CX-100255 Categorical Exclusion Determination

Recovery Act: Direct Confirmation of Commercial Geothermal Resources in Colorado using Remote Sensing and On-Site Exploration, Testing and Analysis Award Number: DE-EE0002828 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1 Geothermal Technologies Office Date: 05/29/2015 Location(s): CO Office(s): Golden Field Office The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide funding to Pagosa Verde LLC (Pagosa) to collect and compile geothermal resource data and analyses of an exploration area at Pagosa Springs, Colorado in anticipation of developing a geothermal resource. This award (DE-EE0002828) was transferred from Flint Geothermal LLC (Flint) to Pagosa as an award novation. Two previous NEPA Determinations (GFO-0002828-001 and-002) were completed in 2010 and 2011 for the project when it was with Flint Geothermal (now listed in the uploaded SOPO as Phase I A). A third NEPA Determination was completed on June 11, 2014 (GFO-0002828-003) for Pagosa’s activities in Phase I B and Phase III. A fourth NEPA Determination was completed on October 8, 2014 (GFO-0002828-004) for temperature gradient (TG) wells and geophysical testing in Phase II. After this drilling program, the SOPO was modified to include work that would occur to the northwest of Pagosa Springs and the task and Phase structure of the SOPO was heavily modified. The revised SOPO has moved all previously completed work that has already been approved by previous NEPA Determinations into a Phase IA and Phase IB. Phase II is now the additional TG drilling to the northwest of Pagosa Springs and Phase III isexploration well drilling. Data analysis, report writing, and data submittal are now listed as Task 8 and 9. These two tasks are applicable to all Phases. This NEPA Determination is specific to the TG well drilling to the northwest of Pagosa Springs and associated activities as outlined in the new Phase II as well as the new Tasks 8 and 9. Further NEPA review will be required for exploration well drilling in Phase III if the TG wells indicate further exploration well drilling is needed and those exploration wells are sited.