Opinion ID: 156182
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Was the statute of limitations tolled by the Geothermal Steam Act?

Text: 21 In the alternative, Rosette argues that even if its claim accrued in 1978, the Quiet Title Act's statute of limitations was tolled because the United States failed to comply with the requirements of the Geothermal Steam Act, 30 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1028. According to Rosette, the Geothermal Steam Act requires the United States to quiet title to geothermal resources when development is imminent. Rosette argues that because the United States failed to do so, it cannot now claim the benefit of the Quiet Title Act's statute of limitations. 22 The Geothermal Steam Act provides in relevant part as follows: 23 Geothermal resources in lands the surface of which has passed from Federal ownership but in which the minerals have been reserved to the United States shall not be developed or produced except under geothermal leases made pursuant to this chapter. If the Secretary of the Interior finds that such development is imminent, or that production from a well heretofore drilled on such lands is imminent, he shall so report to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General is authorized and directed to institute an appropriate proceeding in the United States district court of the district in which such lands are located, to quiet the title of the United States in such resources, and if the court determines that the reservation of minerals to the United States in the lands involved included the geothermal resources, to enjoin their production otherwise than under the terms of this chapter: Provided, That upon an authoritative judicial determination that Federal mineral reservation does not include geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources the duties of the Secretary of the Interior to report and of the Attorney General to institute proceedings, as hereinbefore set forth, shall cease. 24 30 U.S.C. § 1020(b) (first emphasis added). Rosette's tolling argument is unconvincing. If Rosette wanted to challenge the United States' authority to enter into the lease, it needed to file suit within the statute of limitations. We conclude that the Geothermal Steam Act did not toll the Quiet Title Act's statute of limitations.