---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 C.F.R. § 3203.5"
title: "43"
number: "3203.5"
heading: "What is the general process for obtaining a geothermal lease?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/43/3203.5"
---

# §3203.5. What is the general process for obtaining a geothermal lease?

- (a) **The competitive geothermal leasing process consists of the following steps—**
  - (1)
    - (i) Entities interested in geothermal development nominate lands by submitting to BLM descriptions of lands they seek to be included in a lease sale; or
    - (ii) BLM may include land in a competitive lease sale on its own initiative.
  - (2) BLM provides notice of the parcels to be offered, and the time, location, and process for participating in the lease sale.
  - (3) **BLM holds the lease sale and offers leases to the successful bidder.**
- (b) BLM will issue geothermal leases to the highest responsible qualified bidder after a competitive leasing process, except for situations where noncompetitive leasing is allowed under subparts [3204](/cfr/43/subpart3204.md) and [3205](/cfr/43/subpart3205.md) of this part, which include:
  - (1) Lands for which no bid was received in a competitive lease sale;
  - (2) Direct use lease applications for which no competitive interest exists; and
  - (3) **Lands subject to mining claims.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[90 FR 33302, July 17, 2025]

### Authority

Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1001-1028; 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; and Pub. L. 109-58.

### Source

Source: 72 FR 24400, May 2, 2007, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[90 FR 33302, July 17, 2025]