‘‘SEC. 30. GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION TEST PROJECTS. 
‘‘(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 for which the 
Secretary has issued a lease under this Act, 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) less than 12 inches in diameter; 
‘‘(B) 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; 
‘‘(C) without construction of new roads 
other than upgrading of existing drainage cross-
ings for safety purposes; 
‘‘(D) with the use of rubber-tired digging 
or drilling equipment vehicles; and 
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‘‘(E) without the use of high-pressure well 
stimulation; 
‘‘(4) is completed in less than 90 days, includ-
ing the removal of any surface infrastructure from 
the site; and 
‘‘(5) requires the restoration of the project site 
within 3 years of the date of first exploration drilling 
to approximately the condition that existed at the 
time the project began, unless the site is subse-
quently used as part of energy development under 
the lease. 
‘‘(b) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Unless extraordinary cir-
cumstances exist, a project that the Secretary deter-
mines under subsection (c) is a geothermal explo-
ration test project shall be categorically excluded 
from the requirements for an environmental assess-
ment or an environmental impact statement under 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or section 1501.4 of title 40, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regula-
tion). 
‘‘(2) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES DEFINI-
TION.—In this subsection, the term ‘extraordinary 
circumstances’ has the same meaning given such 
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term in the Department of the Interior Depart-
mental Manual, 516 DM 2.3A(3) and 516 DM 2, 
Appendix 2 (or successor provisions). 
‘‘(c) PROCESS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NOTICE.—A 
leaseholder shall provide notice to the Secretary of 
the leaseholder’s intent to carry out a geothermal ex-
ploration test project at least 30 days before the 
start of drilling under the project. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW AND DETERMINATION.—Not later 
than 10 days after receipt of a notice of intent 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, with re-
spect to the project described in the notice of in-
tent— 
‘‘(A) determine if the project qualifies for 
a categorical exclusion under subsection (b); 
and 
‘‘(B) notify the leaseholder of such deter-
mination. 
‘‘(3) OPPORTUNITY TO REMEDY.—If the Sec-
retary determines under paragraph (2)(A) that the 
project does not qualify for a categorical exclusion 
under subsection (b), the Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(A) include in such notice clear and de-
tailed findings on any deficiencies in the project 
that resulted in such determination; and 
‘‘(B) allow the leaseholder to remedy any 
such deficiencies and resubmit the notice of in-
tent under paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 3. GEOTHERMAL LEASING PRIORITY AREAS. 
The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 
et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 31. GEOTHERMAL LEASING PRIORITY AREAS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF COVERED LAND.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘covered land’ means land that is— 
‘‘(1) Federal land; and 
‘‘(2) not excluded from the development of geo-
thermal energy under— 
‘‘(A) a land use plan established under the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or 
‘‘(B) any other Federal law. 
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION OF GEOTHERMAL LEASING PRI-
ORITY AREAS.—The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Energy, shall designate portions of covered 
land as geothermal leasing priority areas as soon as prac-
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ticable, but not later than 5 years, after the date of the 
enactment of this section. 
‘‘(c) CRITERIA
FOR SELECTION.—In determining 
which covered lands to designate as geothermal leasing 
priority areas under subsection (b), the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall consider if— 
‘‘(1) the covered land is preferable for geo-
thermal leasing; 
‘‘(2) production of geothermal energy on such 
land is economically viable, including if such land 
has access to methods of energy transmission; and 
‘‘(3) the designation would be in compliance 
with section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), includ-
ing subsection (c)(9) of that section. 
‘‘(d) REVIEW
AND MODIFICATION.—Not less fre-
quently than once every 5 years, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) review covered land and, if appropriate, 
make additional designations of geothermal leasing 
priority areas; and 
‘‘(2) review each area designated as a geo-
thermal leasing priority area under this section, and, 
if appropriate, remove such designation. 
‘‘(e) 
PROGRAMMATIC
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT 
STATEMENT.— 
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‘‘(1) INITIAL
DESIGNATIONS.—No later than 
one year after the initial designation of a geothermal 
leasing priority area, the Secretary shall prepare a 
supplement to any final programmatic environmental 
impact statement for geothermal leasing that is the 
most recently finalized such statement with respect 
to covered land designated as a geothermal leasing 
priority area under subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) SUBSEQUENT DESIGNATIONS.—Each des-
ignation of a geothermal leasing priority area under 
subsection (d) shall be included in a programmatic 
environmental impact statement for geothermal leas-
ing or in a supplement to such a statement. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing any pro-
grammatic environmental impact statement for geo-
thermal leasing or supplement to such a statement 
under this section, the Secretary shall consult, on an 
ongoing basis, with appropriate State, Tribal, and 
local governments, transmission infrastructure own-
ers and operators, developers, and other appropriate 
entities. 
‘‘(4) PROCEDURE.—The Secretary may not 
delay issuing a permit or holding a lease sale under 
this Act because the supplement required under 
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paragraph (1) has not been finalized by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(f) COMPLIANCE WITH NEPA.—If the Secretary 
determines that the designation of a geothermal leasing 
priority area has been sufficiently analyzed by a pro-
grammatic environmental impact statement, the Secretary 
shall not prepare any additional analysis under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) with respect to geothermal lease sales for such 
geothermal leasing priority area.’’. 
Æ 
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