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Special Use Permit (no form). In split estate where BLM is the surface management (the mineral estate was not reserved to the Federal government), a special use permit, usually, a rights-of-way (ROW) is required to occupy the surface. The drilling permit will be approved by the appropriate State agency.
Site License (no form) means BLM's written authorization to site a utilization facility on leased Federal lands.
Applications for proposed rights‐of‐way over, upon, under, or through public lands including, but not limited to, grants for wind energy site testing and monitoring, power distribution lines, trails, highways, communication site facilities, water retention basins, and water conveyance pipelines. The processing of right‐of‐way applications must comply with the BLM’s regulatory requirements, including those for planning, environmental, and right‐of‐way. BLM may approve application, approve the application with modifications, or deny the application.
Operations plan means a plan which fully describes the location of proposed drill pad, access roads and other facilities related to the drilling and testing of Federal geothermal resources, and includes measures for environmental and other resources protection and mitigation. The operations plan undergoes NEPA review. Once approved, then geothermal drilling permit application(s) can be approved.
§ 3173.10 Form 3160-5, Sundry Notices and Reports on Wells.
Sundry notice is a written request to perform work not covered by another type of permit, or to change operations in a previously approved permit.
A Utilization Plan (no form, 43 CFR 3272) describes how the geothermal resource will be used, including all of the proposed structures and facilities and their locations necessary for plant operations, as well as plans for final reclamation and decommissioning. These documents are submitted as part of the NEPA process. The Utilization Plan also includes the construction permit for construction and operation of the electric generation facilities, direct‐use steam plants, and related facility and well field operations, including well field production and injection.
An exploration bond must cover any activities related to exploration, reclamation of the surface and other resources, rental payments, and compliance with requirements at 43 CFR 3200.4. Minimum bonding requirements for exploration operations are found at 43 CFR 3251.15.
Geothermal drilling permit means BLM written permission to drill for and test Federal geothermal resources. Belore a geothermal drilling permit can be approved, an operations plan must undergo NEPA review. Once approved, then geothermal drilling permit application(s) can be approved.
A Notice of Intent to Conduct Geothermal Resource Exploration Operations is a form that must be completed and submitted to the BLM by a proponent who wishes to conduct geothermal exploration operations on Federal lands open to geothermal leasing.