Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-363
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2013-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alternative and renewable resources
Department of the Interior
Government information and archives
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: 
Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013 - Amends competitive lease provisions of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow an area of qualified federal land (land that is otherwise available for leasing under that Act) that adjoins other land for which a qualified lessee holds a legal right to develop geothermal resources to be available for a noncompetitive lease to such lessee at fair market value per acre if: (1) the area of qualified federal land consists of not less than one acre and not more than 640 acres and is not already leased or nominated to be leased; (2) the qualified lessee has not previously received a noncompetitive lease in connection with the valid discovery for which data has been submitted; and (3) sufficient technical data prepared by a qualified geothermal professional has been submitted by the qualified lessee to the applicable federal land management agency that would lead individuals who are experienced in the subject matter to believe that there is a valid discovery of geothermal resources on the land and that such thermal feature extends into the adjoining areas.
 
Defines "fair market value per acre" as a dollar amount per acre that shall be: (1) equal to the market value per acre as determined by the Secretary of the Interior within 180 days after the Secretary receives an application for a lease, and (2) not less than the greater of 4 times the median amount paid per acre for all land leased under such Act during the preceding year or $50.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish a notice of any request for such a lease; (2) determine fair market value in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary; (3) provide to a qualified lessee and publish, with an opportunity for public comment for a period of 30 days, any proposed determination of the fair market value of the area the qualified lessee seeks to lease; and (4) provide the lessee and any adversely affected party an opportunity to appeal the final determination of fair market value in an administrative proceeding before the applicable federal land management agency. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting any nomination of land for leasing after publication of a notice of request to lease such land unless the request has been denied or withdrawn.

action_date: 2013-07-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013 - Amends competitive lease provisions of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow an area of qualified federal land (land that is otherwise available for leasing under that Act) that adjoins other land for which a qualified lessee holds a legal right to develop geothermal resources to be available for a noncompetitive lease to such lessee at fair market value per acre if: (1) the area of qualified federal land consists of not less than one acre and not more than 640 acres and is not already leased or nominated to be leased, (2) the qualified lessee has not previously received a noncompetitive lease in connection with the valid discovery for which data has been submitted, and (3) sufficient technical data prepared by a qualified geothermal professional has been submitted by the qualified lessee to the applicable federal land management agency that would lead individuals who are experienced in the subject matter to believe that there is a valid discovery of geothermal resources on the land and that such thermal feature extends into the adjoining areas.
 
Defines "fair market value per acre" as a dollar amount per acre that shall be: (1) equal to the market value per acre (taking in account the determination regarding a valid discovery on the adjoining land) as determined by the Secretary of the Interior within 180 days after the Secretary receives an application for a lease, and (2) not less than the greater of 4 times the median amount paid per acre for all land leased under such Act during the preceding year or $50.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish a notice of any request for such a lease; (2) determine fair market value in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary; (3) provide to a qualified lessee and publish, with an opportunity for public comment for a period of 30 days, any proposed determination of the fair market value of the area the qualified lessee seeks to lease; and (4) provide the lessee and any adversely affected party an opportunity to appeal the final determination of fair market value in an administrative proceeding before the applicable federal land management agency. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting any nomination of land for leasing after publication of a notice of request to lease such land unless the request has been denied or withdrawn.
 
Considers a lease issued under this Act to be a lease awarded in a competitive lease sale for purposes of determining the amount of payment that is given in advance of annual rental payments for such lease.

action_date: 2014-07-09
text: 
Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Department of the Interior to award noncompetitive leases on up to 640 acres of federal land for geothermal development if: (1) the land is available for leasing and not already leased or nominated to be leased, (2) the lessee has a legal right to develop geothermal resources on land adjacent to the federal land that will be leased, (3) sufficient data was submitted to Interior to show there is a valid discovery of geothermal resources on the adjacent land and that the thermal feature extends into the adjoining federal land, and (4) the lessee has not previously received a noncompetitive lease for the discovery.
 
Requires Interior to lease the land at fair market value, publish a notice of any lease requests, and provide review of the final determination of fair market value.
 
 Requires lessees to make annual rental payments equal to those required for lands that are leased competitively.

action_date: 2014-12-22
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on July 9, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Department of the Interior to award noncompetitive leases on up to 640 acres of federal land for geothermal development if: (1) the land is available for leasing and not already leased or nominated to be leased, (2) the lessee has a legal right to develop geothermal resources on land adjacent to the federal land that will be leased, (3) sufficient data was submitted to Interior to show there is a valid discovery of geothermal resources on the adjacent land and that the thermal feature extends into the adjoining federal land, and (4) the lessee has not previously received a noncompetitive lease for the discovery.
 
Requires Interior to lease the land at fair market value, publish a notice of any lease requests, and provide review of the final determination of fair market value.
 
 Requires lessees to make annual rental payments equal to those required for lands that are leased competitively.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-22
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 540.
action_date: 2014-12-22
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-709.
action_date: 2014-12-22
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-709.
action_date: 2014-09-18
text: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-09-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-09-18
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2014-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2014-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-07-10
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2014-07-10
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4355-4364; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S4359-4360; text as passed Senate: CR S4362)
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4355-4364; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S4359-4360; text as passed Senate: CR S4362)
action_date: 2013-07-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 129.
action_date: 2013-07-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Wyden without amendment. With written report No. 113-72.
action_date: 2013-07-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Wyden without amendment. With written report No. 113-72.
action_date: 2013-05-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced in Senate: CR S784-785)
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S784)
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate