; and (B) in regard to National Forest System lands, a land management plan approved, amended, or revised under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 ( 16 U.S.C. 1604 ). (6) Priority area The term priority area means covered land identified by the land use planning process of the Bureau of Land Management as being a preferred location for a renewable energy project, including a designated leasing area (as defined in section 2801.5(b) of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) that is identified under the rule of the Bureau of Land Management entitled Competitive Processes, Terms, and Conditions for Leasing Public Lands for Solar and Wind Energy Development and Technical Changes and Corrections (81 Fed. Reg. 92122 (December 19, 2016)) (or a successor regulation). (7) Public lands The term public lands has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1702 ). (8) Renewable energy project The term renewable energy project means a project carried out on covered land that uses wind, solar, or geothermal energy to generate energy. (9) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (10) Variance area The term variance area means covered land that is— (A) not an exclusion area; (B) not a priority area; and (C) identified by the Secretary as potentially available for renewable energy development and could be approved without a plan amendment, consistent with the principles of multiple use (as defined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. )). 4. Land use planning