Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

This bill streamlines geothermal exploration on federal lands by defining small-scale "geothermal exploration projects" (e.g., limited drilling with <8 acres disturbance, <180 days duration, and 3-year land restoration). It exempts such projects from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA, requires leaseholders to provide 30-day notice before drilling, and establishes "geothermal leasing priority areas" on eligible federal land. The Secretary must designate these priority areas within 3 years (considering economic viability and transmission access), review them every 5 years, and use programmatic environmental reviews for future leasing. The bill directly affects geothermal leaseholders and federal agencies managing public lands, reducing regulatory hurdles for initial exploration while creating a structured framework for future leasing.