S. 4383 — Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act

This section establishes within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) a Geothermal Ombudsman, to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior not later than 60 days after enactment, to serve as a liaison among BLM field, district, and State offices, the BLM National Renewable Energy Coordination Office, and the BLM Director; provide dispute resolution for geothermal authorization applicants (i.e., BLM-issued licenses, permits, or approvals required to site, construct, or operate geothermal energy projects—i.e., heat or electricity generation using geothermal resources—on public lands subject to leasing under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970); monitor permit processing; develop best practices; and coordinate with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. The section further establishes a Geothermal Permitting Task Force within BLM, headed by the Ombudsman, to support these duties, including by authorizing the Ombudsman to coordinate cross-office assignments of Department of the Interior personnel with relevant expertise to BLM field, district, or State offices—subject to no material delay in the employees' home offices and approval from home office heads—provided assignees work in-person full-time, travel if needed, participate as team members, and report regularly to the relevant BLM office (with a savings clause preserving underlying BLM office jurisdiction). Additionally, the section authorizes retention allowances of up to 25% of basic pay for such assignees, subject to appropriations and considerations of expertise, performance needs, and recruitment challenges (with allowances paid alongside basic pay but not appealable or part of basic pay); and requires the Ombudsman to submit an annual report to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources evaluating Task Force activities and geothermal permit processing effectiveness.