GEO Act

Bill: 118-hr-7370
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3]
Introduced: 2024-02-15
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources

Electric power generation and transmission

Licensing and registrations

Mining

Performance measurement
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-02-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act</strong></p><p>This bill directs the Department of the Interior to process each application for a geothermal drilling permit or other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease within 30 days after completing all environmental documents required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for a project’s approval unless a U.S. federal court vacates the underlying lease.</p>

action_date: 2024-06-27
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><strong>Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act</strong></p><p>This bill expands&nbsp;the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for the Department of the Interior to process applications related to geothermal leases. Specifically, Interior must process each application for a geothermal drilling permit or other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease within 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable federal laws and regulations (including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act)&nbsp;unless a U.S. federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for&nbsp;the underlying lease.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->

action_date: 2024-09-24
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><strong>Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act</strong></p><p>This bill expands the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for the Department of the Interior to process applications related to geothermal leases. Specifically, Interior must process each application for a geothermal drilling permit or other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease within 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable federal laws and regulations (including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act) unless a U.S. federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the underlying lease. &nbsp;</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->

tv_txt: IIB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7370 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 25, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources AN ACT To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act . 2. Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ( 30 U.S.C. 1003 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (h) Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing (1) Requirement to process applications Notwithstanding the existence of any pending civil action that affects an application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or any other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease, the Secretary shall, unless a United States Federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the applicable geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization, approve and issue, or deny, each such application not later than 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable Federal laws and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code. (2) No new authority for Federal courts Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as modifying any existing authority of a Federal court to vacate or provide injunctive relief for a geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization. (3) Definition of authorization In this subsection, the term authorization means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by a Federal agency, or any interagency consultation, that is required or authorized under Federal law or regulations in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a geothermal project administered by a Federal agency. .

Passed the House of Representatives September 24, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7370 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act . 2. Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ( 30 U.S.C. 1003 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (h) Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing (1) Requirement to process applications Notwithstanding the existence of any pending civil action that affects an application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or any other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease, the Secretary shall, unless a United States Federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the applicable geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization, approve and issue, or deny, each such application not later than 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable Federal laws and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code. (2) No new authority for Federal courts Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as modifying any existing authority of a Federal court to vacate or provide injunctive relief for a geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization. (3) Definition of authorization In this subsection, the term authorization means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by a Federal agency, or any interagency consultation, that is required or authorized under Federal law or regulations in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a geothermal project administered by a Federal agency. .

Passed the House of Representatives September 24, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 463 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7370 [Report No. 118–561] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 15, 2024 Mr. Curtis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources June 27, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 15, 2024 A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act . 2. Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ( 30 U.S.C. 1003 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (h) Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing (1) Requirement to process applications Notwithstanding the existence of any pending civil action that affects an application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or any other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease, the Secretary shall, unless a United States Federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the applicable geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization, approve and issue, or deny, each such application not later than 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable Federal laws and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code. (2) No new authority for Federal courts Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as modifying any existing authority of a Federal court to vacate or provide injunctive relief for a geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization. (3) Definition of authorization In this subsection, the term authorization means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by a Federal agency, or any interagency consultation, that is required or authorized under Federal law or regulations in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a geothermal project administered by a Federal agency. .

June 27, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7370 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 15, 2024 Mr. Curtis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act . 2. Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ( 30 U.S.C. 1003 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (h) Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications related to geothermal leasing (1) Requirement to process applications Notwithstanding the existence of any pending civil action that affects an application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization or approval under a valid existing geothermal lease, the Secretary shall, unless a United States Federal court vacated the applicable geothermal lease, process each such application not later than 30 days after completing all environmental documents required under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) for the authorization or approval. (2) No new authority for Federal courts Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as providing authority to a Federal court to vacate a geothermal lease. .