Summary

Creates a new, limited regulatory category for small-scale geothermal exploration projects on federal land and speeds access to leasing areas by setting up “geothermal leasing priority areas.” It narrows when extensive NEPA review is required for those small exploration projects and for lease sales in designated priority areas, sets size/time limits for exploration activities, and requires the Department of the Interior to map priority leasing areas and prepare programmatic environmental reviews on a schedule.

• Creates a defined category for small-scale geothermal exploration projects with size and time limits.
• Excludes qualifying exploration projects from being treated as a "major Federal action" under NEPA, narrowing required environmental review.
• Directs Interior (in consultation with Energy) to designate geothermal leasing priority areas on federal land within 3 years and review them every 5 years.
• Requires a programmatic EIS for initial designations (PEIS within one year) and allows subsequent designations to rely on PEIS supplements.
• Allows permit issuance and lease sales to proceed even if a PEIS supplement is not yet finalized.
• Provides a 10-year period during which lease sales in a designated area generally do not require additional NEPA analysis unless substantial new information arises.
• Imposes notification (30 days) and restoration (within 3 years) requirements for exploration projects and caps surface disturbance to under 8 acres.
• Does not provide new spending, change taxes, or create explicit state/local unfunded mandates; it changes permitting and NEPA treatment for specific geothermal activities.
• Includes congressional findings noting BLM categorical exclusions for geothermal exploration and their expected role in speeding approvals.