BLM Tuscarora targets July 16 decision on Crescent Valley geothermal; 2025 lease sale open for comment

Elizabeth Fuentes, Tuscarora field manager for the Bureau of Land Management, briefed commissioners on several projects in her district. On Crescent Valley geothermal, she said the public comment period closed June 11, BLM is addressing comments and she is "targeting a decision date of July 16 for that project." Fuentes said the 2025 geothermal lease‑sale EA is out for a 30‑day review that runs through July 25 and involves 21 nominated parcels; BLM sent letters to counties and a state clearinghouse to notify agencies and local governments.

Fuentes also reported recent permit decisions and near‑term actions: the Geo Probe decision was signed last week and is cleared to implement (with migratory‑bird timing restrictions into late July). She said the South Railroad notice of intent is being moved through headquarters with a realistic publication target in July (mid‑ to late‑month), and that the proponent for the Coyote Mine expansion may submit an emergency permitting package that would sharply compress EA timelines. "Under the emergency permitting, we only have seven days to draft up an EA," she said, describing the faster schedule for critical mineral or energy projects. Fuentes confirmed that barite is currently treated as a critical mineral; she said gold and silver are not on that list at present.