Geothermal Steam Act of 1981

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Geothermal Steam Act of 1981 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue geothermal leases in lands administered by another Federal agency or department, including public, withdrawn, or acquired lands. Revises the definition of "known geothermal resource area" to mean an area where the Secretary determines the prospects for extraction of geothermal resources for generating electricity in commercial quantities warrant substantial expenditures. Requires that lands within a known geothermal resource area which are offered for lease and which receive no bids be declassified and leased to the first qualified applicant. Entitles the first qualified applicant for a lease not within a known geothermal resource area to a noncompetitive lease if the land involved is not designated a known geothermal resource area within one year of the application being filed and before the lease is issued. Permits such an applicant to match the highest competitive bid for such land if that land is designated a known geothermal resource area within such time period. Entitles the applicant or lessee responsible for the exploration resulting in the designation …