IB 
Union Calendar No. 609 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7409 
[Report No. 118–722] 
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement 
for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain 
activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 20, 2024 
Mrs. KIM of California (for herself and Mr. DUARTE) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
NOVEMBER 1, 2024 
Additional sponsor: Mrs. PELTOLA 
NOVEMBER 1, 2024 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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A BILL 
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive 
the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain 
activities, to exempt certain activities from the require-
ments of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
and for other purposes. 
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‘‘(b) NO FEDERAL ACTION.—A geothermal explo-
ration and production activity carried out under sub-
section (a)— 
‘‘(1) shall not be considered a major Federal 
action for the purposes of section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; 
‘‘(2) shall require no additional Federal action; 
‘‘(3) may commence 30 days after submission 
of the State permit to the Secretary; 
‘‘(4) shall not be subject to section 7 of the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973; and 
‘‘(5) shall only be considered an undertaking 
under division A of subtitle III of title 54, United 
States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘National 
Historic Preservation Act’), if, with respect to the 
State in which the activity occurs, there is no State 
law in effect that addresses the preservation of his-
toric properties in such State. 
‘‘(c) 
ROYALTIES
AND
PRODUCTION
ACCOUNT-
ABILITY.—(1) Nothing in this section shall affect the 
amount of royalties due to the United States under this 
Act from the production of electricity using geothermal re-
sources (other than direct use of geothermal resources) or 
the production of any byproducts. 
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‘‘(2) The Secretary may conduct onsite reviews and 
inspections to ensure proper accountability, measurement, 
and reporting of the production described in subsection 
(a), and payment of royalties. 
‘‘(d) EXCEPTIONS.—This section shall not apply to 
actions on Indian lands or resources managed in trust for 
the benefit of Indian Tribes. 
‘‘(e) INDIAN LAND.—In this section, the term ‘Indian 
land’ means— 
‘‘(1) any land located within the boundaries of 
an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria; and 
‘‘(2) any land not located within the boundaries 
of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria, the 
title to which is held— 
‘‘(A) in trust by the United States for the 
benefit of an Indian tribe or an individual In-
dian; 
‘‘(B) by an Indian tribe or an individual 
Indian, subject to restriction against alienation 
under laws of the United States; or 
‘‘(C) by a dependent Indian community.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 609 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7409 
[Report No. 118–722] 
A BILL 
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to 
waive the requirement for a Federal drilling per-
mit for certain activities, to exempt certain ac-
tivities from the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other 
purposes. 
NOVEMBER 1, 2024 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:59 Nov 01, 2024
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PO 00000
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ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS