The US Department of the Interior will implement emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy in response to President Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency.
Geothermal energy has been identified of one of the sources that will benefit from the new procedures. These measures are designed to expedite the review and approval of projects related to the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining and generation of energy within the US.
The new permitting procedures will take a multi-year process down to 28 days at most.
The procedures apply to the following energy sources:
- Crude oil
- Natural gas
- Lease condensates
- Natural gas liquids
- Refined petroleum products
- Uranium
- Coal
- Biofuels
- Geothermal energy
- Kinetic hydropower
- Critical minerals
The newest measures enacted by the DOI specifically invokes the emergency authorities under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act to reduce permitting timelines.
National Environmental Policy Act
The Department will be adopting an alternative National Environmental Policy Act to allow for more concise documentation and timelines. Projects analysed in an environmental assessment will now be reviewed within a 14-day period, and projects requiring a full environmental impact statement will be reviewed in roughly 28 days.
Endangered Species Act
An expedited Section 7 consultation process will be implemented which involves the appropriate bureau notifying the Fish and Wildlife Service that it is using emergency consultation procedures. Following the notification, the appropriate bureau can then decide whether to approve the action.
National Historic Preservation Act
Bureaus will follow alternative procedures for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for proposed undertakings responding to the energy emergency, which include notifying the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organisation that may attach significance to historic properties likely affected by the proposed undertaking and granting them an opportunity to comment within seven days of the notification.
Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, said, “The United States cannot afford to wait. President Trump has made it clear that our energy security is national security, and these emergency procedures reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting both […] By reducing a multi-year permitting process down to just 28 days, the Department will lead with urgency, resolve, and a clear focus on strengthening the nation’s energy independence.”