[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1470 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1470

 To promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under existing 
               geothermal leases, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2011

 Mr. Crapo (for himself and Mr. Risch) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under existing 
               geothermal leases, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Exploring for Geothermal Energy on 
Federal Lands Act''.

SEC. 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 1 acre of soil or vegetation 
                disruption at the location of each geothermal 
                exploration well; and
                    (B) not more than 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; and
            (4) is completed in less than 45 days, including--
                    (A) removal of any surface infrastructure from the 
                site; and
                    (B) restoration of the project site to 
                approximately the condition that existed at the time 
                the project began.
    (b) NEPA Exclusion.--Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 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);
                    (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. 
                        4321 et seq.) 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. 
                        4321 et seq.) 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. 4321 et 
        seq.) 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 of drilling under the project.
                                 <all>