[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5617 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 573
119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5617

                          [Report No. 119-659]

   To direct the Department of the Interior to identify and publish 
 standard procedures and guidelines for geothermal leasing and permit 
   issuance for environmentally responsible geothermal operations on 
                             Federal lands.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 2025

Ms. Ansari (for herself and Mr. Huffman) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

                              May 20, 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 30, 2025]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Department of the Interior to identify and publish 
 standard procedures and guidelines for geothermal leasing and permit 
   issuance for environmentally responsible geothermal operations on 
                             Federal lands.


 


    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 ``Geothermal Gold Book Development 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PUBLICATION OF ``GOLD BOOK'' FOR GEOTHERMAL OPERATIONS ON 
              FEDERAL LANDS.

    (a) Identification.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation 
with other relevant Federal agencies, shall identify standard 
procedures and guidelines for efficient and environmentally responsible 
geothermal leasing and permitting to the extent such standard 
procedures and guidelines are not addressed in the fourth edition of 
the Bureau of Land Management's ``Surface Operating Standards and 
Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development'', commonly 
known as the ``Gold Book'' and last revised in 2007.
    (b) Publication.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after identifying 
        standard procedures and guidelines under subsection (a), the 
        Secretary of the Interior shall publish an updated version of 
        the Gold Book incorporating any changes necessary to support 
        efficient and environmentally responsible geothermal leasing 
        and permitting for use by the field offices of the Bureau of 
        Land Management and geothermal operators.
            (2) Renaming gold book.--The Secretary of the Interior 
        shall rename the Gold Book to reflect the incorporation of 
        standard procedures and guidelines related to geothermal 
        development.
    (c) Consultation.--Before publishing an updated version of the Gold 
Book, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with--
            (1) other relevant Federal agencies, including field 
        offices of the Bureau of Land Management; and
            (2) outside stakeholders, including developers and other 
        experts.
    (d) Inclusions.--Each updated version of the Gold Book shall 
include standard procedures and guidelines for ensuring the efficient 
review and approval of environmentally responsible geothermal 
development, including--
            (1) exploration and geophysical operations;
            (2) permitting lease operations;
            (3) compliance with all applicable laws and regulations;
            (4) construction and maintenance; and
            (5) drilling, production, and utilization operations.
    (e) Periodic Revision.--The Secretary of the Interior shall--
            (1) at least once every five years, review the most recent 
        version of the Gold Book; and
            (2) if determined necessary by the Secretary of the 
        Interior to support efficient and environmentally responsible 
        geothermal leasing and permitting, publish an updated version 
        of the Gold Book.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 573

119th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 5617

                          [Report No. 119-659]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To direct the Department of the Interior to identify and publish 
 standard procedures and guidelines for geothermal leasing and permit 
   issuance for environmentally responsible geothermal operations on 
                             Federal lands.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              May 20, 2026

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