Geothermal ombudsman and permitting task force

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Bureau The term Bureau means the Bureau of Land Management. (2) Geothermal authorization The term geothermal authorization means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by the Bureau (including any interagency consultation) that is required or authorized under Federal law in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operation of a project that— (A) is located in whole or in part on land subject to geothermal leasing under section 3 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1002); and (B) uses geothermal energy to generate heat or electricity. (3) Geothermal Ombudsman The term Geothermal Ombudsman means the Geothermal Ombudsman appointed under subsection (b)(1). (4) Task Force The term Task Force means the Geothermal Permitting Task Force established under subsection (c)(1). (b) Geothermal Ombudsman (1) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint from within the Bureau an individual to serve as Geothermal Ombudsman. (2) Duties The Geothermal Ombudsman shall— (A) act as a liaison between— (i) the individual field, district, and State offices of the Bureau; (ii) the Division Chief of the National Renewable Energy Coordination Office of the Bureau; and (iii) the Director of the Bureau; (B) provide dispute resolution services for disputes between the individual field, district, and State offices of the Bureau and applicants for geothermal authorizations; (C) monitor and facilitate permit processing practices and timelines across individual field offices of the Bureau; (D) develop best practices for the permitting and leasing process for geothermal resources; and (E) coordinate with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. (c) Geothermal Permitting Task Force (1) Establishment Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish within the Bureau a task force, to be known as the Geothermal Permitting Task Force. (2) Leadership The Task Force shall be headed by the Geothermal Ombudsman. (3) Permitting support The Task Force shall support the duties of the Geothermal Ombudsman under subsection (b). (4) Cross-office personnel assignments (A) In general The Geothermal Ombudsman, acting as head of the Task Force, may coordinate with any bureau or office of the Department of the Interior to assign personnel with relevant expertise to assist with the completion of geothermal authorizations in Bureau field, district, or State offices other than the official duty stations at which such personnel are located if— (i) the applicable bureau or office determines that such an assignment will not materially delay ongoing completion of geothermal authorizations within the applicable official duty station; and (ii) approval is received from the head of that official duty station. (B) Assigned personnel requirements An employee assigned to assist with the completion of geothermal authorizations pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall— (i) work in-person full-time at an official office of the Department of the Interior; (ii) as the Geothermal Ombudsman determines to be necessary, travel to the Bureau field, district, or State office with jurisdiction over the geothermal authorizations to which the employee has been assigned; (iii) participate as part of the team of personnel working on geothermal authorizations to which the employee has been assigned; and (iv) regularly report to the head of the Bureau field, district, or State office with jurisdiction over the geothermal authorizations to which the employee has been assigned. (C) Retention allowances (i) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Geothermal Ombudsman may pay a retention allowance to an employee assigned to assist with the completion of geothermal authorizations under subparagraph (A). (ii) Requirements A retention allowance under clause (i)— (I) shall be stated as the percentage of the rate of basic pay of the applicable employee, subject to the condition that such an allowance may not exceed 25 percent of that rate of basic pay; (II) may not be considered to be part of the basic pay of the employee; (III) may not be appealed on reduction or elimination; and (IV) shall be paid at the same time and in the same manner as the basic pay of the employee is paid. (iii) Factors for consideration In paying a retention allowance under clause (i), the Geothermal Ombudsman shall take into consideration— (I) any specialized expertise of the applicable employee relating to geothermal authorizations; (II) the demonstrated need to retain an employee to meet the performance improvement objectives for geothermal authorization timelines and develop best practices for completion of geothermal authorizations; and (III) the difficulty in recruiting or replacing qualified personnel with relevant expertise relating to geothermal authorizations. (D) Savings clause The assignment of personnel pursuant to this paragraph shall not alter the underlying jurisdiction of any office of the Bureau with respect to geothermal authorizations. (d) Report The Geothermal Ombudsman shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives an annual report that— (1) describes the activities of the Task Force during the preceding year; and (2) evaluates the effectiveness of geothermal authorization processing during the preceding year.