calendar No. 167 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2171 

[Report No. 112–251] 

To promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under existing 

geothermal leases, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 14, 2011 

Mr. LABRADOR (for himself, Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, Mr. LAMBORN, 

Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, and Mr. WITTMAN) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources 

OCTOBER 14, 2011 

Additional sponsors: Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. LANDRY, Mr. DUNCAN of South 

Carolina, Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado, and Mr. FLORES

OCTOBER 14, 2011 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 14, 2011] 

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A BILL 

To promote timely exploration for geothermal resources 

under existing geothermal leases, and for other purposes. 

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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Exploring for Geo5 thermal Energy on Federal Lands Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION NOTICE AND EXCLU7 SION. 

8 (a) DEFINITION OF GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION TEST

9 PROJECT.—In this section the term ‘‘geothermal explo10 ration test project’’ means the drilling of a well to test or 

11 explore for geothermal resources on lands leased by the De12 partment of the Interior for the development and production 

13 of geothermal resources, that— 

14 (1) is carried out by the holder of the lease; 

15 (2) causes— 

16 (A) less than 5 acres of soil or vegetation 

17 disruption at the location of each geothermal ex18 ploration well; and 

19 (B) not more than an additional 5 acres of 

20 soil or vegetation disruption during access or 

21 egress to the test site; 

22 (3) is developed— 

23 (A) no deeper than 2,500 feet; 

24 (B) less than 8 inches in diameter; 

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1 (C) in a manner that does not require off2 road motorized access other than to and from the 

3 well site along an identified off-road route for 

4 which notice is provided to the Secretary of the 

5 Interior under subsection (c); 

6 (D) without construction of new roads other 

7 than upgrading of existing drainage crossings 

8 for safety purposes; and 

9 (E) with the use of rubber-tired digging or 

10 drilling equipment vehicles; 

11 (4) is completed in less than 45 days, including 

12 the removal of any surface infrastructure from the 

13 site; and 

14 (5) requires the restoration of the project site 

15 within 3 years to approximately the condition that 

16 existed at the time the project began, unless the site 

17 is subsequently used as part of energy development on 

18 the lease. 

19 (b) NEPA EXCLUSION.—Section 102(2)(C) of the Na20 tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 

21 4332(2)(C)) shall not apply with respect to a project that 

22 the Secretary of the Interior determines under subsection 

23 (c) is a geothermal exploration test project. 

24 (c) NOTICE OF INTENT; REVIEW AND DETERMINA25 TION.— 

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1 (1) REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NOTICE.—A 

2 leaseholder intending to carry out a geothermal explo3 ration test project shall provide notice to the Sec4 retary of the Interior not later than 30 days prior to 

5 the start of drilling under the project. 

6 (2) REVIEW OF PROJECT.—The Secretary shall 

7 by not later than 10 days after receipt of a notice of 

8 intent under paragraph (1) from a leaseholder— 

9 (A) review the project described in the no10 tice and determine whether it is a geothermal ex11 ploration test project under subsection (a); and 

12 (B) notify the leaseholder— 

13 (i) that under subsection (b) of this sec14 tion, section 102(2)(C) of the National En15 vironmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 

16 4332(2)(C)) does not apply to the project; or 

17 (ii) that section 102(2)(C) of the Na18 tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

19 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) applies to the 

20 project, including clear and detailed find21 ings on any deficiencies in the project that 

22 preclude the application of subsection (b) of 

23 this section to the project. 

24 (3) OPPORTUNITY TO REMEDY.—If the Secretary 

25 provides notice under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) that secmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 tion 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 

2 Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) applies to the 

3 project, the Secretary shall provide the leaseholder an 

4 opportunity to remedy the deficiencies described in 

5 the notice prior to the date the leaseholder intended 

6 to start of drilling under the project. 

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Union Calendar No. 167 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2171 

[Report No. 112–251] 

A BILL 

To promote timely exploration for geothermal reother purposes. sources under existing geothermal leases, and for 

OCTOBER 14, 2011 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 

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