,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bbgj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #be1 #bjai,mr4   
,ris* introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,en]gy & ,natural ,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  
,to am5d ! ,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act ( #aigj 
to promote timely exploration = geo!rmal
 res\rces "u geo!rmal leases1 & = o!r   
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,enhanc+ ,geo!rmal         
,production on ,f$]al ,l&s ,act4  #b4   
,geo!rmal production on ,f$]al l&s ,!   
,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act ( #aigj 7#cj       
,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq47 is am5d$ by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #cj4 ,geo!rmal 
exploration te/ projects  7a7 ,def9ition
 ( geo!rmal exploration te/ project ,9  
?is section1 ! t]m geo!rmal exploration 
te/ project means ! drill+ ( a well to  
te/ or explore = geo!rmal res\rces on   
l&s = :i* ! ,secret>y has issu$ a lease 
"u ?is ,act1 t--  7#a7 is c>ri$ out by !
 hold] ( ! lease2  7#b7 causes--  7,a7  
less ?an #e acres ( soil or vegetation  

disruption at ! location ( ea* geo!rmal 
exploration well2 &  7,b7 n m ?an an    
additional #e acres ( soil or vegetation
 disruption dur+ access or egress to !  
te/ site2  7#c7 is develop$-- 7,a7 less 
?an #i in*es 9 diamet]2  7,b7 9 a mann] 
t does n require (f-road motoriz$ access
 o!r ?an to & f ! well site along an    
id5tifi$ (f-road r\te2  7,c7 )\t        
con/ruction ( new roads o!r ?an upgrad+ 
( exi/+ dra9age cross+s = safety        
purposes2  7,d7 ) ! use ( rubb]-tir$    
digg+ or drill+ equipm5t vehicles2 &    
7,e7 )\t ! use ( high-pressure well     
/imulation2  7#d7 is complet$ 9 less ?an
 #ij days1 includ+ ! removal ( any      
surface infra/ructure f ! site2 &  7#e7 
requires ! re/oration ( ! project site  
)9 #c ye>s ( ! date ( fir/ exploration  
drill+ to approximately ! condition t   
exi/$ at ! "t ! project began1 unless ! 
site is subsequ5tly us$ z "p ( en]gy    
developm5t "u ! lease4  7b7 ,categorical
 exclusion  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,unless       
extraord9>y circum/ances exi/1 a project

 t ! ,secret>y det]m9es "u subsection   
7c7 is a geo!rmal exploration te/       
project %all be categorically exclud$ f 
! requirem5ts = an environm5tal         
assessm5t or an environm5tal impact     
/atem5t "u ! ,national ,environm5tal    
,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#dcba et seq47 or section #aejh4d (     
title #dj1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations  
7or a successor regulation74  7#b7      
,extraord9>y circum/ances def9ition ,9  
?is subsection1 ! t]m extraord9>y       
circum/ances has ! same mean+ giv5 su*  
t]m 9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior          
,dep>tm5tal ,manual1 #eaf ,,dm          
#b4c;,a7#c7 & #eaf ,,dm #b1 ,app5dix #b 
7or successor provisions74  7c7 ,process
  7#a7 ,requirem5t to provide notice ,a 
leasehold] %all provide notice to !     
,secret>y ( ! leasehold]'s int5t to c>ry
 out a geo!rmal exploration te/ project 
at lea/ #cj days be=e ! />t ( drill+ "u 
! project4  7#b7 ,review & det]m9ation  
,n lat] ?an #aj days aft] receipt ( a   
notice ( int5t "u p>agraph 7#a71 !      

,secret>y %all1 ) respect to ! project  
describ$ 9 ! notice ( int5t--  7,a7     
det]m9e if ! project qualifies = a      
categorical exclusion "u subsection 7b72
 &  7,b7 notify ! leasehold] ( su*      
det]m9ation4  7#c7 ,opportunity to rem$y
 ,if ! ,secret>y det]m9es "u p>agraph   
7#b77;,a7 t ! project does n qualify = a
 categorical exclusion "u subsection    
7b71 ! ,secret>y %all--  7,a7 include 9 
su* notice cle> & detail$ f9d+s on any  
defici5cies 9 ! project t result$ 9 su* 
det]m9ation2 &  7,b7 all[ ! leasehold]  
to rem$y any su* defici5cies & resubmit 
! notice ( int5t "u p>agraph 7#a74  4   
#c4 ,geo!rmal leas+ priority areas ,!   
,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act ( #aigj 7#cj       
,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq47 is fur!r am5d$ 
by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #ca4        
,geo!rmal leas+ priority areas  7a7     
,def9ition ( cov]$ l& ,9 ?is section1 ! 
t]m cov]$ l& means l& t is-- 7#a7 ,f$]al
 l&2 &  7#b7 n exclud$ f ! developm5t ( 
geo!rmal en]gy "u-- 7,a7 a l& use plan  
e/abli%$ "u ! ,f$]al ,l& ,policy &      

,managem5t ,act ( #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4  
#agja et seq472 or  7,b7 any o!r ,f$]al 
law4  7b7 ,designation ( geo!rmal leas+ 
priority areas ,! ,secret>y1 9          
consultation ) ! ,secret>y ( ,en]gy1    
%all designate portions ( cov]$ l& z    
geo!rmal leas+ priority areas z soon z  
practicable1 b n lat] ?an #e ye>s1 aft] 
! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is section4  7c7 
,crit]ia = selection ,9 det]m9+ :i*     
cov]$ l&s to designate z geo!rmal leas+ 
priority areas "u subsection 7b71 !     
,secret>y1 9 consultation ) ! ,secret>y 
( ,en]gy1 %all consid] if--  7#a7 !     
cov]$ l& is pref]able = geo!rmal leas+2 
7#b7 production ( geo!rmal en]gy on su* 
l& is economically viable1 includ+ if   
su* l& has access to me?ods ( en]gy     
transmission2 &  7#c7 ! designation w\ld
 be 9 compliance ) section #bjb ( !     
,f$]al ,l& ,policy & ,managem5t ,act (  
#aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agab71 includ+    
subsection 7c77#i7 ( t section4  7d7    
,review & modification ,n less frequ5tly
 ?an once e #aj ye>s1 ! ,secret>y %all--

 7#a7 review cov]$ l& &1 if appropriate1
 make additional designations ( geo!rmal
 leas+ priority areas2 &  7#b7 review   
ea* area designat$ z a geo!rmal leas+   
priority area "u ?is section1 &1 if     
appropriate1 remove su* designation4    
7e7 ,programmatic environm5tal impact   
/atem5t  7#a7 ,initial designations ,no 
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! initial          
designation ( a geo!rmal leas+ priority 
area1 ! ,secret>y %all prep>e a         
supplem5t to any f9al programmatic      
environm5tal impact /atem5t = geo!rmal  
leas+ t is ! mo/ rec5tly f9aliz$ su*    
/atem5t ) respect to cov]$ l& designat$ 
z a geo!rmal leas+ priority area "u     
subsection 7b74  7#b7 ,subsequ5t        
designations ,ea* designation ( a       
geo!rmal leas+ priority area "u         
subsection 7d7 %all be includ$ 9 a      
programmatic environm5tal impact /atem5t
 = geo!rmal leas+ or 9 a supplem5t to   
su* a /atem5t4  7#c7 ,consultations ,9  
develop+ any programmatic environm5tal  
impact /atem5t = geo!rmal leas+ or      

supplem5t to su* a /atem5t "u ?is       
section1 ! ,secret>y %all consult1 on an
 ongo+ basis1 ) appropriate ,/ate1      
,tribal1 & local gov]nm5ts1 transmission
 infra/ructure own]s & op]ators1        
develop]s1 & o!r appropriate entities4  
7#d7 ,proc$ure ,! ,secret>y may n delay 
issu+ a p]mit or hold+ a lease sale "u  
?is ,act because ! supplem5t requir$ "u 
p>agraph 7#a7 has n be5 f9aliz$ by !    
,secret>y4  7f7 ,compliance ) ,,nepa ,if
 ! ,secret>y det]m9es t ! designation ( 
a geo!rmal leas+ priority area has be5  
suffici5tly analyz$ by a programmatic   
environm5tal impact /atem5t1 ! ,secret>y
 %all n prep>e any additional analysis  
"u ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy    
,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et    
seq47 ) respect to geo!rmal lease sales 
= su* geo!rmal leas+ priority area4  4  
#d4 ,facilitation ( coproduction (      
geo!rmal en]gy on oil & gas leases      
,section #d7;b7 ( ! ,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act
 ( #aigj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc7;b77 is   
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#d7  

,l& subject to oil & gas lease ,l& "u an
 oil & gas lease issu$ pursuant to !    
,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha  
et seq47 or ! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act =      
,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #cea et    
seq47 t is subject to an approv$        
application = p]mit to drill & f :i* oil
 & gas production is occurr+ may be     
available = noncompetitive leas+ "u     
subsection 7c7 by ! hold] ( ! oil & gas 
lease--  7,a7 on a det]m9ation t        
geo!rmal en]gy w be produc$ f a well    
produc+ or capable ( produc+ oil & gas2 
&  7,b7 9 ord] to provide = !           
coproduction ( geo!rmal en]gy ) oil &   
gas4  4  #e4 ,noncompetitive leas+ (    
adjo9+ areas = developm5t ( geo!rmal    
res\rces ,section #d7;b7 ( ! ,geo!rmal  
,/eam ,act ( #aigj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4       
#ajjc7;b77 is fur!r am5d$ by add+ at !  
end ! foll[+3  7#e7 ,adjo9+ l&  7,a7    
,def9itions ,9 ?is p>agraph3 7i7 ,fair  
m>ket value p] acre ,! t]m fair m>ket   
value p] acre means a doll> am\nt p]    
acre t--  7,i7 except z provid$ 9 ?is   

clause1 %all be equal to ! m>ket value  
p] acre 7tak+ into acc\nt ! det]m9ation 
"u subp>agraph 7,b77iii7 reg>d+ a valid 
discov]y on ! adjo9+ l&7 z det]m9$ by ! 
,secret>y "u regulations issu$ "u ?is   
p>agraph2  7,,ii7 %all be det]m9$ by !  
,secret>y ) respect to a lease "u ?is   
p>agraph1 by n lat] ?an ! end ( !       
#ahj-;day p]iod beg9n+ on ! date !      
,secret>y receives an application = !   
lease2 &  7,,iii7 %all be n less ?an !  
great] (-- 7aa7 #d times ! m$ian am\nt  
paid p] acre = all l& leas$ "u ?is ,act 
dur+ ! prec$+ ye>2 or  7bb7 #ej4  7ii7  
,indu/ry /&>ds ,! t]m indu/ry /&>ds     
means ! /&>ds by :i* a qualifi$ geo!rmal
 pr(essional assesses :e!r d[nhole or   
fl[+ temp]ature measurem5ts )           
indications ( p]meability are suffici5t 
to produce en]gy f geo!rmal res\rces1 z 
det]m9$ ?r\gh fl[ or injection te/+ or  
measurem5t ( lo/ circulation :ile       
drill+4  7iii7 ,qualifi$ ,f$]al l& ,!   
t]m qualifi$ ,f$]al l& means l& t is    
o!rwise available = leas+ "u ?is ,act4  

7iv7 ,qualifi$ geo!rmal pr(essional ,!  
t]m qualifi$ geo!rmal pr(essional means 
an individual :o is an eng9e] or        
geosci5ti/ 9 good pr(essional /&+ ) at  
lea/ #e ye>s ( exp]i5ce 9 geo!rmal      
exploration1 developm5t1 or project     
assessm5t4  7v7 ,qualifi$ lessee ,! t]m 
qualifi$ lessee means a p]son :o may    
hold a geo!rmal lease "u ?is ,act       
7includ+ applicable regulations74  7vi7 
,valid discov]y ,! t]m valid discov]y   
means a discov]y ( a geo!rmal res\rce by
 a new or exi/+ slim hole or production 
well1 t exhibits d[nhole or fl[+        
temp]ature measurem5ts ) indications (  
p]meability t are suffici5t to meet     
indu/ry /&>ds4  7,b7 ,au?ority ,an area 
( qualifi$ ,f$]al l& t adjo9s o!r l& =  
:i* a qualifi$ lessee holds a legal "r  
to develop geo!rmal res\rces may be     
available = a noncompetitive lease "u   
?is section to ! qualifi$ lessee at !   
fair m>ket value p] acre1 if--  7i7 !   
area ( qualifi$ ,f$]al l&-- 7,i7 consi/s
 ( n less ?an #a acre & n m ?an #fdj    

acres2 &  7,,ii7 is n already leas$ "u  
?is ,act or nom9at$ to be leas$ "u      
subsection 7a72  7ii7 ! qualifi$ lessee 
has n previ\sly receiv$ a noncompetitive
 lease "u ?is p>agraph 9 connection ) ! 
valid discov]y = :i* data has be5       
submitt$ "u clause 7iii77,i72 &  7iii7  
suffici5t geological & o!r te*nical data
 prep>$ by a qualifi$ geo!rmal          
pr(essional has be5 submitt$ by !       
qualifi$ lessee to ! applicable ,f$]al  
l& managem5t ag5cy t w\ld lead          
individuals :o are exp]i5c$ 9 ! subject 
matt] to believe t--  7,i7 !re is a     
valid discov]y ( geo!rmal res\rces on ! 
l& = :i* ! qualifi$ lessee holds ! legal
 "r to develop geo!rmal res\rces2 &     
7,,ii7 t geo!rmal feature ext5ds into ! 
adjo9+ areas4  7,c7 ,det]m9ation ( fair 
m>ket value  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y  
%all--  7,i7 publi% a notice ( any      
reque/ to lease l& "u ?is p>agraph2     
7,,ii7 det]m9e fair m>ket value =       
purposes ( ?is p>agraph 9 accordance )  
proc$ures = mak+ ^? det]m9ations t are  

e/abli%$ by regulations issu$ by !      
,secret>y2  7,,iii7 provide to a        
qualifi$ lessee & publi%1 ) an          
opportunity = public comm5t = a p]iod ( 
#cj days1 any propos$ det]m9ation "u ?is
 subp>agraph ( ! fair m>ket value ( an  
area t ! qualifi$ lessee seeks to lease 
"u ?is p>agraph2 &  7,,iv7 provide to ! 
qualifi$ lessee & any adv]sely affect$  
p>ty ! opportunity to appeal ! f9al     
det]m9ation ( fair m>ket value 9 an     
adm9i/rative proce$+ be=e ! applicable  
,f$]al l& managem5t ag5cy1 9 accordance 
) applicable law 7includ+ regulations74 
7ii7 ,limitation on nom9ation ,aft]     
publication ( a notice ( reque/ to lease
 l& "u ?is p>agraph1 ! ,secret>y may n  
accept "u subsection 7a7 any nom9ation (
 ! l& = leas+ unless ! reque/ has be5   
d5i$ or )drawn4  7iii7 ,annual r5tal ,= 
purposes ( section #e7;a77#c71 a lease  
aw>d$ "u ?is p>agraph %all be consid]$ a
 lease aw>d$ 9 a competitive lease sale4
  7,d7 ,regulations ,n lat] ?an #bgj    
days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is       

p>agraph1 ! ,secret>y %all issue        
regulations to c>ry out ?is p>agraph4  4