United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

HR 4568 — Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

Last action — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 375.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill aims to enhance geothermal resource exploration on federal lands.

This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act to facilitate and expedite geothermal exploration test projects on federal lands. It establishes parameters that limit environmental impact and set a timeline for exploration activities.

Summary

Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Department of the Interior to award noncompetitive leases on up to 640 acres of certain federal land for geothermal development. Interior must 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. Lessees must make annual rental payments equal to those required for lands that are leased competitively. The bill exempts geothermal exploration test projects from complying with environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Interior must designate portions of certain federal land as geothermal leasing priority areas. The bill sets forth requirements for environmental review under NEPA with respect to the priority areas.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

39 added · 24 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to HR 4568 changes the diameter requirement for a specific project from "8 inches or less" to "less than 9 inches." Additionally, it removes a requirement for the Secretary to allow a leaseholder to resubmit the notice of intent under a specific paragraph after remedying deficiencies. These changes clarify the criteria for project specifications and the process for addressing deficiencies, potentially affecting how projects are evaluated and approved.

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4568 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
4568 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> Union Calendar No.
375 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
4568 To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
4568 [Report No.
115-502] To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources January 9, 2018 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 December 6, 2017] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
``(3) is developed-- ``(A) 8 inches or less in diameter;
``(3) is developed-- ``(A) less than 9 inches in diameter;
and ``(D) with the use of rubber-tired digging or drilling equipment vehicles;
``(D) with the use of rubber-tired digging or drilling equipment vehicles;
and ``(E) without the use of high-pressure well stimulation;
``(3) Opportunity to remedy.-- ``(A) In general.--If the Secretary determines under paragraph (2)(A) that the project does not qualify for a categorical exclusion under subsection (b), the Secretary shall-- ``(i) include in such notice clear and detailed findings on any deficiencies in the project that resulted in such determination;
``(3) Opportunity to remedy.--If the Secretary determines under paragraph (2)(A) that the project does not qualify for a categorical exclusion under subsection (b), the Secretary shall-- ``(A) include in such notice clear and detailed findings on any deficiencies in the project that resulted in such determination;
and ``(ii) allow the leaseholder to remedy any such deficiencies and resubmit the notice of intent under paragraph (1).''.
and ``(B) allow the leaseholder to remedy any such deficiencies and resubmit the notice of intent under paragraph (1).''.
``(e) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.-- ``(1) Initial designations.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare a supplement to any final programmatic environmental impact statement for geothermal leasing that is the most recently finalized such statement with respect to covered land designated as a geothermal leasing priority area under subsection (b).
``(e) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.-- ``(1) Initial designations.--No later than one year after the initial designation of a geothermal leasing priority area, the Secretary shall prepare a supplement to any final programmatic environmental impact statement for geothermal leasing that is the most recently finalized such statement with respect to covered land designated as a geothermal leasing priority area under subsection (b).
<all>
Union Calendar No.
375 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
R.
4568 [Report No.
115-502] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ January 9, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
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Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

  4. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  5. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  6. Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

  7. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-502.

  8. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-502.

  9. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 375.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 546 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4568 do?
Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Department of the Interior to award noncompetitive leases on up to 640 acres of certain federal land for geothermal development. Interior must 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. Lessees must make annual rental payments equal to those required for lands that are leased competitively. The bill exempts geothermal exploration test projects from complying with environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Interior must designate portions of certain federal land as geothermal leasing priority areas. The bill sets forth requirements for environmental review under NEPA with respect to the priority areas.
Who sponsors HR 4568?
HR 4568 is sponsored by Labrador, Raul R. (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 4568?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 4568?
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