United States Code

30 U.S.C. § 1003

Leasing procedures

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Bills that would change it 42

  • HR 5631 Geothermal Energy Advancement Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 1687 CLEAN Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 5587 HEATS Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 4960 CLEAN Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 4975 HEATS Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 4795 FREEDOM Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 301 GEO Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 7329 FREEDOM Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 5576 Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 7476 Countering Communist China Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 6482 Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 1449 CLEAN Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 7409 HEATS Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 7370 GEO Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 3954 Geothermal Energy Optimization Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 2811 Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 1 Lower Energy Costs Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 1335 TAPP American Resources Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 947 Lower Energy Costs Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 879 Energy Freedom Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 9087 TAP American Energy Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 9193 To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to increase the frequency of lease sales, to require replacement sales, and for other purposes. Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 5350 Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 7094 Energy Freedom Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 3762 Energy Freedom Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 2949 A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to describe the scope of activities subject to a presu... Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 2824 Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 4334 American Energy First Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Amends 1003(b) · enacted · 116th Congress
  • HR 3794 Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2019 Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 4447 Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 2 Moving Forward Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • S 2657 AGILE Act of 2019 Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • S 2666 Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2019 Amends · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 4026 Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 4294 American Energy First Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • S 2270 Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • S 1901 GEO Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 4426 Sustainable Energy Development Reform Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 115th Congress
  • HR 4568 Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 115th Congress
  • HR 4252 Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2017 Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 115th Congress
  • S 1460 Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 Amends 1003(b) · introduced · 115th Congress

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-121.

(a) Nominations The Secretary shall accept nominations of land to be leased at any time from qualified companies and individuals under this chapter. (b) Competitive lease sale required (1) In general Except as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter, all land to be leased that is not subject to leasing under subsection (c) shall be leased as provided in this subsection to the highest responsible qualified bidder, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Competitive lease sales The Secretary shall hold a competitive lease sale at least once every 2 years for land in a State that has nominations pending under subsection (a) if the land is otherwise available for leasing. (3) Lands subject to mining claims Lands that are subject to a mining claim for which a plan of operations has been approved by the relevant Federal land management agency may be available for noncompetitive leasing under this section to the mining claim holder. (4) Land subject to oil and gas lease Land under an oil and gas lease issued pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) that is subject to an approved application for permit to drill and from which oil and gas production is occurring may be available for noncompetitive leasing under subsection (c) by the holder of the oil and gas lease— (A) on a determination that geothermal energy will be produced from a well producing or capable of producing oil and gas; and (B) to provide for the coproduction of geothermal energy with oil and gas. (c) Noncompetitive leasing The Secretary shall make available for a period of 2 years for noncompetitive leasing any tract for which a competitive lease sale is held, but for which the Secretary does not receive any bids in a competitive lease sale. (d) Pending lease applications (1) In general It shall be a priority for the Secretary, and for the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to National Forest Systems land, to ensure timely completion of administrative actions, including amendments to applicable forest plans and resource management plans, necessary to process applications for geothermal leasing pending on August 8, 2005.1 All future forest plans and resource management plans for areas with high geothermal resource potential shall consider geothermal leasing and development. (2) Administration An application described in paragraph (1) and any lease issued pursuant to the application— (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), shall be subject to this section as in effect on the day before August 8, 2005; or (B) at the election of the applicant, shall be subject to this section as in effect on August 8, 2005. (e) Leases sold as a block If information is available to the Secretary indicating a geothermal resource that could be produced as 1 unit can reasonably be expected to underlie more than 1 parcel to be offered in a competitive lease sale, the parcels for such a resource may be offered for bidding as a block in the competitive lease sale. (f) Leasing for direct use of geothermal resources Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Secretary may identify areas in which the land to be leased under this chapter exclusively for direct use of geothermal resources, without sale for purposes other than commercial generation of electricity, may be leased to any qualified applicant that first applies for such a lease under regulations issued by the Secretary, if the Secretary— (1) publishes a notice of the land proposed for leasing not later than 90 days before the date of the issuance of the lease; (2) does not receive during the 90-day period beginning on the date of the publication any nomination to include the land concerned in the next competitive lease sale; and (3) determines there is no competitive interest in the geothermal resources in the land to be leased. (g) Area subject to lease for direct use (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), a geothermal lease for the direct use of geothermal resources shall cover not more than the quantity of acreage determined by the Secretary to be reasonably necessary for the proposed use. (2) Limitations The quantity of acreage covered by the lease shall not exceed the limitations established under section 1006 of this title.
Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗