Federal Geothermal Leasing Data and Recent Regulation Changes

Abstract

Noncompetitive geothermal lease applications have stabilized over the last eight years. Application processed have shown a dramatic rise during 1982. The net results is a substantial decrease in the number of unprocessed cases. During 1982, competitive geothermal leasing also rose significantly, both in leases and in revenue received. Streamlining of regulations has taken place during early 1983. These regulations changes are in four major areas. The first changes makes lands included in prior leased more readily accessible for new application. The second is a liberalization of the prelease environmental review procedures to postpone comprehensive environmental review until specific actions are proposed. The third is a replacement of the diligent exploration expense and accompanying escalating rental with the option of diligent exploration or increased rental. Fourth is the elimination of prelease exploration plans.