,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhbd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bc1 #bjba,mr4 ,risch introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,geothermal ,steam ,act of #aigj to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,enhancing ,geothermal ,production on ,federal ,lands ,act4 #b4 ,geothermal production on ,federal lands ,the ,geothermal ,steam ,act of #aigj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cj4 ,geothermal exploration test projects 7a7 ,definition of geothermal exploration test project ,in this section1 the term geothermal exploration 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 ,act1 that-- 7#a7 is carried out by the holder of the lease2 7#b7 causes-- 7,a7 less than #e acres of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each geothermal exploration well2 and 7,b7 not more than an additional #e acres of soil or vegetation disruption during access or egress to the test site2 7#c7 is developed-- 7,a7 less than #ab inches in diameter2 7,b7 in a manner that does not require off-road motorized access other than to and from the well site along an identified off-road route2 7,c7 without construction of new roads other than upgrading of existing drainage crossings for safety purposes2 7,d7 with the use of rubber-tired digging or drilling equipment vehicles2 and 7,e7 without the use of high-pressure well stimulation2 7#d7 is completed in less than #ij days1 including the removal of any surface infrastructure from the site2 and 7#e7 requires the restoration of the project site within #c years of the date of first exploration drilling to approximately the condition that existed at the time the project began1 unless the site is subsequently used as part of energy development under the lease4 7b7 ,categorical exclusion 7#a7 ,in general ,unless extraordinary circumstances exist1 a project that the ,secretary determines under subsection 7c7 is a geothermal exploration test project shall be categorically excluded from the requirements for an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 or section #aeja4d of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 7#b7 ,extraordinary circumstances definition ,in this subsection1 the term extraordinary circumstances has the same meaning given such term in the ,department of the ,interior ,departmental ,manual1 #eaf ,,dm #b4c;,a7#c7 and #eaf ,,dm #b1 ,appendix #b 7or successor provisions74 7c7 ,process 7#a7 ,requirement to provide notice ,a leaseholder shall provide notice to the ,secretary of the leaseholder's intent to carry out a geothermal exploration test project at least #cj days before the start of drilling under the project4 7#b7 ,review and determination ,not later than #aj days after receipt of a notice of intent under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall1 with respect to the project described in the notice of intent-- 7,a7 determine if the project qualifies for a categorical exclusion under subsection 7b72 and 7,b7 notify the leaseholder of such determination4 7#c7 ,opportunity to remedy ,if the ,secretary determines under paragraph 7#b77;,a7 that the project does not qualify for a categorical exclusion under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 include in such notice clear and detailed findings on any deficiencies in the project that resulted in such determination2 and 7,b7 allow the leaseholder to remedy any such deficiencies and resubmit the notice of intent under paragraph 7#a74 4 #c4 ,geothermal leasing priority areas ,the ,geothermal ,steam ,act of #aigj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq47 is further amended by adding at the end the following3 #ca4 ,geothermal leasing priority areas 7a7 ,definition of covered land ,in this section1 the term covered land means land that is-- 7#a7 ,federal land2 and 7#b7 not excluded from the development of geothermal energy under-- 7,a7 a land use plan established under the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq472 or 7,b7 any other ,federal law4 7b7 ,designation of geothermal leasing priority areas ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,energy1 shall designate portions of covered land as geothermal leasing priority areas as soon as practicable1 but not later than #e years1 after the date of the enactment of this section4 7c7 ,criteria for selection ,in determining which covered lands to designate as geothermal leasing priority areas under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,energy1 shall consider if-- 7#a7 the covered land is preferable for geothermal leasing2 7#b7 production of geothermal energy on such land is economically viable1 including if such land has access to methods of energy transmission2 and 7#c7 the designation would be in compliance with section #bjb of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agab71 including subsection 7c77#i7 of that section4 7d7 ,review and modification ,not less frequently than once every #aj years1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 review covered land and1 if appropriate1 make additional designations of geothermal leasing priority areas2 and 7#b7 review each area designated as a geothermal leasing priority area under this section1 and1 if appropriate1 remove such designation4 7e7 ,programmatic environmental impact statement 7#a7 ,initial designations ,no later than one year after the initial designation of a geothermal leasing priority area1 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 7b74 7#b7 ,subsequent designations ,each designation of a geothermal leasing priority area under subsection 7d7 shall be included in a programmatic environmental impact statement for geothermal leasing or in a supplement to such a statement4 7#c7 ,consultations ,in developing any programmatic environmental impact statement for geothermal leasing or supplement to such a statement under this section1 the ,secretary shall consult1 on an ongoing basis1 with appropriate ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 transmission infrastructure owners and operators1 developers1 and other appropriate entities4 7#d7 ,procedure ,the ,secretary may not delay issuing a permit or holding a lease sale under this ,act because the supplement required under paragraph 7#a7 has not been finalized by the ,secretary4 7f7 ,compliance with ,,nepa ,if the ,secretary determines that the designation of a geothermal leasing priority area has been sufficiently analyzed by a programmatic environmental impact statement1 the ,secretary shall not prepare any additional analysis under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 with respect to geothermal lease sales for such geothermal leasing priority area4 4