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Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA

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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 -
Export Citation to RIS
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: 2025-05-08}, 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

Katherine Young

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Aaron Levine

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Research Areas

DOE Project Details

Project Name Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap

Project Lead Tim Reinhardt

Project Number FY14 AOP 4.2.0.1

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