Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act

Bill: 113-hr-1363
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Labrador, Raul R. [R-ID-1]
Introduced: 2013-03-21
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Alternative and renewable resources

Department of the Interior

Environmental regulatory procedures

Land use and conservation
Latest action: action_date: 2014-12-22
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 521.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-03-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act - Exempts projects determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be geothermal exploration test projects from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).</p> <p>Defines a "geothermal exploration test project" as&nbsp;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 production of geothermal resources, that is completed in less than 45 days, that causes less than&nbsp;five&nbsp;acres of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each well and no more than five additional acres of soil or vegetation disruption during access or egress to the test site, and that is developed: (1) no deeper than 2,500 feet, (2)&nbsp;less than&nbsp;eight inches in diameter, (3) 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, (4) without construction of new roads other than upgrading of existing drainage crossings for safety purposes, and (5) with the use of rubber-tired digging or drilling equipment vehicles. Requires the restoration of the project site within three 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.</p> <p>Requires: (1)&nbsp;a&nbsp;leaseholder intending to carry out a geothermal exploration test project to provide notice to the Secretary within&nbsp;30 days prior to the start of drilling, (2) the Secretary to review a project within 10 days of receipt of such notice and to notify&nbsp;such leaseholder either that such NEPA requirements do not apply or that project deficiencies preclude the NEPA exemption, and (3) the Secretary to allow&nbsp;such&nbsp;leaseholder an opportunity to remedy any such deficiencies prior to the date&nbsp;such leaseholder intended to start drilling.</p>

action_date: 2014-12-22
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</b></p> <p>Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act - (Sec. 2) Exempts geothermal exploration test projects from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) if the project: </p> <ul> <li>causes less than five acres of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each well and no more than five additional acres of disruption during access or egress to the test site, </li> <li>is developed no deeper than 2,500 feet and&nbsp;less than&nbsp;eight inches in diameter, </li> <li>is developed 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,</li> <li>is developed without construction of new roads other than upgrading of existing drainage crossings for safety purposes and with the use of rubber-tired digging or drilling equipment vehicles,</li> <li>is completed in less than 45 days, and </li> <li>requires the restoration of the project site within three 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.</li> </ul> <p>Requires a&nbsp;holder of a geothermal lease on federal land to notify the Department of the Interior within&nbsp;30 days before the start of drilling under a geothermal exploration test project. Gives Interior 10 days to review a project and notify a leaseholder that the project is exempted from NEPA requirements or that project deficiencies preclude the exemption. Requires Interior to allow a&nbsp;leaseholder an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies before the date on which the leaseholder intended to start drilling.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1363 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 21, 2013 Mr. Labrador introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under existing geothermal leases, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act . 2. Geothermal exploration notice and exclusion (a) Definition of geothermal exploration test project In this section the term geothermal exploration 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 production 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; (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 crossings 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 determination (1) Requirement to provide notice A leaseholder intending to carry out a geothermal exploration test project shall provide notice to the Secretary of the Interior not later than 30 days prior to the start of drilling under the project. (2) Review of project The Secretary shall by not later than 10 days after receipt of a notice of intent under paragraph (1) from a leaseholder— (A) review the project described in the notice and determine whether it is a geothermal exploration test project under subsection (a); and (B) notify the leaseholder— (i) that under subsection (b) of this section, section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) does not apply to the project; or (ii) that section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) applies to the project, including clear and detailed findings on any deficiencies in the project that preclude the application of subsection (b) of this section to the project. (3) Opportunity to remedy If the Secretary provides notice under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) that section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 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 leaseholder intended to start drilling under the project.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 521 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 1363 [Report No. 113–690] 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 A BILL To promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under existing geothermal leases, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act . 2. Geothermal exploration notice and exclusion (a) Definition of geothermal exploration test project In this section the term geothermal exploration 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 production 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; (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 crossings 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 determination (1) Requirement to provide notice A leaseholder intending to carry out a geothermal exploration test project shall provide notice to the Secretary of the Interior not later than 30 days prior to the start of drilling under the project. (2) Review of project The Secretary shall by not later than 10 days after receipt of a notice of intent under paragraph (1) from a leaseholder— (A) review the project described in the notice and determine whether it is a geothermal exploration test project under subsection (a); and (B) notify the leaseholder— (i) that under subsection (b) of this section, section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) does not apply to the project; or (ii) that section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) applies to the project, including clear and detailed findings on any deficiencies in the project that preclude the application of subsection (b) of this section to the project. (3) Opportunity to remedy If the Secretary provides notice under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) that section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 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 leaseholder intended to start drilling under the project.

December 22, 2014 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed