project

Consent for Geothermal Leasing

The 30-day comment period is open until 5/16/2025. Submit a comment here!

What is being proposed?

  • The BLM is requesting the USFS’s consent to offer two parcels of land (10,130 acres) for potential geothermal energy exploration and development.
  • The two parcels are located in the SE corner of the Clackamas River Ranger District on Mt Hood National Forest. They are just north of Bald Butte and along both sides of Forest Road 46. (See maps below)
  • The FS is proposing to consent to lease almost all of the two parcels, excluding 508 acres within the Olallie Lake Scenic Area.
  • For the remaining acres the FS lists many stipulations that would be required to be applied to any new lease. They list these stipulations starting on page 7 of the “Notice of Proposed Action” document
    • They include “no surface occupancy” in areas that contain critical habitat for species listed under the Endangered Species Act, in Riparian Reserves, slopes over 40% (or high erosion potential), in areas that contain Cultural Resources, and others.
    • They include “Controlled Surface Use and/or Timing Restrictions” in areas like Late-Successional Reserves, Riparian and Wetland Areas, in Deer and Elk Summer Management Areas, and others.
  • At this point in the process, there are no site-specific actions being proposed. But if the lease is awarded, a lessee could begin exploration by conducting surface surveys or drilling exploration wells. If a lessee decides the site is productive enough to warrant development, it could mean the eventual construction of a power plant, transmission line, and other associated facilities.

Background to Know

  • The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the federal agency responsible for managing subsurface minerals and has the authority to issue energy leases on National Forest lands. However, the USFS must first provide consent for the BLM to offer the nominated parcels for leasing.
  • If the USFS determines that the land is suitable for leasing, they can add stipulations to the potential lease. Stipulations would aim to meet the Agency’s legal requirements to protect sensitive areas and species by not allowing development of certain areas, controlling what type of development can occur, or putting timing restrictions/limitations on development.
  • This is just the very first step in what could be a long process with more opportunities for public involvement. If a lease is eventually awarded, the BLM gives us insight into the development process in a document titled “Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenario” (See summary table below)

Tips and Talking Points for Writing a Comment

  • Start by saying who you are and why you care about this proposal or the area within the proposal.
    • Why is the forest important to you? How do you interact with the forest? What are the values you care about? How might the proposal negatively impact those values?
    • If you have one, add a personal story of the place or surrounding area that ties in with the relevant issue.
  • Demand that the USFS fulfill their trust responsibilities by conducting meaningful consultation with relevant Tribes, specifically the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
  • ¼ of the proposed area is designated as Late-Successional Reserve (LSR). These areas are supposed to be managed to “protect and enhance conditions of late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystems.”
    • Exploration and development of these parcels, even with stipulations, would have negative impacts on late-successional ecosystems and species.
  • 95% of parcel OROR-70802 contains designated northern spotted owl critical habitat, 41% of parcel OROR-70803.
    • One stipulation states: “There should be no surface occupancy in designated or proposed critical habitat for species listed under the Endangered Species Act”
    • Why are they offering consent on parcel 70802 if 95% of the parcel contains listed critical habitat?
  • High potential to spread invasive plant species through increased vehicle traffic and ground disturbance.
  • Much of the surrounding area (including portions of the parcels) burned in the 2020 Lionshead Fire. Exploration and development on these parcels could negatively impact these sensitive post-fire ecosystems.
  • There is designated critical habitat for coho salmon and steelhead trout within the project area, and just downstream of the project area there is designated critical habitat for Chinook salmon.