Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Act of 2015

To promote exploration for geothermal resources, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Act of 2015 2. Geothermal exploration test projects The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ( 30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. 30. Geothermal exploration test projects (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered land The term covered land (A) (i) public land administered by the Secretary; or (ii) National Forest System land administered by the Secretary of Agriculture; and (B) not excluded from the development of geothermal energy under— (i) a final land use plan established under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (ii) a final land and resource management plan established under the National Forest Management Act of 1976 ( 16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq. (iii) any other applicable law. (2) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned (A) the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service), with respect to National Forest System land; and (B) the Secretary, with respect to land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (including land held for the benefit of an Indian tribe). (b) NEPA review of geothermal exploration test projects (1) In general An eligible activity described in paragraph (2) carried out on covered land shall be considered an action categorically excluded from the requirements for an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (A) the action is for the purpose of geothermal resource exploration operations; and (B) the action is conducted pursuant to this Act. (2) Eligible activity An eligible activity referred to in paragraph (1) is— (A) a geophysical exploration activity that does not require drilling, including a seismic survey; (B) the drilling of a well to test or explore for geothermal resources on land leased by the Secretary concerned for the development and production of geothermal resources that— (i) is carried out by the holder of the lease; (ii) causes— (I) fewer than 5 acres of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each geothermal exploration well; and (II) not more than an additional 5 acres of soil or vegetation disruption during access or egress to the project site; (iii) is completed in fewer than 90 days, including the removal of any surface infrastructure from the project site; and (iv) requires the restoration of the project site not later than 3 years after the date of completion of the project to approximately the condition that existed at the time the project began, unless— (I) the project site is subsequently used as part of energy development on the lease; or (II) the project— (aa) yields geothermal resources; and (bb) the use of the geothermal resources will be carried out under another geothermal generation project in existence at the time of the discovery of the geothermal resources; or (C) the drilling of a well to test or explore for geothermal resources on land leased by the Secretary concerned for the development and production of geothermal resources that— (i) causes an individual surface disturbance of fewer than 5 acres if— (I) the total surface disturbance on the leased land is not more than 150 acres; and (II) a site-specific analysis has been prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (ii) involves the drilling of a geothermal well at a location or well pad site at which drilling has occurred within 5 years before the date of spudding the well; or (iii) involves the drilling of a geothermal well in a developed field for which— (I) an approved land use plan or any environmental document prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (II) the land use plan or environmental document was approved within 10 years before the date of spudding the well. (3) Limitation based on extraordinary circumstances The categorical exclusion established under paragraph (1) shall be subject to extraordinary circumstances in accordance with the Departmental Manual, 516 DM 2.3A(3) and 516 DM 2, Appendix 2 (or successor provisions). (c) Notice of intent; review and determination (1) Requirement to provide notice Not later than 30 days before the date on which drilling begins, a leaseholder intending to carry out an eligible activity shall provide notice to the Secretary concerned. (2) Review of project Not later than 10 days after receipt of a notice of intent provided under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall— (A) review the project described in the notice and determine whether the project is an eligible activity; and (B) (i) if the project is an eligible activity, notify the leaseholder that under subsection (b), the project is considered a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (ii) if the project is not an eligible activity— (I) notify the leaseholder that section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) (II) include in that notification clear and detailed findings on any deficiencies in the project that prevent the application of subsection (b) to the project; and (III) provide an opportunity to the leaseholder to remedy the deficiencies described in the notification before the date on which the leaseholder plans to begin the project under paragraph (1). .

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.