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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).
Complete Metadata
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| accessLevel | public |
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| contactPoint |
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"fn": "Katherine Young",
"@type": "vcard:Contact",
"hasEmail": "mailto:katherine.young@nrel.gov"
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| dataQuality |
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| description | 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). |
| distribution |
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{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "CX Data - geothermal-mining and oil and gas.xlsx",
"format": "xlsx",
"accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1260/CX%20Side%20by%20Side.xlsx",
"mediaType": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
"description": "Summary and comparison of categorical exclusions for geothermal, mining, and oil and gas"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "GRC PAPER - Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA.pdf",
"format": "pdf",
"accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1260/GRC%20PAPER%20-%20CX%20-%20FINAL.pdf",
"mediaType": "application/pdf",
"description": "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."
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "GRC POSTER - Geothermal CXs.pdf",
"format": "pdf",
"accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1260/GRC%20POSTER%20-%20Geothermal%20CXs.pdf",
"mediaType": "application/pdf",
"description": "GRC Poster - Summary of the use of CXs for geothermal development"
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"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "GRC PRESENTATION - Categorical Exclusions.pdf",
"format": "pdf",
"accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1260/GRC%20PRESENTATION%20-%20Categorical%20Exclusions.pdf",
"mediaType": "application/pdf",
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|
| DOI | 10.15121/1678707 |
| identifier | https://data.openei.org/submissions/7381 |
| issued | 2014-09-30T06:00:00Z |
| keyword |
[
"BLM",
"EA",
"FONSI",
"Finding of No Significant Impact",
"NEPA",
"National Environmental Policy Act",
"administrative",
"assessment",
"bureau of land management",
"categorical exclusion",
"energy",
"environmental",
"geothermal",
"permit",
"permitting",
"regulatory",
"statutory"
]
|
| landingPage | https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1260 |
| license | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| modified | 2022-02-09T16:35:30Z |
| programCode |
[
"019:006"
]
|
| projectLead | Tim Reinhardt |
| projectNumber | FY14 AOP 4.2.0.1 |
| projectTitle | Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap |
| publisher |
{
"name": "National Renewable Energy Laboratory",
"@type": "org:Organization"
}
|
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|
| title | Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA |
