43 C.F.R. Subpart 3251—Exploration Operations: Getting a Permit
Title 43 - Public Lands: Interior
Yes, do not start any exploration operations before we have approved your exploration permit. You may request a permit to explore any BLM-managed public lands open to geothermal leasing, even if we already leased the lands to another person. Your exploration will not give you exclusive rights. If you wish to conduct operations on your lease, you may do so after we have approved your exploration permit. If the lands are already leased, your operations may not unreasonably interfere with or endanger those other operations or other authorized uses, or cause unnecessary or undue degradation of the lands. To conduct exploration operations on BLM-managed lands, your application must: (a) Include a complete and signed exploration permit which describes the lands you wish to explore; (b) For operations other than temperature gradient wells, describe your exploration plans and procedures, including the approximate starting and ending dates for each phase of operations; (c) For temperature gradient wells, describe your drilling and completion procedures, and include, for each well or for several wells you propose to drill in an area of geologic and environmental similarity: (1) A detailed description of the equipment, materials, and procedures you will use; (2) The depth of the well; (3) The casing and cementing program; (4) The circulation media (mud, air, foam, etc.); (5) A description of the logs that you will run; (6) A description and diagram of the blowout prevention equipment you will use during each phase of drilling; (7) The expected depth and thickness of fresh water zones; (8) Anticipated lost circulation zones; (9) Anticipated temperature gradient in the area; (10) Well site layout and design; (11) Existing and planned access roads or ancillary facilities; and (12) Source of drill pad and road building material and water supply. (d) Show evidence of bond coverage (See 43 CFR 3251.15); (e) Estimate how much surface disturbance your exploration may cause; (f) Describe the proposed measures you will take to protect the environment and other resources; (g) Describe methods to reclaim the surface; and (h) Include all other information we may require. (a) When we receive your exploration permit, we will make sure it is complete and signed, and review it for compliance with the requirements of 43 CFR 3200.4. (b) If the proposed operations are located on lands described under 43 CFR 3250.10(a)(2), we will consult with the federal surface management agency before we approve your permit. (c) We will check your exploration permit for technical adequacy and we may require additional procedures. (d) We will notify you if we need more information to process your permit. We will suspend the review of your permit until we receive the information. (e) After our review, we will notify you whether we approved or denied your permit, as well as any conditions we require for conducting operations. Send BLM a complete and signed sundry notice, form 3260–3, which fully describes the requested changes. Do not proceed with the change until you receive written approval from BLM. Yes, do not start any exploration operations on BLM-managed lands until we approve your bond. You may meet the requirement for an exploration bond in two ways. (a) If you have an existing nationwide or statewide oil and gas exploration bond, provide a rider to include geothermal resources exploration operations, in an amount we have specified. (b) If you must file a new bond, the minimum amounts are: (1) $5,000 for a single operation; (2) $25,000 for all of your operations within a state; (3) $50,000 for all of your operations nationwide. (c) See 43 CFR subparts 3214 and 3215 for additional details on bonding procedures. We will release your bond after you request it and we determine that you have: (a) Plugged and abandoned all wells; (b) Reclaimed the land; and (c) Complied with the requirements of 43 CFR 3200.4.
Title 43: Public Lands: Interior
PART 3200—GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE LEASING
Subpart 3251—Exploration Operations: Getting a Permit
§ 3251.10 Do I need a permit before I start my exploration operations?
§ 3251.11 May I conduct exploration operations on my lease, someone else's lease or unleased land?
§ 3251.12 What does BLM need to approve my exploration permit?
§ 3251.13 What action will BLM take on my permit?
§ 3251.14 Once I have a permit, how can I change my exploration operations?
§ 3251.15 Do I need a bond for conducting exploration operations?
§ 3251.16 When will BLM release my bond?
