Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA
This study focuses primarily on the Categorial Exclusions (CX) process and its applicability to geothermal exploration. In this paper, we:
- Provide generalized background information on CXs, including previous NEPA reports addressing CXs, the process for developing CXs, and the role of extraordinary circumstances;
- Examine the history of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) geothermal CXs;
- Compare current CXs for oil, gas, and geothermal energy;
- Describe bills proposing new statutory CXs;
- Examine the possibility of standardizing geothermal CXs across federal agencies; and
- Present analysis from the Geothermal NEPA Database and other sources on the potential for new geothermal exploration CXs.
As part of this study, we reviewed Environmental Assessments (EAs) conducted in response to 20 geothermal exploration drilling permit applications (Geothermal Drilling Permits or Notices of Intents) since the year 2001, the majority of which are from the last 5 years. All 20 EAs reviewed for this study resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
Citation Formats
TY - DATA
AB - This study focuses primarily on the Categorial Exclusions (CX) process and its applicability to geothermal exploration. In this paper, we:
- Provide generalized background information on CXs, including previous NEPA reports addressing CXs, the process for developing CXs, and the role of extraordinary circumstances;
- Examine the history of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) geothermal CXs;
- Compare current CXs for oil, gas, and geothermal energy;
- Describe bills proposing new statutory CXs;
- Examine the possibility of standardizing geothermal CXs across federal agencies; and
- Present analysis from the Geothermal NEPA Database and other sources on the potential for new geothermal exploration CXs.
As part of this study, we reviewed Environmental Assessments (EAs) conducted in response to 20 geothermal exploration drilling permit applications (Geothermal Drilling Permits or Notices of Intents) since the year 2001, the majority of which are from the last 5 years. All 20 EAs reviewed for this study resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
AU - Young, Katherine
A2 - Levine, Aaron
DB - Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI)
DP - Open EI | National Renewable Energy Laboratory
DO - 10.15121/1678707
KW - geothermal
KW - energy
KW - regulatory
KW - NEPA
KW - categorical exclusion
KW - FONSI
KW - permit
KW - permitting
KW - EA
KW - environmental
KW - assessment
KW - BLM
KW - bureau of land management
KW - Finding of No Significant Impact
KW - National Environmental Policy Act
KW - administrative
KW - statutory
LA - English
DA - 2014/09/30
PY - 2014
PB - National Renewable Energy Laboratory
T1 - Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA
UR - https://doi.org/10.15121/1678707
ER -
Young, Katherine, and Aaron Levine. Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 30 September, 2014, GDR. https://doi.org/10.15121/1678707.
Young, K., & Levine, A. (2014). Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA. [Data set]. GDR. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.15121/1678707
Young, Katherine and Aaron Levine. Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, September, 30, 2014. Distributed by GDR. https://doi.org/10.15121/1678707
@misc{OEDI_Dataset_7381,
title = {Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA},
author = {Young, Katherine and Levine, Aaron},
abstractNote = {This study focuses primarily on the Categorial Exclusions (CX) process and its applicability to geothermal exploration. In this paper, we:
- Provide generalized background information on CXs, including previous NEPA reports addressing CXs, the process for developing CXs, and the role of extraordinary circumstances;
- Examine the history of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) geothermal CXs;
- Compare current CXs for oil, gas, and geothermal energy;
- Describe bills proposing new statutory CXs;
- Examine the possibility of standardizing geothermal CXs across federal agencies; and
- Present analysis from the Geothermal NEPA Database and other sources on the potential for new geothermal exploration CXs.
As part of this study, we reviewed Environmental Assessments (EAs) conducted in response to 20 geothermal exploration drilling permit applications (Geothermal Drilling Permits or Notices of Intents) since the year 2001, the majority of which are from the last 5 years. All 20 EAs reviewed for this study resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).},
url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1260},
year = {2014},
howpublished = {GDR, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, https://doi.org/10.15121/1678707},
note = {Accessed: 2025-05-28},
doi = {10.15121/1678707}
}
https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1678707
Details
Data from Sep 30, 2014
Last updated Feb 9, 2022
Submitted Oct 13, 2020
Organization
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Contact
Katherine Young
303.384.7402
Authors
Original Source
https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1260Research Areas
Keywords
geothermal, energy, regulatory, NEPA, categorical exclusion, FONSI, permit, permitting, EA, environmental, assessment, BLM, bureau of land management, Finding of No Significant Impact, National Environmental Policy Act, administrative, statutoryDOE Project Details
Project Name Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap
Project Lead Tim Reinhardt
Project Number FY14 AOP 4.2.0.1
