Speeding the paperwork

For all the buzz that surrounds development of the geothermal industry in Nevada, its growth still depends on the ability of the Bureau of Land Management to review permits for exploration and development on federal lands.

The agency is staffing up to meet the demand.

It's adding anywhere from two to 10 professionals in each of the Nevada district offices that handle geothermal permits, says Mel Meier, the BLM's assistant deputy state director for minerals.

Those new staffers include archaeologists, wildlife biologists and other researchers in addition to geologists.

Meier says geothermal permitting often is complicated because properties that include hot springs and other geothermal resources often are home as well to sensitive wildlife. They also are commonly significant to Native American tribes or hold archaeological importance.

"We have to make sure we're protecting the other resources," Meier says.

While it trains new staffers, the BLM also is looking for ways to streamline and standardize the process of reviewing permits for geothermal exploration and development.

The cost of much of the increased staffing is paid by the geothermal industry through permit fees, Meier says.