Five regulations governing the leasing of federal lands to access geothermal resources are being rescinded by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), including rules that regulate drilling, operations, royalty rates, competitive and non-competitive leases, and production incentives. In addition, BLM says it is accepting comments on the final rules and could cancel, rescind a rule, or amend it depending on the comments. 

On July 17, 2025, the BLM posted five final rules on the Federal Register rescinding the regulations that “manage the use of public lands and the federal mineral estate for geothermal resources leasing and development under the Geothermal Steam Act.” The Federal Register notices also say the effective date for all five final rules is Sept. 15, 2025, “unless significant adverse comments” on a final rule is filed by Aug. 18, 2025. 

The BLM defines “significant adverse comments” as those opposing the rescission of the rules and raise—alone or in combination—reasons why the rescission of the rule is inappropriate, including challenges to the rescission’s underlying premise; or serious unintended consequences of the rescission. Furthermore, a comment recommending an addition to the rule will not be considered significant and adverse unless the comment explains how this direct final rule would be ineffective without the addition of, or retention of, the material, BLM says. 

Moreover, should significant adverse comments be filed on a final rule, “a notice will be published in the Federal Register before the effective date (of that rule) either withdrawing the rule or issuing a new final rule that responds to significant adverse comments,” BLM says. 

The reasons provided by BLM for rescinding the regulations governing geothermal resources leasing vary, with some rules designated as “no longer in use,” “no longer relevant,” “not efficient,” “obsolete,” “outdated,” or “redundant.” 

The final rules that rescind the geothermal resources leasing regulations, their docket numbers, and some information on the rules BLM is rescinding are: 

• Rescission of Regulations Regarding Geothermal Leases; Docket Number, BLM–2025–0016; under the existing rule, a geothermal lease grants the lessee the right to explore, develop, and produce geothermal resources on a specific piece of land, typically for a set period of time, in exchange for payments and royalties to the leasing authority. 
  
  
• Rescission of Regulations Regarding Competitive and Non-Competitive Geothermal Leases; Docket Number, BLM–2025–0017; under the existing rule, lands that do not receive a bid at a competitive lease sale are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a two-year period beginning the day after the sale. 
  
  
• Rescission of Regulations Regarding Production Incentives for Geothermal Leases; Docket Number, BLM–2025–0018; under the existing rule, production incentives for geothermal leases primarily involve potential tax credits for geothermal projects that can significantly reduce the cost of geothermal energy development and promote its adoption. 
  
  
• Rescission of Regulations Regarding Geothermal Lease Royalty Rate Terms; Docket Number, BLM–2025–0019; under the existing rule, those holding the lease pay royalties on geothermal resources, including for byproducts, or on electricity produced using geothermal resources, which will be at the royalty rates specified in the lease. 
  
  
• Rescission of Regulations Regarding Geothermal Operations Plans and Drilling Permits; Docket Number, BLM–2025–0020; under the existing rule, geothermal operations plans and drilling permits are needed to develop geothermal energy resources, particularly on federal lands. An operations plan outlines how a company will drill for and test geothermal resources, including providing details on well pad design, access roads, and environmental protection measures, while a drilling permit authorizes drilling based on the approved operations plan and other requirements. 
  
  
• The deadline to file comments with the BLM on any or all the final rules is on or before Aug. 18, 2025, and all submissions must include the docket number for each rule. Comments can be sent by the following methods: 
  
  
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter the appropriate docket number for the rule being commented on and click the ‘‘Search’’ button. Follow the instructions on this website. 
  
  
• Mail, Personal, or Messenger Delivery is used, send comments to Department of the Interior, Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646, Washington, DC 20240, and add Attention: 1004–AF15 when submitting comments on the Rescission of Regulations Regarding Geothermal Leases final rule; Attention: 1004–AF16 when submitting comments on the Rescission of Competitive and Non-Competitive Geothermal Leases final rule; Attention: 1004–AF17 when submitting comments on the Rescission of Regulations Regarding Production Incentives for Geothermal Leases final rule; Attention: 1004–AF19 when submitting comments on the Rescission of Regulations Regarding Geothermal Lease Royalty Rate Terms final rule; and Attention: 1004–AF20 when submitting comments on the Rescission of Regulations Regarding Geothermal Operations Plans and Drilling Permits final rule. 

BLM directs those who have questions about the final rules to contact Lorenzo Trimble, BLM’s Geothermal Program Lead, by calling 775–861–6724; or by email at ltrimble@blm.gov.