IB 
Union Calendar No. 521 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1363 
[Report No. 113–690] 
To promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under existing 
geothermal leases, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2013 
Mr. LABRADOR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
DECEMBER 22, 2014 
Additional sponsor: Mr. AMODEI 
DECEMBER 22, 2014 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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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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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Exploring for Geo-
thermal Energy on Federal Lands Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION NOTICE AND EXCLU-
SION. 
(a) DEFINITION
OF GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION 
TEST PROJECT.—In this section the term ‘‘geothermal ex-
ploration test project’’ means the drilling of a well to test 
or explore for geothermal resources on lands leased by the 
Department of the Interior for the development and pro-
duction of geothermal resources, that— 
(1) is carried out by the holder of the lease; 
(2) causes— 
(A) less than 5 acres of soil or vegetation 
disruption at the location of each geothermal 
exploration well; and 
(B) not more than an additional 5 acres of 
soil or vegetation disruption during access or 
egress to the test site; 
(3) is developed— 
(A) no deeper than 2,500 feet; 
(B) less than 8 inches in diameter; 
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(C) in a manner that does not require off- 
road motorized access other than to and from 
the well site along an identified off-road route 
for which notice is provided to the Secretary of 
the Interior under subsection (c); 
(D) without construction of new roads 
other than upgrading of existing drainage cross-
ings for safety purposes; and 
(E) with the use of rubber-tired digging or 
drilling equipment vehicles; 
(4) is completed in less than 45 days, including 
the removal of any surface infrastructure from the 
site; and 
(5) requires the restoration of the project site 
within 3 years to approximately the condition that 
existed at the time the project began, unless the site 
is subsequently used as part of energy development 
on the lease. 
(b) NEPA EXCLUSION.—Section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)) shall not apply with respect to a project that 
the Secretary of the Interior determines under subsection 
(c) is a geothermal exploration test project. 
(c) NOTICE OF INTENT; REVIEW AND DETERMINA-
TION.— 
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(3) OPPORTUNITY
TO
REMEDY.—If the Sec-
retary provides notice under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) 
that section 102(2)(C) of the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) 
applies to the project, the Secretary shall provide the 
leaseholder an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies 
described in the notice prior to the date the lease-
holder intended to start drilling under the project. 
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Union Calendar No. 521 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1363 
[Report No. 113–690] 
A BILL 
To promote timely exploration for geothermal re-
sources under existing geothermal leases, and for 
other purposes. 
DECEMBER 22, 2014 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:43 Dec 24, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
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