Geothermal Resources Leasing and Operations

This final rule amends the regulations which implement the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as amended (the Steam Act). This rulemaking addresses leasing, permitting and operational requirements for geothermal exploration, drilling, and utilization operations. The final rule rewrites all the geothermal resource development regulations in a plain language style; reduces and streamlines permitting and information requirements; provides the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with the maximum possible flexibility regarding permit issuance allowing BLM to accommodate the full range of potential geothermal operations and development scenarios; and reorganizes the regulations to provide specific permit application informational requirements allowing BLM and our customers to interpret regulatory requirements more consistently.