[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5576 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 674
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5576
[Report No. 119-773]
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration
for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 26, 2025
Mr. Fulcher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
August 27, 2026
Additional sponsors: Ms. Maloy, Mr. Kennedy of Utah, and Mr. Begich
August 27, 2026
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
September 26, 2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration
for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Geothermal Production on
Federal Lands Act''.
SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL PRODUCTION ON FEDERAL LANDS.
The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 30. GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION PROJECTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Geothermal exploration project.--The term `geothermal
exploration project' means the drilling of a temperature
gradient well, monitoring well, calibration well, or another
geothermal exploratory well, including construction or making
improvements for such activities, on lands for which the
Secretary has issued a geothermal lease--
``(A) that is carried out by the holder of the
lease;
``(B) for which--
``(i) the last cemented casing string has
an outer diameter of less than 13\3/8\ inches;
and
``(ii) the total unreclaimed surface
disturbance at any one time within the project
area is less than 8 acres, not including the
area of a permanent or temporary access road;
``(C) that is completed in less than 180 days,
including the removal of any surface infrastructure
from the project area; and
``(D) that requires the restoration of the project
area within 3 years of the date of first exploration
drilling to approximately the condition that existed at
the time the project began, unless the project area is
subsequently used as part of energy development under
the lease.
``(2) Covered activity.--The term `covered activity'
includes, with respect to exploration, development, or
production (including direct use) of geothermal resources--
``(A) geotechnical investigations;
``(B) off-road travel in a right-of-way established
by Congress, granted by a Federal agency, or included
in a land use plan; and
``(C) construction, maintenance, realignment, and
repair of an existing permanent or temporary access
road within a right-of-way established by Congress,
granted by a Federal agency, or included in a land use
plan.
``(b) Non-Major Federal Action.--Geothermal exploration projects
and covered activities shall not be considered major Federal actions
under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
``(c) Requirement To Provide Notice.--The holder of a geothermal
lease shall provide to the Secretary notice of their intent to carry
out a geothermal exploration project at least 30 days before the start
of drilling under the project.''.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) pursuant to section 109 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336c), as amended by section
321(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law
118-5), the Bureau of Land Management announced on April 15,
2024, it had adopted categorical exclusions from the Department
of the Navy and the United States Forest Service for geothermal
exploration; and
(2) if appropriately used, these categorical exclusions are
expected to expedite the review and approval of geothermal
exploration proposals on Bureau of Land Management lands.
Union Calendar No. 674
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5576
[Report No. 119-773]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration
for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
August 27, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed