,,ii #aah? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cied ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,m>* #ad1 #bjbd,mr4 ,he9ri* 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,ris*1 ,mr4 ,lee1 & ,ms4 ,cortez ,ma/o7 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 ! ,geo!rmal ,en]gy ,optimization ,act4 #b4 ,geo!rmal production on ,f$]al l& ,! ,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act ( #aigj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 #cj4 ,geo!rmal obs]vation te/ projects 7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,categorical exclusion ,! t]m categorical exclusion has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #aaa ( ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dccf;e74 7#b7 ,d[nhole ,! t]m d[nhole means a well or borehole dug or drill$ into ! subsurface ( ! e>? = ! purposes ( res\rce confirmation or pot5tial use4 7#c7 ,geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project ,! t]m geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project means us+ geo!rmal te*nologies to drill a te/1 monitor1 calibration1 or o!r simil> type ( exploratory drill+ process well = geo!rmal res\rces on l& = :i* ! ,secret>y conc]n$ has issu$ a lease "u ?is ,act1 t-- 7,a7 is c>ri$ out by ! leasehold]2 7,b7 causes an all[able am\nt ( total di/urbance2 7,c7 does n include any p]man5t roads2 7,d7 is develop$-- 7i7 ) ! deepe/ cem5t$ cas+ /r+ less ?an #ab in*es ( d[nhole size 9 diamet]2 7ii7 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 7iii7 ) tempor>y road access1 if ne$$ to enable access to ! geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project location1 subject to ! requirem5t t-- 7,i7 con/ruction ( ! tempor>y road access is rem$iat$ z close z reasonably practicable to orig9al condition foll[+ completion ( ! geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project "w2 or 7,,ii7 ! tempor>y road access1 ) any additional p]man5t improvem5ts1 is includ$ z "p ( ! full review requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 if ! leasehold] int5ds to proce$ ) geo!rmal en]gy use =-- 7aa7 ! production ( electricity2 7bb7 indu/rial processes2 7cc7 agricultural processes2 7dd7 br9e m9]al extraction2 7ee7 direct heat+ & cool+ uses2 or 7ff7 any comb9ation ( items 7aa7 ?r\gh 7ee72 & 7iv7 ) ! use ( rubb]-tir$ digg+ or drill+ equipm5t vehicles2 7,e7 is complet$ 9 less ?an #abj days-- 7i7 includ+ ! removal ( any surface infra/ructure f ! site1 unless-- 7,i7 ! leasehold] conduct+ ! geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project submits to ! ,secret>y conc]n$ by n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! date ( fir/ exploration drill+ an ext5sion reque/ = additional "t to complete ! obs]vation project1 9 :i* ! reque/ provides ju/ification indicat+ :y grant+ an ext5sion is necess>y2 & 7,,ii7 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ grants an ext5sion "u subclause 7,i71 if reque/$2 or 7ii7 n includ+ removal ( any surface infra/ructure f ! site s long z ! geo!rmal develop] int5ds to proce$ ) res\rce developm5t directly foll[+ ! te/ phase ( ! project & into processes requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 & 7,f7 requires ! re/oration ( ! project site z "p ( any new review requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 )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 7#d7 ,geo!rmal te*nology ,! t]m geo!rmal te*nology means te*nology design$ to extract heat f ! subsurface ( ! e>? & t is us$ to drill-- 7,a7 hydro!rmal project te/ wells2 7,b7 enhanc$ geo!rmal sy/em monitor+ wells2 7,c7 clos$ loop geo!rmal sy/em calibration wells2 & 7,d7 simil> types ( subsurface di/urbances ?r\gh non-production wells to assess ! viability ( ! heat res\rces ( ! e>?4 7#e7 ,secret>y conc]n$ ,! t]m ,secret>y conc]n$ means-- 7,a7 ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture1 ) respect to ,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&2 & 7,b7 ! ,secret>y1 ) respect to public l&s4 7#f7 ,surface infra/ructure ,! t]m surface infra/ructure means all equipm5t1 mat]ials1 facilities1 & o!r items us$ 9 ! drill+ ( a geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project4 7#g7 ,total di/urbance 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m total di/urbance means a geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project t causes n m ?an #aj acres ( di/urbance f-- 7i7 soil or vegetation disruption at ! location ( ea* geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project2 & 7ii7 soil or vegetation disruption dur+ access or egress to ! geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project site4 7,b7 ,all[ance 7i7 ,multiple projects ,= in/ances ( multiple geo!rmal obs]vation te/ projects1 ! acres ( total di/urbance all[$ %all-- 7,i7 be equal to ! total numb] ( geo!rmal obs]vation te/ projects multipli$ by #aj acres2 & 7,,ii7 n exce$ #ajj total acres4 7ii7 ,access or egress ,= soil or vegetation disruption dur+ access or egress to a geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project site1 ! acres ( total soil or vegetation disruption all[$ %all be equal to ! acres ( total di/urbance all[$ m9us ! acres ( soil or vegetation disruption caus$ by ! geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project4 7b7 ,categorical exclusion 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ %all develop a categorical exclusion = geo!rmal obs]vation te/ projects4 7#b7 ,adm9i/ration ,9 develop+ & adm9i/]+ ! categorical exclusion "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ %all-- 7,a7 comply ) ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 & 7,b7 apply any applicable extraord9>y circum/ance "u section #df4bae ( title #dc1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or successor regulations71 9 det]m9+ :e!r to use ! categorical exclusion4 7c7 ,process 7#a7 ,requirem5t to provide notice ,a leasehold] %all provide notice to ! ,secret>y conc]n$ ( ! int5t ( ! leasehold] to c>ry out a geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project at lea/ #fj days be=e ! />t ( drill+ "u ! project4 7#b7 ,review & det]m9ation ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] receipt ( a notice ( int5t "u p>agraph 7#a7 t conta9s suffici5t in=mation to evaluate ! qualifications ( ! project = an applicable categorical exclusion1 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ %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]m9ation2 & 7,c7 adm9i/] ! categorical exclusion = a geo!rmal obs]vation te/ project1 subject to ! condition t-- 7i7 ! project meets ! specifi$ crit]ia = ! categorical exclusion2 & 7ii7 ! ,secret>y det]m9es t no extraord9>y circum/ance exi/s "u :i* a normally exclud$ action or project may h a significant effect4 7#c7 ,opportunity to rem$y ,if ! ,secret>y conc]n$ det]m9es "u p>agraph 7#b77;,a7 t ! project does n qualify = a categorical exclusion "u subsection 7b71 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ %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] n less ?an #fj days aft] receiv+ notice "u subp>agraph 7,a7 to rem$y any defici5cies & resubmit ! notice ( int5t "u p>agraph 7#a74 4 #c4 ,review ( geo!rmal exploration or developm5t activities ,section #cij ( ! ,en]gy ,policy ,act ( #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aeidb7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by ins]t+ 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha et seq47 or ! ,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act ( #aigj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq47 aft] ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act2 & 7,b7 by /rik+ oil or gas & ins]t+ oil1 gas1 or geo!rmal en]gy res\rce well2 7#b7 9 subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by ins]t+ 1 & less ?an #aj acres = ! purposes ( geo!rmal1 aft] less ?an #e acres2 7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ oil or gas well & ins]t+ oil1 gas1 or geo!rmal res\rce well2 7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by /rik+ oil or gas well )9 a develop$ field & ins]t+ oil1 gas1 or geo!rmal en]gy res\rce well )9 a develop$ field or area2 7,d7 by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#e7 z p>agraph 7#f72 & 7,e7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#d7 ! foll[+3 7#e7 ,= ! purposes ( geo!rmal1 placem5t ( an electrical transmission l9e or a di/ribution l9e ( n m ?an #bj miles 9 l5g? 9 an approv$ "r-(-way corridor1 s long z ! corridor 0 approv$ )9 #e ye>s prior to ! date ( placem5t ( ! transmission or di/ribution l9e4 4 #d4 ,leas+ proc$ures "u ! ,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act ,section #d ( ! ,geo!rmal ,/eam ,act ( #aigj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ e #b ye>s & ins]t+ e ye>2 & 7,b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 7#e7 ,replacem5t sales ,if a lease sale "u ?is section = a ye> is cancell$ or delay$1 ! ,secret>y %all conduct a replacem5t sale dur+ ! same ye>4 2 & 7#b7 9 subsection 7d71 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 7#c7 ,deadl9e ,! ,secret>y1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture ) respect to ,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&1 %all issue a decision = a submitt$ application describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! application is submitt$4 4 #e4 ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman & ,/rike ,team 7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,director ,! t]m ,director means ! ,director ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t4 7#b7 ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman ,! t]m ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman means ! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman appo9t$ "u subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team ,! t]m ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team means ! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team e/abli%$ "u subsection 7c74 7#d7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior4 7b7 ,geo!rmal ombudsman 7#a7 ,appo9tm5t ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all appo9t )9 ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t a ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman to report directly to ! ,director4 7#b7 ,duties ,! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman %all-- 7,a7 act z a liaison betwe5 ! individual field (fices ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t & ! ,director2 7,b7 improve-- 7i7 ! p]=mance ( ! p]mitt+ process = geo!rmal en]gy res\rce wells2 & 7ii7 regional coord9ation ( ! field (fices ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t2 7,c7 provide dispute resolution s]vices betwe5 ! individual field (fices ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t & applicants = drill+ geo!rmal en]gy res\rce wells2 7,d7 help ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & ,tribal dep>tm5ts & ag5cies make ! p]mitt+ & leas+ process = geo!rmal en]gy res\rce wells effici5t1 ord]ly1 & responsive2 7,e7 develop be/ practices & templates = ! p]mitt+ & leas+ process = geo!rmal en]gy res\rce wells2 7,f7 coord9ate ) ! ,f$]al ,p]mitt+ ,improvem5t ,/e]+ ,c\ncil e/abli%$ by section #dajjb ( ! ,,fa/ ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcgjm-#a7 & o!r task =ces1 z ne$$1 on ov]lapp+ duties & responsibilities2 & 7,g7 id5tify pot5tial /atutory & regulatory *anges bas$ on input f ! individual field (fices ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t1 ! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team1 & o!r /akehold]s1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4 7#c7 ,limitation 7,a7 ,support ,9 c>ry+ out ! duties ( ! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman "u p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman %all use p]sonnel1 fund+1 logi/ics1 & o!r res\rces ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t1 to ! ext5t det]m9$ by ! ,director4 7,b7 ,effect ,no?+ 9 ?is subsection replaces1 alt]s1 or dim9i%es ! activities ( any ombudsman or simil> (fice ( any o!r ag5cy4 7c7 ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team 7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% )9 ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t a task =ce1 to be kn[n z ! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team1 :i* %all report directly to ! ,director4 7#b7 ,duties ,! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team %all support ! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman-- 7,a7 ) implem5tation & cont9u\s improvem5t ( be/ practices relat+ to p]mitt+ = & leas+ ( geo!rmal en]gy res\rce wells2 7,b7 ) provid+ direct te*nical assi/ance to applicants 9 field (fices ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t1 z reque/$2 & 7,c7 ) coord9at+ ) ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 ,tribal1 & local gov]nm5ts1 & among ,/ate ag5cies1 on project review1 p]mitt+1 & approvals = geo!rmal en]gy res\rce wells4 7#c7 ,memb]s ,! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team %all be compos$ ( memb]s ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t select$ by ! ,director1 9 consultation ) ! ,secret>y1 :o may consult )-- 7,a7 in/itutions ( high] education 7z def9$ 9 section #aja7;a7 ( ! ,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a7772 7,b7 memb]s f ! ,national ,laboratories 7z def9$ 9 section #b ( ! ,en]gy ,policy ,act ( #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aehja772 7,c7 private entities1 z det]m9$ by ! ,director1 ) exp]tise 9 data model+ & analysis2 & 7,d7 o!r exp]ts1 z det]m9$ by ! ,director4 7#d7 ,limitation 7,a7 ,support ,9 c>ry+ out ! duties ( ! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team "u p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team may use p]sonnel1 fund+1 logi/ics1 & o!r res\rces ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t1 to ! ext5t det]m9$ by ! ,director4 7,b7 ,effect ,no?+ 9 ?is subsection replaces1 alt]s1 or dim9i%es ! activities ( any simil> (fice ( any ,f$]al ag5cy4 7d7 ,reports 7#a7 ,annual report ,! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman & ! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team %all jo9tly submit to ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural ,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate1 ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 & ! ,director an annual report t describes ! activities & evaluates ! effectiv5ess ( ! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman & ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team dur+ ! prec$+ #a-ye> p]iod4 7#b7 ,additional reports ,9 addition to ! annual report requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman & ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team %all submit to ! ,director any additional reports1 z det]m9$ by ! ,director4 7#c7 ,reque/ ,! ,geo!rmal ,ombudsman & ! ,geo!rmal ,/rike ,team %all1 on reque/1 submit ! reports describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 & 7#b7 to any ,memb] ( ,congress4