STEAM Act

Summary

Adds geothermal energy to the list of energy activities that receive a rebuttable presumption in favor of categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when certain limited drilling activities occur. Specifically, it treats geothermal drilling at a previously drilled location within five years, and drilling within a developed field analyzed or approved in the last five years, the same as oil and gas for purposes of that presumption.

• Adds geothermal energy to the statutory list of energy types eligible for a rebuttable presumption of categorical exclusion under NEPA.
• The presumption applies when drilling occurs at a previously drilled location within five years or within a developed field analyzed in a NEPA document or land use plan approved within five years.
• Does not eliminate NEPA review entirely; agencies can rebut the presumption and require an EA or EIS if warranted.
• Affects federal NEPA procedures but does not appropriate funding or change other environmental laws.
• Likely to speed permitting for certain small-scale or follow-up geothermal drilling operations that meet the time/location criteria.
• May increase litigation risk when there are site-specific environmental concerns not addressed by prior analyses.
• Applies the same procedural treatment to geothermal that currently exists for oil and gas in the named statute.
• Implementation details depend on agency interpretation of "previously drilled location," "developed field," and what constitutes "unusual circumstances."