116 S4795 IS: Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets Act
U.S. Senate
2026-06-16
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets Act
or the FREEDOM Act
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Findings.TITLE I—Amendment to Energy Act of 2020Sec. 101. Amendment to Energy Act of 2020.TITLE II—Mining regulatory claritySec. 201. Hardrock mining mill sites.TITLE III—Geothermal energy advancementSec. 301. Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications relating to geothermal leasing.Sec. 302. Cost recovery from geothermal leasing, permitting, and inspections.Sec. 303. Publication of Gold Book for geothermal operations on Federal land.Sec. 304. Geothermal Ombudsman and Permitting Task Force.Sec. 305. Geothermal royalties.Sec. 306. NEPA review.2.Congress finds that—(1)energy projects face catastrophic financial losses when Federal agencies revoke permits, fail to adhere to deadlines, or take years to process routine applications for those projects, even in cases in which project sponsors have invested millions of dollars in reliance on Federal approvals;(2)the regulatory uncertainty described in paragraph (1)—(A)deters critical energy infrastructure investment across all technologies; and(B)undermines United States energy security and economic competitiveness; and(3)regulatory uncertainty and permitting delays increase the cost of building energy and mineral infrastructure, which—(A)raises the cost of living for families in the United States; and(B)increases power prices for homes and businesses.<enum>I</enum><header>Amendment to Energy Act of 2020</header><section id="id6bbc8bbd3d1c4d17a9bd6ba27d735aeb"><enum>101.</enum><header>Amendment to Energy Act of 2020</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe74ada8eac34aa48888fa62c1bfbf2e"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Energy Act of 2020 (division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/116/260">Public Law 116–260</external-xref>; 134 Stat. 2418)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id303bd020571c473d916508dadae2e455"><title id="id98cc0e099a094909abce6f96c349bdd9"><enum>XII</enum><header>Fighting for reliable energy and ending doubt for open markets</header><section id="id115dfe8706e0469280608af31ec8db94"><enum>12001.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="id2838020cf9cf417b9793e3cf2db905c6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency</header><text>The term <term>agency</term> has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id162a5443d6c64052b9ad20ff3a6e2161"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>The term <term>authorization</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id3f71df6c9d714d11a3bd2b35ca23fc7a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or administrative decision issued by an agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ided09cb8f485347318e90aacec5ee244b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any interagency consultation that is authorized or required to be conducted under Federal law—</text><clause id="id4f4862cdb9da4c9f82224b3c87c08d6e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>between or among—</text><subclause id="id6c1887527b534903a0b4d33a7e4fb54a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>agencies; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id3f5ac35f50c14e928764163bb006ee65"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the case of any State that chooses to participate in the environmental review of a covered energy project, 1 or more State agencies; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="ide9c708e3057f411fa570f83bfd4994f5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operation of a covered energy project.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id47a223b5e1af4ae6903b93258939d368"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Complex authorization</header><text>The term <term>complex authorization</term> means an authorization identified as a complex authorization by a lead agency under section 12101(d).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf85cb3e69cd84a87a413e30f51ef388d"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Covered energy project</header><text>The term <term>covered energy project</term> means any activity that—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idef72a7a8785d4f8fa408bf71b299c2ff"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requires an authorization from an agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id85cd43b67bb44f11b1ba7489c23c566e"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is carried out—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf4abd6377b794ff0903ccc9b20171af4"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the United States; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1bbc4919a006463094b555d706c63efa"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on the outer Continental Shelf (as defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1331">43 U.S.C. 1331</external-xref>)); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46a7d6ce99e04018bf66dba2901009f2"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">involves the construction of infrastructure—</text><clause id="id14fc425d07454f96b3c275214779db65"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to develop, produce, generate, store, transport, or distribute energy;</text></clause><clause id="id9a31ec5e2220476a8a69b0b0ee0828df"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to capture, remove, transport, or store carbon dioxide; or</text></clause><clause id="id711550368e3b411894ebfe4dd524781e"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to mine, extract, beneficiate, or process minerals.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida998b6513d5c4c79aeab83c5e3b1f5da"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Environmental document</header><subparagraph id="id3ee01b216cf94b2e90f246b501764291"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>environmental document</term> means—</text><clause id="id1db622776d3e4cc5a27b6a4ef8c5d906"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an environmental assessment;</text></clause><clause id="idd28d252a99944000827705316aa5d4e1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a finding of no significant impact;</text></clause><clause id="idc291953b934043df8847246132743c42"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a notice of intent;</text></clause><clause id="id3a0a25973c954bf78e76d4d990b25523"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>an environmental impact statement; and</text></clause><clause id="idb9b94f912aa34023a3c01a69936e9d86"><enum>(v)</enum><text>a record of decision.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb1bc767ae1474672b8d2887f62204fe8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <term>environmental document</term> includes any document that is—</text><clause id="idcb73049b3491490ba66b476b8688fe7a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a supplement to a document described in subparagraph (A); or</text></clause><clause id="idac035c14057b4b0b81101bde16dec7de"><enum>(ii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9ca7e002b81940068312b7b840aa865a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>related to a document described in subparagraph (A); and</text></subclause><subclause id="id6681e460eccc463d966b9479ccdd2168" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>prepared pursuant to a court order.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2199ac7cf834464db84ee95027097352"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Environmental impact statement</header><text>The term <term>environmental impact statement</term> means a detailed, written statement required under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id685c142c467e4ba0981cf12590b2ae17"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Environmental review</header><text>The term <term>environmental review</term> means any agency procedure or process for—</text><subparagraph id="idb58ba24837f84617a4a668bae948b292"><enum>(A)</enum><text>applying a categorical exclusion (within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) (including regulations promulgated pursuant to that Act)); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idac06dfcc80454dfdb0e977236d0ff5d0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>preparing an environmental document under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb23685ff3e8941f29a41b1ecea49a31f"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Lead agency</header><text>The term <term>lead agency</term>, with respect to a covered energy project, means the agency with principal responsibility for environmental review of the covered energy project under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) (including regulations promulgated pursuant to that Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idef16d7c7489340bc986d320108b5fee8"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Project sponsor</header><text>The term <term>project sponsor</term> means a private, public, or public-private entity seeking an authorization for a covered energy project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8435f695b96642c1951ff35deb84cde0"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Reviewing court</header><text>The term <term>reviewing court</term> means the court of competent jurisdiction in which a petition under subtitle B is filed.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id649718b1f9fb4808af1d697ef68b9683"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Routine authorization</header><text>The term <term>routine authorization</term> means any authorization that is not a complex authorization.</text></paragraph></section><subtitle id="id6f122e6c594041ef9a1c62746d4b7a67" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Authorization timelines</header><section id="idfb2c4dce0e534dbb92bf51b6fd1fbb3f"><enum>12101.</enum><header>Notices of initiation; project schedules</header><subsection id="id640ee05b679547cb970295b64bbe1af3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Notices of initiation for covered energy projects</header><paragraph id="id105884a05b6b4ae39f80227c6dac4382"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A project sponsor shall submit a notice of initiation for a covered energy project proposed to be carried out by the project sponsor to the head of each agency from which 1 or more authorizations are anticipated to be required to carry out the covered energy project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddb73f1f692ca484d887d535e206ba4ca"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>A notice of initiation under this subsection shall include—</text><subparagraph id="id0baa058c12ed45d0b4dad4bec89f6d16"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a statement describing the purposes and objectives of the proposed covered energy project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8485b87cfa7540a29b39509617f4f255"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a concise description of the proposed covered energy project, including—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf174e0f1a2d8468ba7eb1ca7ef76f30e"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the general location of the proposed covered energy project; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23bdbcff00234259a0f822eb4d43a33c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a summary of geospatial information, if available, illustrating—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idffdd4c6637d14c829e0ac3c27a6fd756"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the proposed project area; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id07b5e255ad2b4aadb1c4ee6b06b80708"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the locations of known environmental, cultural, and historic resources, if any; and</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id49b07c671c184eccbcd0fc4ba62cc688"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a statement identifying all Federal financing, environmental reviews, and authorizations anticipated to be required to carry out the proposed covered energy project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc138906192bc4db78a84305e19c12d0c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Determination of completeness</header><paragraph id="id41d05a4fa6784c29980ab81e0180dab8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of a notice of initiation under subsection (a), the applicable lead agency shall determine whether the notice is complete in accordance with paragraph (2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8e957de9751e4f049b6ba948da1999e6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Completeness</header><text>A notice of initiation shall be considered to be complete under paragraph (1) if the lead agency determines that the notice meets the requirements described in subsection (a)(2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide6ea93ab2c2d4cdea89cdcea445edd88"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Statement</header><subparagraph id="id5c453924dc2842afa10c4d3f0ab16682"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A lead agency, on making a determination under paragraph (1) that—</text><clause id="idf9bf250646974851b20166a09e77b59c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a notice of initiation is complete, shall provide to the project sponsor a statement of the determination; or</text></clause><clause id="id31437c36950644e1b938668a6f0d4c4c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a notice of initiation is incomplete, shall provide to the project sponsor a deficiency statement identifying the information required for the notice to be considered complete.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72f9219760434252ab210491f0aeab18"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Failure to act</header><text>If a lead agency fails to issue a statement under this paragraph by the applicable deadline described in paragraph (1), the applicable notice of initiation shall be deemed to be complete.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida87bc64cb23c41b8a71d22597c40bff6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effect of deficiency</header><subparagraph id="id3110fc51f8ed474cb76ece5685c5a661"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Response by project sponsor</header><text>If a lead agency issues a deficiency statement under paragraph (3)(A)(ii), the project sponsor may—</text><clause id="idbec73914412f4625b1eee55363645331"><enum>(i)</enum><text>submit to the lead agency a revised notice containing the information identified in the deficiency statement not later than 90 days after the date on which the deficiency statement is issued; or</text></clause><clause id="ide1ba307f57304311939c0bfb4c581955"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>request an extension of time to prepare such a revised notice.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3fc0f7bce1ab48b5bc81eb3a32a636f0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>On receipt of a request for an extension under subparagraph (A)(ii), a lead agency shall grant the applicable project sponsor an extension of the applicable deadline under subparagraph (A)(i) for a period of not more than 90 days.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id571abb6ed10c4e148c568bc415e3cce0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Project schedule</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which a notice of initiation for a proposed covered energy project is determined or deemed to be complete under subsection (b), the applicable lead agency shall publish a schedule for the covered energy project that—</text><paragraph id="ideef6fca206634320b23b0f1e31615eaf"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idb6086ba145754689acff3f7b12498211"><enum>(A)</enum><text>lists each authorization known, or reasonably anticipated, to be required for the covered energy project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6edb6a516e2f444e83166edfae36928c" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identifies each such authorization as a routine authorization or a complex authorization, in accordance with subsection (d);</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4f96e649122a4924939430becc69e2d7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifies each Federal, State, Tribal, and local agency that has been designated as a cooperating agency for the covered energy project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>), if applicable; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbedc92cbc43d4961beaa041a22dbf147"><enum>(3)</enum><text>establishes for the covered energy project—</text><subparagraph id="id27e1c9bc020f4810b1bc9449ff91472d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>interim milestones; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb47b0fd7c90242e2af54d44dfc3c3e81"><enum>(B)</enum><text>final decision dates in accordance with section 12102.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idda27561810f74bd0bb220fbecec9ad2a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Identification of authorizations</header><paragraph id="id5de025a364d4434f931db1c01e1cb8fd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For each authorization required for a covered energy project for which a schedule is published under subsection (c), the lead agency shall identify the authorization as—</text><subparagraph id="idd8f9895de54e4809b378b4b73a0d6f28"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a complex authorization if the authorization is—</text><clause id="idba86bee5b8e54dc98643563dee298649"><enum>(i)</enum><text>described in paragraph (2); or</text></clause><clause id="ida851f2f7af9843f387c2bee74df855cd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>designated by the lead agency pursuant to paragraph (3)(A); or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5554f544f585435097c884815b42ed66"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a routine authorization if the authorization is not identified as a complex authorization under subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2ba881238af34051b7836401fd3c40a8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Description of complex authorizations</header><text>A complex authorization referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i) is an authorization that—</text><subparagraph id="id38b4734f9ba348a49b8554e3a30205ec"><enum>(A)</enum><text>requires the issuance of an authorization or certification of public convenience and necessity under section 3(e) or 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b(e)</external-xref>, 717f(c));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida86bd3a40113417b93b524545888174a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>requires the issuance of a license or permit under section 4(e) or 216 of the Federal Power Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/797">16 U.S.C. 797(e)</external-xref>, 824p);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id752447af25ba4b8d89e1ff6fc179e581"><enum>(C)</enum><text>requires the issuance of a lease, easement, right-of-way, or other authorization under section 5 or 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1334">43 U.S.C. 1334</external-xref>, 1337(p));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfa8599065ec74c03aa9939c359aad061"><enum>(D)</enum><text>requires the preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3a2f72dd52c84f13820cdefbd069af07"><enum>(E)</enum><text>requires formal consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536</external-xref>) or results in the issuance of a biological opinion;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida3434738dd5c43418a4eaad86c7f2bf4"><enum>(F)</enum><text>requires consultation under section 306108 of title 54, United States Code, that the lead agency anticipates will take longer than 90 days;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb888d1eac4dd442b98e6fa1612e25a78"><enum>(G)</enum><text>grants a new or expanded right-of-way, easement, lease, or comparable real property interest exceeding 20 acres of Federal property; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida2755fd8a0e84ff0b5f092f002f0b93f"><enum>(H)</enum><text>requires an individual permit under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1344">33 U.S.C. 1344</external-xref>) or an individual water quality certification under section 401 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1341">33 U.S.C. 1341</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide18896e708024c3ba7ca67c476dbaf47"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Designations by lead agency</header><subparagraph id="idc0e7454b4861467cadd5f9f984f8cf8d"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A lead agency may designate an authorization as a complex authorization based on a written, reasoned determination of the lead agency that identifies factors that—</text><clause id="idc49352f3ec7244649b029074ed79bf8e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are specific to the applicable covered energy project; and</text></clause><clause id="ide05f7c5898724507a70941d348612ff8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are not described in subparagraphs (A) through (H) of paragraph (2).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd62ba572a61341f49b581a815fc06efe"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Judicial review</header><text>The designation by a lead agency of a complex authorization pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be subject to judicial review by the applicable reviewing court under subtitle B.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id858ed7e977554b1f9bdeb6c8ed5ae42b"><enum>12102.</enum><header>Authorization deadlines</header><subsection id="id2df2b444ff804dab995630f8d0e8271f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of completed notice date</header><text>In this section, the term <term>completed notice date</term>, with respect to a covered energy project, means the date on which the notice of initiation under section 12101(a) for the covered energy project is—</text><paragraph id="iddc37df71c5fd4f5cb814c12f5ee4ac04"><enum>(1)</enum><text>determined to be complete under section 12101(b)(1); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4295a9577a594a3daa5513d69d65d8e9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>deemed to be complete under section 12101(b)(3)(B).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc58025f9eb8342348ea11b28cd151d43"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deadlines</header><text>Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), each agency that receives from a project sponsor a notice of initiation under section 12101(a) for a covered energy project shall issue a final decision regarding each authorization for the covered energy project that is under the jurisdiction of the agency not later than—</text><paragraph id="idb7a44bc00f2c4596a28914187eacd0a5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the date that is 90 days after the completed notice date of the covered energy project, if the authorization is a routine authorization; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc876903ee2274d2483f4044eeff1a159"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the date that is 1 year after the completed notice date of the covered energy project, if the authorization is a complex authorization.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6312736f1dfb4feca1e8c8e8cbb0a353"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Extension for environmental impact statements</header><text>Notwithstanding subsection (b), if the lead agency publishes a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for a covered energy project after the completed notice date of the covered energy project, the deadline for completion of the environmental impact statement, and for each final decision regarding an authorization for the covered energy project that depends on completion of that environmental impact statement, shall be the date that is 2 years after the completed notice date.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6d261a2a1cf942b5bbab9f18d4ace5fa"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Earlier deadlines under other Federal law</header><text>If another provision of Federal law requires an agency to issue a final decision regarding an authorization by a date that is earlier than the applicable deadline under subsection (b) or (c), the agency shall issue the final decision not later than that earlier date.</text></subsection><subsection id="id657df57ad2c94c0e88fe7876ab2b7c14"> <enum>(e)</enum> <header>Failure To meet deadline</header> <paragraph id="id3fa3c49dce6347c2b9f0026a46b07c88"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>In general</header> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the failure by an agency to adhere to a deadline under this section or a milestone under section 12101(c)(3)(A) shall be—</text>
<subparagraph id="ide4727b724bb743858662b4f6d8987253">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>considered to be an agency action unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed under section 706(1) of title 5, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id1af679fac7ba41c3a1b2cecb57bbb54b">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>subject to review by a reviewing court under subtitle B.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="ide4f47fce3eab429dbb590963358250cd"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>Exceptions</header> <text>The failure by an agency to adhere to a deadline under this section or a milestone under section 12101(c)(3)(A) shall not be considered to be an agency action unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed under section 706(1) of title 5, United States Code, if—</text>
<subparagraph id="idd42895c35d5346ca838cf04bcc16035b">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the project sponsor and the agency agree to a different deadline or milestone; or</text>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id337c7219e67e4ddcb4b7a1614e5da755">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>a reviewing court determines that—</text> <clause id="id72dccfe4b79a450c83c578c4cdd43072"> <enum>(i)</enum> <text>a natural disaster reasonably impaired the ability of the agency to adhere to the deadline or milestone; or</text>
</clause>
<clause id="idabc5ad4ce3bc46dc9c5730198364b94a">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>a national emergency or extraordinary circumstance exists for which the only available remedy is to delay the deadline or milestone.</text>
</clause>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
</subsection></section><section id="id8192a12bc15c4849a701ede15b3c1215"><enum>12103.</enum><header>Reviewing court-approved contractors</header><subsection id="id2728e2082fcb4eb9b1c8a9c547a538df"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of eligible project</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible project</term> means a covered energy project with respect to which a reviewing court has—</text><paragraph id="id3c2b4baccb0445669d230bedf4fe7cee"><enum>(1)</enum><text>found that an agency has failed to adhere to a deadline or milestone; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7ed8ef8f8bc84449b50fd535e0084e69"><enum>(2)</enum><text>issued an order described in section 12204(b)(2)(C).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida22040bc26a14676af4da728aa48a56d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Project sponsor request</header><paragraph id="idd88f1bef539a4abea576e438d6c85243"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>On receipt of a request from the project sponsor of an eligible project, a reviewing court may authorize the project sponsor to retain a qualified contractor to complete any necessary analysis or documentation, in accordance with this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6474dfa5cfbe40df98fceb20dd610c4e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>A project sponsor request under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="idf981a13e78134f0192489aa1ef13db9e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identifying information for the contractor proposed to be hired by the project sponsor; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idda069bc1381e4169a080c04643655d84"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the qualifications of that contractor, including—</text><clause id="id927235e143ae478db35bb1f8ef91933d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>relevant professional credentials;</text></clause><clause id="id1b8076adc97b4e42905d880b650df86a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>prior experience with environmental reviews; and</text></clause><clause id="id5f8be2f73e0a4d2eb8203aef9b906d75"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest that are material to the work to be performed, including—</text><subclause id="id59a29469bb124e26b0404480ec537ec1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any financial interest in the outcome of the applicable eligible project;</text></subclause><subclause id="id6dc8b5ae34904af1bf7411d55c718486"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any contingent or success-based compensation arrangement;</text></subclause><subclause id="id01ec51563b194c94955f52820329d969"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any prior engagement with the project sponsor;</text></subclause><subclause id="idb2fe417ef3ad4bfdb5a9bc31b229a481"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>any equity ownership with a 10-percent or greater interest;</text></subclause><subclause id="id29f709ed968e46aeb718f45124cab508"><enum>(V)</enum><text>any contractual relationship, during the 2-year period preceding the date of the request, between the contractor and an engineering, procurement, or construction firm acting as a prime contractor for the eligible project; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id17712a5e8f7344abb6c9677b48093e72"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>any current engagement relating to the eligible project.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id92f17e6447f34f659338ed03f7c3cca3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Approval</header><subparagraph id="idd40b1b9717cc4bdba45e7f487ae82d94"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of a request of a project sponsor under this subsection, the reviewing court shall approve or reject the proposed contractor that is the subject of the request based on—</text><clause id="id07415cf2ab8c4a1290998d59367c7e46"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the demonstrated technical competence of the contractor for the required analyses;</text></clause><clause id="id9b128f1c473443e9bc90c536792527bb"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the absence of disqualifying conflicts of interest;</text></clause><clause id="id73e860acedda4d25956fafa3c6df874a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the agreement of the contractor—</text><subclause id="idf5609dbfbce0469bb02b006bf3609fdb"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to operate under the technical guidance of the applicable agency;</text></subclause><subclause id="id757d0bcc8c9b49e3b1f5bb934b54aed0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to maintain independence in professional judgment; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id3ba2f3d92114435b91fedaa48e2beb5a"><enum>(III)</enum><text>to proceed under the direction of the reviewing court if the agency fails to provide technical guidance or timely review by an applicable deadline under subsection (g); and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id65a0a1c8cc224ac0ad20a70155aade95"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a determination by the reviewing court regarding whether the contractor meets the qualifications described in subparagraph (B).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6e3a660dda60408389ae245fe5509133"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><text>The qualifications referred to in subparagraph (A)(iv), with respect to a contractor, are that the contractor—</text><clause id="id27873566c20f4c2abf2e131c3b778edc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>holds a recognized professional license or certification applicable to the work, or has demonstrably comparable expertise;</text></clause><clause id="idcf20dcc51a234879b71c5aa51e6089e4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has demonstrated experience completing similar analyses for agencies during the preceding 5-year period;</text></clause><clause id="id303982531a6d4062801368f6c8a6fd80"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>is not debarred or suspended from Federal contracting; and</text></clause><clause id="id1d651e82cc7045919e6592a07d9dc49d"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>maintains professional liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1b3dd651d7c941f5b135ed22434c96b7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Form of approval</header><text>The approval of a reviewing court under this paragraph may include any conditions or limitations necessary to ensure compliance with applicable law.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7dde9ce10d3741d1a7a163ab660e93d0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Standards and obligations</header><paragraph id="iddc2f828d82ed41cf975c128047f31fc6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A contractor approved by a reviewing court under subsection (b) shall—</text><subparagraph id="idf23b470a55364b83b18fb67eaa4fb92a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>follow applicable laws (including regulations) and technical standards relevant to the analyses performed by the contractor;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id27b8b14351e448bf866d458289102718"><enum>(B)</enum><text>certify under penalty of perjury that the work product of the contractor—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9a26981e2a0249eab4ca639562a660d6"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is factually accurate, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the contractor;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd372696fb0da473f98ac21b47fd9edee"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was prepared using generally accepted professional methods; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0c26b982411a49da96085dd1f4bc33ed"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">complies with applicable professional standards and practices;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd2afef672d2a4371ba1785d5527a8466"><enum>(C)</enum><text>maintain professional independence from the applicable project sponsor in all technical determinations and analyses;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id921e0f226aab4f059ce13f84385c2952"><enum>(D)</enum><text>remain subject to applicable professional liability and ethical standards; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9a7c04beca73482d8f763630189a414b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>execute a sworn conflict of interest and relationship disclosure, as described in subsection (b)(2)(B)(iii), and maintain a log of material communications with the project sponsor, which shall be made available to the reviewing court and any applicable agency on request.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7df377a8d8a34517982491b21e39a073"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Status of work product</header><text>All work product of a contractor approved under this section shall be—</text><subparagraph id="id50f0c712eb8d4085a5818c55e5b4efbc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>deemed to be received by the applicable agency on submission by the contractor; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5683787c9d94460093e05ef357498dc1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>included in the administrative record relating to each relevant authorization.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4a4bfa98a15f425cbeb1d5d7b778fa2b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Payment</header><paragraph id="id4de14097eafa4e18a1379fff52933291"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>All reasonable costs of a contractor approved by a reviewing court under this section, including the costs of studies, modeling, and coordination, shall be paid—</text><subparagraph id="id8c7414af41da49c6a5411ce8b5fe2794"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by the relevant lead agency from amounts in the Permitting Performance Fund established by section 12104(a); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8dc5c17e96494466a7d8cb8581cbacf5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>at rates not higher than comparable rates on the Federal Supply Schedule of the General Services Administration, or as otherwise determined to be reasonable by the reviewing court.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6c9437cda45a4333b00ff132d3ab39c8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Advances</header><subparagraph id="idee612be51d9a4665afbc97bf3e4e54f2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A project sponsor may advance to a contractor approved under this section payment for any costs described in paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id140dc660a22d423287e2ea0d4ff3c9c6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reimbursement</header><text>The relevant lead agency shall reimburse a project sponsor that makes an advance payment under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days after the date on which the project sponsor submits to the lead agency an invoice relating to the advance payment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id29119a2f4c824b46b0008e10ebd715ec"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Scope of work</header><text>A contractor approved by a reviewing court under this section shall prepare only the documentation necessary to complete the relevant administrative record.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7b43c8b10ff54e8ca7be081f8aa66907"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Production of government information</header><paragraph id="idc59112d866ff4d5ea94bbb6b1a6a4902"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>On a motion of the project sponsor or a contractor approved by a reviewing court under this section, the reviewing court may order any agency, or any State or local agency, identified as a cooperating agency in the project schedule under section 12101(c)(2), to produce, by a date certain, any document, data, or expert input necessary to complete the relevant administrative record.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id717cbffabc2f4de2b876f7357bc42d3a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>No tolling</header><text>A failure by an agency to produce a document, data, or input by the applicable date under paragraph (1) shall not toll any deadline under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8d3e7baa225a43f682b5cb7caeada7de"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Deadlines for contractor work</header><text>A reviewing court shall establish deadlines for deliverables of a contractor approved by the reviewing court under this section, subject to the condition that such a deadline shall not exceed—</text><paragraph id="id2fb8174ede0742dcb96c41ab14db6385"><enum>(1)</enum><text>120 days for a complex authorization not requiring an environmental impact statement; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id69e47e8dc8a744a18bc0756c0a94bae7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>240 days for a complex authorization requiring an environmental impact statement.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2a2b9e79cd01495d97bb1eb27b223901"> <enum>(h)</enum> <header>Agency decisions on contractor-Prepared record</header> <paragraph id="id891b64caf46d4a109d0a8719182051a6"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>Agency action</header> <text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which a contractor approved by a reviewing court under this section submits to an applicable agency the completed documentation prepared by the contractor, the agency shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="id1832512a8a004807b5840c4b89010855">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>independently evaluate the documentation, take responsibility for the contents, and issue a final decision regarding the applicable authorization, based on the documentation; or</text>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id351ee38f081a4e379f5ca04368254b5f">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>identify, including a citation to the applicable law or regulation, any specific legal deficiency in the documentation that requires correction, subject to paragraph (2)(C).</text>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="id200edf18ac4b4b219619d23766eb576a">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Deficiencies</header>
<subparagraph id="idf54858f9d59f48eeaee3b023afe2a602">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>If an agency identifies a deficiency under paragraph (1)(B), the affected contractor shall correct the deficiency not later than 90 days after the date on which the identification occurs.</text>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id830c73cb3e2045eb9dde774c718b702e">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Action by agency</header>
<text>Not later than 14 days after the date of receipt of corrected documentation under subparagraph (A), an agency shall issue a final decision regarding the applicable authorization.</text>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id9af3a47000c84cab8c6b961ed626ee27">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<header>Single identification</header>
<text>An agency may identify deficiencies under paragraph (1)(B) on only 1 occasion, unless the applicable reviewing court approves another identification for good cause based on a legal requirement that was not in effect at the time of the initial identification of deficiencies.</text>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="id0f5113ee03984d55aecff028ffd92fea">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Limitation</header>
<text>An agency may not reject any documentation prepared by a contractor approved by a reviewing court under this section based on a policy disagreement or any other discretionary factor if the documentation satisfies all applicable legal requirements.</text>
</paragraph>
</subsection></section><section id="id1606e7b27265411d9def350c7a3f9684"><enum>12104.</enum><header>Permitting Performance Fund</header><subsection id="id8761133724134d9d8c21acca36991db3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the <quote>Permitting Performance Fund</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Fund</term>), consisting of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund pursuant to subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="id58ef5c9a6ebd4293b5820467a13b5048"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>Amounts in the Fund shall be available, without further appropriation, to pay the costs of any contractor approved by a reviewing court under section 12103(b).</text></subsection><subsection id="iddeb71a4b2d274a9aa3c441caba24a558"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund—</text><paragraph id="id9032a9cdbd8b4cf698597c7dbaedfd67"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$50,000,000 for the initial capitalization of the Fund; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id66f37b456ace4a90a270f442d8f3e11f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>thereafter, such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idcd36b7198e7d4ed4b1dab13725ed86c4"><enum>12105.</enum><header>Effective date</header><subsection id="id69d0d1769ff54e1ca97d77f1f56630cf"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>This subtitle shall apply to any notice of initiation submitted under section 12101(a) for a covered energy project on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6b0db3f5adbc493bb39af9ba06710d8b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pending projects</header><text>For a covered energy project the notice of initiation for which is pending on the effective date described in subsection (a)—</text><paragraph id="id45f51772de6f43aaa5722187ab215740"><enum>(1)</enum><text>this subtitle shall apply beginning on the date that is 120 days after the date of enactment of this title; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideb322be2f1c5420f859fb207d0922126"><enum>(2)</enum><text>as applicable, the completed notice date (as defined in section 12102(a)) shall be deemed to be the date that is 120 days after that date of enactment.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="ide5642d0c5ff947d297236b5b1cbaa18c" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Judicial review</header><section id="idb85d9907fede452ea136c1c924e59636"><enum>12201.</enum><header>Causes of action</header><subsection id="id6c708174491046ebbd1858bc59988350"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), a project sponsor of a covered energy project may file a petition in accordance with section 12202 for judicial review of—</text><paragraph id="idb46ae58ea83c4948b2f96be6a120538d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a final agency action relating to the covered energy project;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5cf134bd4e7a476ea7bb042f83c85d2d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an alleged failure by an agency—</text><subparagraph id="id253e960933d14d759412e1a8359c1859"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to act on the covered energy project, including through unlawful withholding or unreasonable delay; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id71dd88798ea24364907dff31cac249a9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to adhere to—</text><clause id="idf1ac73335b254a2fb44a0abbb4d67d8d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a milestone established for the covered energy project under section 12101(c)(3)(A); or</text></clause><clause id="id9a1c64ebc10f4ad0b5e8889d3db3c009"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a deadline applicable to the covered energy project under section 12102; or</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id881be8b9826e4db0adeb58b11cda3e97"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an order, directive, suspension, revocation, or other action described in section 12301(b) of an agency relating to the covered energy project.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfa4d6b1fc0544f608a20f04d0127e9a9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Single petition rule</header><paragraph id="idc2d823e90e19413db4b2fd4a59e98f3d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A project sponsor may file only 1 petition under this subtitle with respect to any single cause of action described in subsection (a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id29b90ac0a4e84c3fba26094f1d55f863"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Multiple grounds</header><text>A project sponsor may file a single petition under this subtitle seeking multiple grounds for relief.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4057b1d2d576425fb403331ea98d4b6b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Relief sought</header><text>A petition under this subtitle may seek 1 or more of the following:</text><paragraph id="idfd3cedb67c09433c9bd63a4acb8ad80e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Review of an order, directive, or action described in section 12301(b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4823492b75bc47d195407cbf1bc85ed6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A court order compelling agency action or other relief for an unreasonable delay in the authorization process, in accordance with this title.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id138b2d0d7539425bb3299c535d4ea825"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Review of the designation of an authorization as a complex authorization pursuant to section 12101(d)(3).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5d559fdc4d764f349b96416123f59048"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Intervention</header><paragraph id="id1776f2a11b344e519b9713f14dc4d228"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any person that would have standing under article III of the Constitution of the United States to challenge or defend the applicable agency action may move to intervene in a cause of action under this subtitle.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id393df34fed3b47668156aa2298360502"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Ruling</header><text>The reviewing court shall rule expeditiously on any motion to intervene under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfb00afb60a4a406bbe0f957991c689ee"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>Nothing in this title waives, limits, constitutes an election of remedies against, or establishes an exclusive statutory remedy that precludes, any claim by a project sponsor or other entity for just compensation under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.</text></subsection></section><section id="id591a2f80fbca4a35bfb7adc4583441bf"><enum>12202.</enum><header>Petition requirements</header><subsection id="id88e086168ca64a8d8256058caf07fc10"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Contents</header><paragraph id="id60bd3cbc72c14695b1afe28716aa2dbb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A petition under this subtitle shall contain an affidavit, together with supporting documentation described in paragraph (2), demonstrating the grounds for the petition as follows:</text><subparagraph id="idede5185fd51b48a2ada10a394c2038a3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Actions relating to fully permitted projects</header><text>A petition alleging that an agency violated section 12301 with respect to a covered energy project shall demonstrate that—</text><clause id="id1f1bcf4e663f475688d96094b40690be"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the agency issued an order or directive, revoked a permit or authorization, or carried out any other action to halt, delay, or otherwise cancel a previously authorized activity in violation of section 12301; and</text></clause><clause id="id4731f36a11734c84a9ce0e65ff787ada"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the project sponsor has suffered or will suffer harm as a direct result of the action described in clause (i).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00c24e42c6ab4ecca8e7edd7424a80f7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Unreasonable delays</header><text>A petition alleging unreasonable delay by an agency with respect to a covered energy project shall demonstrate that—</text><clause id="id09dc7162f7c14e8590e50e14ee79867a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the petitioner is a project sponsor that has submitted a notice of initiation under section 12101(a) for the covered energy project;</text></clause><clause id="id0107d3a200f5423bada172749d7ad508"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the notice was, on such date as the project sponsor shall specify—</text><subclause id="id3121dd2221e248f7bdcfbfe52509b580"><enum>(I)</enum><text>determined to be complete under section 12101(b)(1); or</text></subclause><subclause id="id4f0813b78b764469a8a91b511b868ba5"><enum>(II)</enum><text>deemed to be complete under section 12101(b)(3)(B);</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idc23b747121284fe981bf69dc3a056299"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the applicable deadline for a final decision relating to an authorization for the covered energy project under section 12102 has lapsed without the agency issuing the final decision; and</text></clause><clause id="ide5f0e3aa906240afa8220299ca424835"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the petitioner has suffered or will suffer harm as a result of the lapse described in clause (iii).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id88422b77293a4022bba775cfe2997982"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Designations as complex</header><text>A petition seeking review of the designation of an authorization as a complex authorization shall demonstrate that the written, reasoned determination by the applicable lead agency fails to identify project-specific factors that justify the designation, in accordance with section 12101(d)(3).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6d6306e4b6a2473bacddbd17e17e9173"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Documents and other information</header><subparagraph id="idb7f5288d70ab455caa78eca8143d4181"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A petition under this subtitle shall include, as applicable to each claim asserted in the petition—</text><clause id="id5391060809804282ab27a36584d1bd6e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>all relevant agency correspondence (including any application for an authorization), deficiency notices, and determinations relating to a notice of initiation or project schedule for the applicable covered energy project, if any;</text></clause><clause id="idbef52b9644544162ba383c455e9c4114"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a copy of each final agency action, authorization, record of decision, environmental document, or order that is the subject of the petition; and</text></clause><clause id="id33d985f90d1b4c04a6dd82ab40059c01"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>identification, to the maximum extent practicable, of any records similar to the records described in this subparagraph that are unavailable to the petitioner and the reasons for the unavailability.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbe4c55751bf14599b4697df0ef0fbd71"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Additional information</header><text>A petition for judicial review under this subtitle may include other available relevant documents, such as expert reports, economic analyses, or affidavits from personnel, relating to—</text><clause id="id3e1c3224a11e45e5b56626c1392cd9dd"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the applicable covered energy project;</text></clause><clause id="id205afbdffa5543bbad331473997c4903"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>action or inaction by an applicable agency; or</text></clause><clause id="id0c24140353f749629c7b202d65b933a1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>harm suffered by the petitioner.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3a68af2df56e4841b2ef2ae07a8e851c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Naming of respondents</header><paragraph id="id65647a71259e4db7892647746531c7f8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In a petition under this subtitle challenging the schedule for a covered energy project under section 12101(c), or the designation of an authorization as a complex authorization under section 12101(d)(3), the head of the applicable lead agency shall be named as the respondent.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7ee252ef3c2e4eafb6bc54be9bae0cc0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other causes of action</header><text>In a petition under this subtitle relating to a cause of action not described in paragraph (1), the head of the agency that carried out the applicable final agency action, issued the applicable order or directive, or is alleged to have unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed action shall be named as the respondent.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id496ff495a875412482ec762e942e14d2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Filing dates</header><paragraph id="iddf8ebe169ee5477f9e958712ad4d570b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Final agency actions</header><text>A petition under this subtitle for a cause of action described in section 12201(a)(1) shall be filed not later than 60 days after the date on which the applicable agency action becomes final.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddb2cbb060d884507ba73f22d1e9c174e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Failures to act</header><text>A petition under this subtitle for a cause of action described in section 12201(a)(2) may be filed beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the applicable missed deadline or milestone.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8c631fe0fc424687ba3e483b78ba2564"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Actions relating to fully permitted projects</header><text>A petition under this subtitle for a cause of action described in section 12201(a)(3) shall be filed not later than 30 days after the date on which the applicable order, directive, suspension, revocation, or other action of an agency is issued or carried out.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7a7fe6be2b5642a8bce794588bed751f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Service</header><text>The petitioner shall serve a petition under this subtitle on—</text><paragraph id="id04dc6fe27b2f47bc912713ae5dfe86c9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Attorney General of the United States;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5a53a9ae08f643079d860f41ba454bdb"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the head of the lead agency with respect to the covered energy project that is the subject of the petition; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5eb5a26c58544e06ad3510511a367145"><enum>(3)</enum><text>each cooperating agency identified under section 12101(c)(2) in the project schedule for the covered energy project that is the subject of the petition.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="iddc5e88f97dea43f99bc1be8eb03360b1"><enum>12203.</enum><header>Review by reviewing courts</header><subsection id="ide02503b8592242d983b3219dd2183f39"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Standard of review</header><paragraph id="id01f4b7e41415422ba5eecb16a74ad391"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A reviewing court shall conduct the review of, and reach a decision regarding, a petition under this subtitle in accordance with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9c4913a370004755a70848f3ea098e0b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative record</header><subparagraph id="idb8f8e6bf5e814483bf4e2b34cb89f9af"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Judicial review of a petition under this subtitle shall be based on an administrative record compiled and certified by the head of the agency named in the petition as the respondent under section 12202(b).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8ef2e9b9a38541acb545a3efe7a10706"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Multiple respondents</header><text>If multiple agency heads are named in a petition as respondents under section 12202(b)—</text><clause id="id21fe307c51514c5d8b4b00ced76b75ec"><enum>(i)</enum><text>each agency head shall compile and certify the portions of the record within the custody of that agency; and</text></clause><clause id="id925fce3835854fc38798c91048554cc9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the lead agency, or such other agency as the reviewing court may require, shall assemble a consolidated record.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9934420d688043e7bdc518e0f4e857fc"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Failures to act</header><text>The administrative record relating to a petition under this subtitle for a cause of action described in section 12201(a)(2) shall include, as applicable—</text><clause id="id29f03f86b2d64e879bd4ff9f48103983"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the notice of initiation submitted under section 12101(a);</text></clause><clause id="idcd7213be760f4bd0b5c86f3a17201a77"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any completeness or deficiency designation of that notice under section 12101(b);</text></clause><clause id="idb3aa634b64f04b21a5148aa07eb3107b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the project schedule published under section 12101(c); and</text></clause><clause id="id0cd9707d6f104db2a8e3a431c7ef4187"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any other materials the reviewing court determines to be necessary to resolve the petition.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2ad707d7882a4bcb9c104fd234b6d802"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Representation of respondents</header><text>A respondent named under section 12202(b) shall be represented in accordance with section 518(a) of title 28, United States Code.</text></subsection><subsection id="idb26e07f17b604d9586944082dce9dbe2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional submissions</header><text>In addition to the documents and information required under section 12202(a)(2), a petitioner shall submit to the reviewing court, in accordance with a schedule established by the reviewing court, such other records and documents as are reasonable and necessary for determination of the appropriate remedy.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6b4e6a33d03043bd91f00623edf35f90"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Discovery and record development</header><paragraph id="id8e4c168a2c9b4e60b6b3680f7d8f35a5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There shall be no discovery in a proceeding relating to a petition under this subtitle other than such discovery as may be ordered by the reviewing court, as the reviewing court determines to be reasonable and necessary to determine the appropriate remedy.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc97d61fc116548d2b0de1a3996a3d22c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Information, testimony, and documents</header><text>The reviewing court may require the submission of such information, the testimony of such persons, and the production of such documents as the reviewing court determines to be reasonable and necessary for purposes of this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0532505e2d8d4e0db7c5c19399851e14"><enum>12204.</enum><header>Expedited procedure; relief; appeals</header><subsection id="id71dc9c477f5b419e907387d44590284d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Expedited procedure</header><text>A reviewing court shall—</text><paragraph id="id26678b857e954287928758b1db0f92fd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish an expedited schedule for briefing and disposition relating to a petition under this subtitle; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2b8b55aef685409fa3b00c9fac10863f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>absent extraordinary circumstances, issue a decision with respect to a petition under this subtitle as expeditiously as practicable.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9d656ecd7a1040e59d2f7f52062dd65d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Available relief</header><paragraph id="id02a8dbc1fd43443ba955ba238a541f18"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>On a finding by a reviewing court that a petitioner is entitled to relief under this subtitle, the reviewing court shall grant such legal, equitable, and administrative relief as the reviewing court determines to be appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this title in accordance with paragraph (2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id16c60499ebb94efe93d32e0656588fd7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Actions by reviewing court</header><text>A reviewing court that makes a finding described in paragraph (1) shall, as applicable—</text><subparagraph id="id4164a9a27bdb40e296df938d987f483a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>hold unlawful and set aside any final agency action found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6fd69bd2922444e793938f32e72d357d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>remand each applicable matter to the appropriate agency for further action in accordance with the direction of the reviewing court, together with a schedule and deadline for completion of those actions, which deadline shall not exceed—</text><clause id="idc70fbc48a686405f9f7cdb4f46340690"><enum>(i)</enum><text>180 days after the date on which the judgment is issued; or</text></clause><clause id="id9667a882153f400882235e212a0345ad"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such longer period to which the project sponsor may agree; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf05c4c75f4c44340a0d9ccb6fd65ec8d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in any case involving unlawful withholding or unreasonable delay, issue an order that—</text><clause id="id01a42f76c9b6475798b8a049296a0fe7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>compels the appropriate agency to act;</text></clause><clause id="idc7fd36a20c6c4de884b7f2380414c01c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>specifies the date by which each discrete action of the agency shall be completed in order to finalize the agency review and issue a final agency decision; and</text></clause><clause id="id15d362558bf047a69a68f680b9dd6f3d"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>retains the jurisdiction of the reviewing court to ensure compliance with the order.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd4e3bc38b3314b348b72849692fb924b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appeals</header><text>Any party aggrieved by a final judgment of a reviewing court under this subtitle, other than a judgment of a United States court of appeals, may obtain review in the United States court of appeals of competent jurisdiction under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/28/83">chapter 83</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code, subject to the condition that a notice of appeal shall be filed not later than 60 days after the date of entry of the judgment.</text></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idf6f46d7d8f024f4d9b928bb227ea6e50" style="OLC"><enum>C</enum><header>Fully permitted projects</header><section id="id9f86b83581fe4529b6ae2859d91a0c4b"><enum>12301.</enum><header>Treatment of fully permitted projects</header><subsection id="iddd21a587679840d48dc1aba9999e948c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of fully permitted project</header><text>In this section, the term <term>fully permitted project</term> means a covered energy project that has received a substantial majority of the authorizations required for the covered energy project.</text></subsection><subsection id="idfb953b1fadc242499ba0fc5b93584299"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>No agency or Federal official shall issue any order or directive terminating the construction or operation of a fully permitted project, revoke any permit or authorization for a fully permitted project, or take any other action to halt, suspend, delay, or terminate an authorized activity carried out to support a fully permitted project unless—</text><paragraph id="idba666f663663469990b3eccd49979f5d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>there exists—</text><subparagraph id="id04b951d7f6544d64a3a39b654293b875"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a clear, immediate, and substantiated harm for which the Federal order, directive, or action is required to prevent, mitigate, or repair; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6cfd41f5d17741928dd6801a914da74e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>no other viable alternative that would allow a previously authorized activity, such as construction, to continue; or</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id093482d482414b549650104c847161a5"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id22bee649fac54e3ea16a1c189e6ab361"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an applicable authorization is illegal under applicable Federal law; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc70eabc38aa44c61bb96b39195d19a5f" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Federal order, directive, or action is the only available remedy to address that illegality.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida9a4f19ed00646689b98c5988239372e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitation on petitions</header><paragraph id="id32ca39a0c29d42cca69e051353a4d4fb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>No agency may petition a court for voluntary remand of an authorization for a fully permitted project that has received a record of decision unless the project sponsor consents to the petition.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf30a57da9514c84a379704f986e793e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>In-camera review</header><text>As necessary, a court may review a petition submitted under this subsection in camera.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8338add7fa804affa7dba09db7aea0cd"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>This section shall apply to any order, directive, suspension, revocation, or other agency action described in subsection (b) that is issued or carried out on or after the date of enactment of this title.</text></subsection></section></subtitle>.(b)The table of contents contained in section 101(b) of the Energy Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–260; 134 Stat. 2418) is amended by adding at the end the following:TITLE XII—Fighting for reliable energy and ending doubt for open marketsSec. 12001. Definitions.Subtitle A—Authorization timelinesSec. 12101. Notices of initiation; project schedules.Sec. 12102. Authorization deadlines.Sec. 12103. Reviewing court-approved contractors.Sec. 12104. Permitting Performance Fund.Sec. 12105. Effective date.Subtitle B—Judicial reviewSec. 12201. Causes of action.Sec. 12202. Petition requirements.Sec. 12203. Review by reviewing courts.Sec. 12204. Expedited procedure; relief; appeals.Subtitle C—Fully permitted projectsSec. 12301. Treatment of fully permitted projects..<enum>II</enum><header>Mining regulatory clarity</header><section id="id3590caaffe27467986180c67afc8f9d3"><enum>201.</enum><header>Hardrock mining mill sites</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida9381cf1d1a945dab0ad0ca3cf57c467"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Multiple mill sites</header><text>Section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/42">30 U.S.C. 42</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="idCD3F5E4874774FBEBA3B82588478143C" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCB72876E40BC473EA8C27BEA578D9226"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional mill sites</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id60625674B88C4803AF28EF0AC3AFE247"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB0739C9DFDF94D17A5FD5A8D21ABEC6B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Mill site</header><text>The term <term>mill site</term> means a location of public land that is reasonably necessary for waste rock or tailings disposal or other operations reasonably incident to mineral development on, or production from, land included in a plan of operations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88AB4614EB4B49488176F45D03A3A9EE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Operations; operator</header><text>The terms <term>operations</term> and <term>operator</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 3809.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id920E87F1101D41EFAD7A14B7105CCB95"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Plan of operations</header><text>The term <term>plan of operations</term> means a plan of operations that an operator is required to submit, and the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, is required to approve, before the operator may begin operations, in accordance with, as applicable—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idADDBE1186BA347368628E5F65407608E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subpart 3809 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations establishing application and approval requirements); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2494A25415C54522BA07D7E03459E1D5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>part 228 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations establishing application and approval requirements).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD2A68D2498EC4C708BD11322317534EF"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Public land</header><text>The term <term>public land</term> means land owned by the United States that is open to location under sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.</external-xref>), including—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id962F4F336CA64E758143FB0FC226328A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>land that is mineral-in-character (as defined in section 3830.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection));</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFC611B14607D4016A2E505C6B782E434"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>nonmineral land (as defined in section 3830.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection)); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCE97D08D915B41829F52995CD4C32F4C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>land the mineral character of which has not been determined.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id17166A6E8FAC47498B97BE83EDEF4659"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), if public land is needed by the proprietor of a lode or placer claim for operations in connection with any lode or placer claim within the proposed plan of operations, the proprietor may—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA1B68E26BAE491FB8CCE632F30DA26B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>locate and include within the plan of operations as many mill site claims under this subsection as are reasonably necessary for its operations; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4F23E89D89D741C3B0B8C33EBF2D396D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide892c2a099494697bcfb83e61d07e1ca"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Mill sites convey no mineral rights</header><text>A mill site under this subsection does not convey mineral rights to the locator.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6CCD874B900843CB9D956CECBCEC65C2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Size of mill sites</header><text>A location of a single mill site under this subsection shall not exceed 5 acres.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0986D4D7C0F64B378E8D8B759C27E91E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Mill site and lode or placer claims on same tracts of public land</header><text>A mill site may be located under this subsection on a tract of public land on which the claimant or operator maintains a previously located lode or placer claim.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFB4BBD1B87AC41478181A1DCF7D62328"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Effect on mining claims</header><text>The location of a mill site under this subsection shall not affect the validity of any lode or placer claim, or any rights associated with such a claim.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id20C97AED4199448FB7A8D310D7173598"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Patenting</header><text>A mill site under this section shall not be eligible for patenting.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC387F72F54694E18ACC34282B93791DC"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Savings provisions</header><text>Nothing in this subsection—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1F2F7C96DA6A47AF8DA95415B87D154D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>diminishes any right (including a right of entry, use, or occupancy) of a claimant;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6F14DA7F6EB441558264417027F68455"><enum>(B)</enum><text>creates or increases any right (including a right of exploration, entry, use, or occupancy) of a claimant on land that is not open to location under the general mining laws;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id935FA1DD7D4C4532BC4D411BE12D10CD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>modifies any provision of law or any prior administrative action withdrawing land from location or entry;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDA521040907A49D7809251040BAC7550"><enum>(D)</enum><text>limits the right of the Federal Government to regulate mining and mining-related activities (including requiring claim validity examinations to establish the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit) in areas withdrawn from mining, including under—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id650CA45477E44FA38B0AEC50620A5AB3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the general mining laws;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id01CF027ECB8C4D718A39B575A0D05664"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1701">43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA8C5C743DF74425F9058899A57BAFD91"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Wilderness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1131">16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF6E64C5AB91842F4AAD6AA5DF339F930"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>sections 100731 through 100737 of title 54, United States Code;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id591EC72367F44A9D836965BCDC9861E8"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id26F9231EDC144E7CB59F18DB72942300"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘National Historic Preservation Act’); or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbc43e08f425944c89d68d8b6514d719f"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>section 4 of the Act of July 23, 1955 (commonly known as the <quote>Surface Resources Act of 1955</quote>) (69 Stat. 368, chapter 375; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/612">30 U.S.C. 612</external-xref>);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6E8D9927EE048A0BC20739E9CC43496"><enum>(E)</enum><text>restores any right (including a right of entry, use, or occupancy, or right to conduct operations) of a claimant that—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBEE0C875C7A1454DBDD8599D080B97D6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>existed prior to the date on which the land was closed to, or withdrawn from, location under the general mining laws; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFD82860AA75A4A3296C5DA4F17ACFF3D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has been extinguished by such closure or withdrawal; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5D8AD457D933463FA2DE4992ED6F4CC8"><enum>(F)</enum><text>modifies section 404 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/42">Public Law 118–42</external-xref>; 138 Stat. 284).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF55A6CCD465B4A09A1D4F703F828945A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88AC305D5D114DD4A9CA0437077B71C7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury of the United States a separate account, to be known as the <quote>Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund</quote> (referred to in this subsection as the <term>Fund</term>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4A7C1CB04BF4486CB8E58BAEDF2F9301"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Source of deposits</header><text>Any amounts collected by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the claim maintenance fee under section 10101(a)(1) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28f">30 U.S.C. 28f(a)(1)</external-xref>) on mill sites located under subsection (c) of section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/42">30 U.S.C. 42</external-xref>) shall be deposited into the Fund.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCCD5C3440EFE4937BD4671F36D7EFDD3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior may make expenditures from amounts available in the Fund, without further appropriation, only to carry out section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1245">30 U.S.C. 1245</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB704CD969D75422AA44B4C8B332A61D8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Allocation of funds</header><text>Amounts made available under paragraph (3)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE277750A7F4B488CA1BC293B2D2A1150"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be allocated in accordance with section 40704(e)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1245">30 U.S.C. 1245(e)(1)</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id983421B9CABA44D8A3F5A7E757213763"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may be transferred in accordance with section 40704(e)(2) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1245">30 U.S.C. 1245(e)(2)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7A80C79C7FD24027A2C6B495F327A6C9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header><text>Section 10101 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28f">30 U.S.C. 28f</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4941D092FD444C3890663B152B97C761"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Mining Law of 1872 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28-28e">30 U.S.C. 28–28e</external-xref>)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.</external-xref>)</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ED4032D295B4B9CAC1C4E006FC06064"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id364BAB3C3D414354AD3599782BEE279B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB025FCFB70424CA79B212C53A7206206"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>Such claim maintenance fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1354823F9B5E47C190A5651A2E6E88C1"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2FD2B6F08FDC48379991E25921712E67"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The claim maintenance fee under subparagraph (A)</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19F64897B55D41D6AB567724D931CEBE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>The holder of</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id45355CEFB75A4F1DA1C68D55B47B6A55"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7EE198D5EB4D4C11B74C5C17F1D585DC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The holder of</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id919AAE649FBD46C4A66D8AE3085A9906"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8B5E9187571D4246949AAEE1D94B49E8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the second sentence—</text><subclause id="id954ebefb165e40bca78015a74895fd85"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28 to 28e)</quote> and inserting <quote>sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.</external-xref>)</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idfbba8d073dc440b89e2bd90302988417" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>Such claim maintenance fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04CFDDB7C42642FCA5FB1DAD26212692"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDD04DEF9612A492AB377FEC4B8A68E64"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The claim maintenance fee under subparagraph (A)</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43CAABEF4F5C4AA1A02D39E8ED454FC6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>The holder of</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBB5A6B74F8B948098DF96231CFB7D1F5"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8B7B916DF6AE4C68841991F70F451C90"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The holder of</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9A49B29331084A2C800B10B7C18AE3C5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4BECD45C782B431F8AEC3FAB09AC472C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>The location fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4BCE7394F8FC41F8A3DDFC4B135B1CEA"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1FB8E3FD0BE84B06AE1D622F9E1F614C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The location fee</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF7C32E1AF37E40E4A0F2B208F5590EAA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>The claim main tenance fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04D028BD21D84F918573EC50F9BDBD58"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3511FC13CB5A4C9A9F4482EA38206B01"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The claim maintenance fee</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Geothermal energy advancement</header><section id="id122ac7c51e324a3983974d0b5c9b5525"><enum>301.</enum><header>Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications relating to geothermal leasing</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1003">30 U.S.C. 1003</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H46949C110BB947EE94FE468078216EC6" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC"><subsection id="H37FC0BEBCCB040C0834F62DF90FC2D17" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Effect of pending civil actions on processing applications relating to geothermal leasing</header><paragraph id="H59AA536ECD9D4EFE8B4B827FB2BF0247" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of authorization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term <term>authorization</term> means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by a Federal agency, or any interagency consultation, that is required or authorized under Federal law (including regulations) in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operation of a geothermal project administered by a Federal agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5D747B8736B646489292CAA2648966D0" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement to process applications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any pending civil action that affects an application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or any other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease, the Secretary shall, unless a Federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the applicable geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization, approve and issue, or deny, each such application not later than 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable Federal laws (including regulations), including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>), and division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF8894A4CE3CF4583BB7F31D3CB31E5E1" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>No new authority for Federal courts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection modifies any existing authority of a Federal court to vacate or provide injunctive relief for a geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H2FA671457F93492F87FB6936F871F695"><enum>302.</enum><header>Cost recovery from geothermal leasing, permitting, and inspections</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddf85c01487474d929f746f7f4674c3a1"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 6 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1005">30 U.S.C. 1005</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HAED44718F0EF4DBB890EAB5282B78211" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H04C57399A7FB487B92F805A73954D605"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Cost recovery</header><paragraph id="H6B814ECA917C45ECBA90580B462EE38B" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>During the period beginning on the date of enactment of the <short-title>FREEDOM Act</short-title> and ending on September 30, 2033, the Secretary may require an applicant for, or holder of, a geothermal lease to reimburse the United States for all reasonable administrative and other costs incurred by the United States from—</text><subparagraph id="H7BE4A281F1F648E69B53DD55DE28BEAD" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">processing the application for the geothermal lease, including any application for an operations plan, geothermal drilling permit, utilization plan, site license, facility construction permit, commercial use permit, and any other approval associated with a geothermal lease; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBD076FC5C7934CD18B4DF4B5040C41FC" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">inspecting and monitoring—</text><clause id="H0A0ABB1B898F44829F1FEA606F6AF89E" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>geophysical exploration activities;</text></clause><clause id="HEAF0B93F93054D0CB4E464CDC167C6E5" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the drilling, plugging, or abandonment of wells; and</text></clause><clause id="H92466EAF5D4049D6B290BE121C1066DA" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the construction, operation, termination, or reclamation of any well site or facility for the utilization of geothermal resources pursuant to the geothermal lease.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8AF6D707E7794477BB32A29F6DA07EF4" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Factor for consideration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining whether to require reimbursement under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into consideration whether there is in effect a cooperative cost-share agreement between the United States and the holder of a geothermal lease.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6F1E9FFE4E9D4C77B4BA1189582101F3" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Adjustments</header><text>The Secretary may reduce the amount required to be reimbursed under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that—</text><subparagraph id="H3F07661C5FBB4DB08AA78B1223CD4D34" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>full reimbursement would impose on the applicant an economic hardship; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8E0BF73067ED47FC81BC14F525AB79E8" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a less-than-full reimbursement is necessary to promote the greatest use of geothermal resources.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H725AC2BA6D6D4667A7F111942D87C0E5" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Use</header><text>The amounts reimbursed under this subsection shall be—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1a16364b05b44ce48aeb6d1bb4f703e6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">credited to the currently applicable appropriation, account, or fund of the Department of the Interior as discretionary offsetting collections; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddf628d1f1e4049c9b038189aae804350"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">available only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts for—</text><clause id="HBA1BAF8F91E2473EAAB7E8FB3E53E382" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">processing applications for geothermal leases, including any applications for operations plans, geothermal drilling permits, utilization plans, site licenses, facility construction permits, commercial use permits, and any other approval associated with geothermal leases; and</text></clause><clause id="H8454F26140F7472380038AAABAE21CA0" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>inspecting and monitoring—</text><subclause id="H10745CA152784229AF560AB0B7DA11F5" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>geophysical exploration activities;</text></subclause><subclause id="HCC2037C141E3423B83F1B5F01E98A5ED" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the drilling, plugging, or abandonment of wells; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H255DFB342F1D4D04944640855568FB18" commented="no"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the construction, operation, termination, or reclamation of any well site or facility for the utilization of geothermal resources pursuant to geothermal leases.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H40B1B9F6FE9948B280885CFCCB46AEEB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf30495a1b7d64381857cf4b058b81591"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with representatives of the geothermal industry and other stakeholders, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available on the website of the Department of the Interior, a report that includes—</text><subparagraph id="H8BE10B968DF64DE49ACA07008863BFFF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an assessment of how the amendment made by subsection (a) affected the geothermal program of the Bureau of Land Management during the preceding 5 years;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3C54461C33CF4284A096AEA42DE4F2CF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any recommendations for reauthorization of subsection (j) of section 6 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1005">30 U.S.C. 1005</external-xref>) (as added by subsection (a)); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA7F8549EBB8F4368B63897BC5E96ECE2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other recommendations for updates to—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb3453241d3f64181b6b5a7d45f324ec3"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subsection (j) of section 6 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1005">30 U.S.C. 1005</external-xref>) (as so added); or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ef9769a639e4e338b271fdcbac0a04e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the geothermal program of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD1D9CE70270E4BC1A32A6F70CEE77D3E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior shall solicit information from representatives of the geothermal industry and other stakeholders.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H68AC67BC493147D88BCC225654E09883"><enum>303.</enum><header>Publication of Gold Book for geothermal operations on Federal land</header><subsection id="H8C68A7527AC24E87AFB5055F6AD8DA24"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Identification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 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 document of the Bureau of Land Management entitled <quote>Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development</quote>, commonly known as the <quote>Gold Book</quote>, and most recently revised in 2007.</text></subsection><subsection id="H8F0A8D98D6E9457889136EFF4587695C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Publication</header><paragraph id="HBBA9F78E132940379F1821E041898DBE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEC2F8586C3BE440E945DD3C11A297BF4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Renaming</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior shall rename the Gold Book as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to reflect the incorporation of standard procedures and guidelines relating to geothermal development.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H109768C3443D41E28CA1954D5D1EDF19"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before publishing an updated version of the Gold Book under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with—</text><paragraph id="H360651DB6D594AA49FFA737989C94F0D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>other relevant Federal agencies, including field offices of the Bureau of Land Management; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE5CDEE02A6874F9EA90523D6805A698A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>outside stakeholders, including developers and other experts.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H64E2B7E4C7954AF68A8C27D3975C943D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Periodic revision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior shall—</text><paragraph id="H591FFC83F7FA4229BE68D3A78E9841C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not less frequently than once every 5 years, review the most recent version of the Gold Book (or a successor to that book); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB0FF144B767D4C92A71A85FD6116EB57" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as the Secretary of the Interior determines to be necessary to support efficient and environmentally responsible geothermal leasing and permitting, publish an updated version of the Gold Book (or a successor).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H54E2E59BAAB44335979530EAF1308CD0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each updated version of the Gold Book (or a successor to that book) shall include standard procedures and guidelines for ensuring the efficient review and approval of environmentally responsible geothermal development, including—</text><paragraph id="H39E7BD0BC4814DA1BE88E9F47D70586E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>exploration and geophysical operations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFA805E6AB7824BD5AA56A5A6E6AC149F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>permitting lease operations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H11421A044167403FA74AFA371294CD7F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>compliance with all applicable laws (including regulations);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB14EFB8B74A64D6ABD8C166955041916"><enum>(4)</enum><text>construction and maintenance; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H325CFA741D8A4886BFCEF658B45D9E06" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">drilling, production, and utilization operations.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HE2D2E52901AE4A13AB6280AF1D2E3FB1"><enum>304.</enum><header>Geothermal Ombudsman and Permitting Task Force</header><subsection id="H7E1E339B78544B4FBB2066BCE78C4DAB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="HFC4094ED8D3B43D7A9EF669E16011C1F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Bureau</header><text>The term <term>Bureau</term> means the Bureau of Land Management.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id524de35c109d4d7bac0d9aec831a7c46"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Geothermal authorization</header><text>The term <term>geothermal authorization</term> means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by the Bureau (including any interagency consultation) that is required or authorized under Federal law in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operation of a project that—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide606f83a5bad4028b4c976e66b9f0896"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is located in whole or in part on land subject to geothermal leasing under section 3 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1002">30 U.S.C. 1002</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43a11d1ea55e4791b70224c65900bff9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">uses geothermal energy to generate heat or electricity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0193f19a3cf14c10bd2ac043c49b1f3e"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Geothermal Ombudsman</header><text>The term <term>Geothermal Ombudsman</term> means the Geothermal Ombudsman appointed under subsection (b)(1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H87A7898265F64984A256925AF2AFC705" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Task Force</header><text>The term <term>Task Force</term> means the Geothermal Permitting Task Force established under subsection (c)(1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE97227F957E74C3B92035CCDE43B46C2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Geothermal Ombudsman</header><paragraph id="H20E38136142F4DBDAFF91D6A398F664E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint from within the Bureau an individual to serve as Geothermal Ombudsman.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFBFE2CDC8E7C4C2796E2A1096193224C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Geothermal Ombudsman shall—</text><subparagraph id="HC24DA0AE71F3433AB2FDD801D46F68A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>act as a liaison between—</text><clause id="H7FEBFAD04B7A4062B85175761C488A66"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the individual field, district, and State offices of the Bureau;</text></clause><clause id="H605DBEEA1A1B4AFF8C28D0ACABC5A1A9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Division Chief of the National Renewable Energy Coordination Office of the Bureau; and</text></clause><clause id="H1F1EA5F4F8B942F2A8038842B6673C54"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Director of the Bureau;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8CDF058D50864A49BBCB5095162C8415"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide dispute resolution services for disputes between the individual field, district, and State offices of the Bureau and applicants for geothermal authorizations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H174548C226074048861ECCE4871CF406"><enum>(C)</enum><text>monitor and facilitate permit processing practices and timelines across individual field offices of the Bureau;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDDA429C607D944F28F2408C97C6C846D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>develop best practices for the permitting and leasing process for geothermal resources; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H02A7817B63F64A8C9DAC9CEEC2C92A2E" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text>coordinate with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H25324351A80D445E9DE2E6E02DA80C35"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Geothermal Permitting Task Force</header><paragraph id="HAA3BE5190F654D4A994E80F08C53A5E7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish within the Bureau a task force, to be known as the <quote>Geothermal Permitting Task Force</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA045EC5045D547D49A67A2130572A52E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Leadership</header><text>The Task Force shall be headed by the Geothermal Ombudsman.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H60559CCB94E149E4AC870F9ED822B84B" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Permitting support</header><text>The Task Force shall support the duties of the Geothermal Ombudsman under subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4183542D12F54D4793FF210A92DB01EF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Cross-office personnel assignments</header><subparagraph id="HDDEBF3FBC7964322844A5DBC1AE589A1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Geothermal Ombudsman, acting as head of the Task Force, may coordinate with any bureau or office of the Department of the Interior to assign personnel with relevant expertise to assist with the completion of geothermal authorizations in Bureau field, district, or State offices other than the official duty stations at which such personnel are located if—</text><clause id="H33DB4482855B4B88BEBBAD3EEE8FF88C"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the applicable bureau or office determines that such an assignment will not materially delay ongoing completion of geothermal authorizations within the applicable official duty station; and</text></clause><clause id="H8C9F22F934234B5B87FEFF5B3E5F6F24" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>approval is received from the head of that official duty station.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H14E5D905F82643E48B0B116212D179F9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Assigned personnel requirements</header><text>An employee assigned to assist with the completion of geothermal authorizations pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall—</text><clause id="HF14BFD05DA3B479CA3F687AD8AE37A78"><enum>(i)</enum><text>work in-person full-time at an official office of the Department of the Interior;</text></clause><clause id="HD30B1EFB1A9841E9A1DA5FEF78207C06"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>as the Geothermal Ombudsman determines to be necessary, travel to the Bureau field, district, or State office with jurisdiction over the geothermal authorizations to which the employee has been assigned;</text></clause><clause id="HE44C8D2F00914580AE9E56724B300B4F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>participate as part of the team of personnel working on geothermal authorizations to which the employee has been assigned; and</text></clause><clause id="H7F0112B897E24B89A0A70C16771AF9B3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>regularly report to the head of the Bureau field, district, or State office with jurisdiction over the geothermal authorizations to which the employee has been assigned.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7C39BB614BAA44CCB8E96BD177F0C03A"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Retention allowances</header><clause id="H7CDD54F49FF542D8990CA9B5347B56B6"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Geothermal Ombudsman may pay a retention allowance to an employee assigned to assist with the completion of geothermal authorizations under subparagraph (A).</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id20fb57ce753d4d28a8313c8c2cfc42df"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A retention allowance under clause (i)—</text><subclause id="H2EBC7FEA5A3B4632A2F4CC06C6608A25"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall be stated as the percentage of the rate of basic pay of the applicable employee, subject to the condition that such an allowance may not exceed 25 percent of that rate of basic pay;</text></subclause><subclause id="H8112273F5DCF462DA4F1B567A90DA7BA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may not be considered to be part of the basic pay of the employee;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbbd9b2f4052a4cd09f2fecd3b6e8576e"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not be appealed on reduction or elimination; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HDE391F1F25AF4C58824F7E00956C1862"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>shall be paid at the same time and in the same manner as the basic pay of the employee is paid.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HE4E961A4C953490DB5E714817D67B1CB"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Factors for consideration</header><text>In paying a retention allowance under clause (i), the Geothermal Ombudsman shall take into consideration—</text><subclause id="HE3682751EF344DE29482186DC018211B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any specialized expertise of the applicable employee relating to geothermal authorizations;</text></subclause><subclause id="H41DB7FB0CE0E4EAB8491B7533C3E2B91"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the demonstrated need to retain an employee to meet the performance improvement objectives for geothermal authorization timelines and develop best practices for completion of geothermal authorizations; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H6FEAA8AE53C54AA28FADE27CBC1E6873"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the difficulty in recruiting or replacing qualified personnel with relevant expertise relating to geothermal authorizations.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H470BF0C1484E4A81BE493AA2C94068A3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>The assignment of personnel pursuant to this paragraph shall not alter the underlying jurisdiction of any office of the Bureau with respect to geothermal authorizations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBFEC7097908F481BA5F94648D4AEB1B3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Geothermal Ombudsman shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives an annual report that—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide8d74de9fbcb42989744f5f1383597ed"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describes the activities of the Task Force during the preceding year; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id34cd87b2eb6b4fef95072027d7a76ecf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluates the effectiveness of geothermal authorization processing during the preceding year.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HBC5F7DD7ACAC4B5DB44F52DB6EC2976B"><enum>305.</enum><header>Geothermal royalties</header><subsection id="HC12AC47CBAA041EC8018C508712DC723" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5db02428eec548bbb5df186638cc9330"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1001">30 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1b3e018cecc243db9a2005be23552e78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through <quote>the term—</quote> in the matter preceding subsection (a) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6021b88a66634b0da86f18d5dadc037d"><section id="id744821af2ae74ae7bb41ad070c445fdc"><enum>2.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act:</text></section><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4d6da9f7f7864a3780795da34f1a52c6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in each of subsections (a) through (d), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49786edde45f4f5198dc98faeab4334a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (c), by striking <quote>resources</quote> and inserting <quote>resource</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id055cce2ba2704b6ba4b0c4dc74d40d55"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking subsection (e);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc109fe8ea4e94365bcee88203f19ad68"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in subsection (f)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc1f856772835440ab6f668ceecd197fb"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Section</quote> and inserting <quote>section</quote>;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1407e4ecd11d4b55ab47c222623914df"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively, and indenting appropriately; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb0247ab986e54d5184572012818107c2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through <quote>limited to,</quote> in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id367edce976d04503a477afd74ddb556f"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1410fe5d16ac4f1fabff93c0040039e1"><enum>(f)</enum><text><term>significant thermal feature within a unit of the National Park System</term> includes</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9fea1d66e01740e183f65add4e5aad00"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in subsection (g), by striking <quote>; and</quote> at the end and inserting a period;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id004333844327402e98a06fea7b538607"><enum>(G)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g) as paragraphs (7), (4), (5), (1), (8), and (2), respectively, indenting the paragraphs appropriately, and moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1dd134861a1e452a90a7cad2ae291457"><enum>(H)</enum><text>in each of paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (5), (7), and (8) (as so redesignated)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd1e7a6ba495443c0aed6c3de411684d7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>The term</quote> after the paragraph designation; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7ecb9df058d14506976fbfec7ac1d78f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by adding a paragraph heading, the text of which comprises the term defined in the paragraph;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2655fd1a9c4e41838ff78dab4526a9b9"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idda070a26c68445aabe15c701639ef42a"><paragraph id="idf16594dbc58a4f97b5beb8b6cd478991"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Geothermal electric generating facility</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcbedc79053ac48dab1f52422c73767a7"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The term <term>geothermal electric generating facility</term> means a facility, including all necessary equipment and structures (including turbines and cooling equipment), that produces electricity using geothermal resources.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id403ff29bb2ef4318aca5b1f47f5b773e"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Treatment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of section 5(a)(1), a facility described in subparagraph (A) shall be considered to be a separate facility from any other such facility unless the facility shares a turbine with the other facility.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7672280ce678464995f3dcfe67730abc"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (5) (as so redesignated) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3a59a8c9fe0042e9b6cd8081bc339a2b"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0eef7a744f80410e9d725cb9af2e3d3a"><enum>(6)</enum><header>In-service date</header><text>The term <term>in-service date</term>, with respect to a geothermal electric generating facility, means the date on which the geothermal electric generating facility commences operation.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id36228AD9AE634D6A836A1CFDA48FE65A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><subparagraph id="idB85CB576C7524C81ADD2E0F7FEEFF736"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Section 6(i) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1005">30 U.S.C. 1005(i)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>as defined in section 2(c) herein</quote>.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id034AC08FAA3E4BD391A8E5533F2F26B5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Section 28(a)(1) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1026">30 U.S.C. 1026(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>, as defined in section 2(f),</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H23E0228051134C80A8BCE8025B7CDECB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Royalties on electricity produced using geothermal resources</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5(a) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1004">30 U.S.C. 1004(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe116c63927b47b8a9e8b12160d99cc8"><paragraph id="IDAEAAF3E322AA4287B01D76567AE95362" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a royalty on electricity produced using geothermal resources, other than direct use of geothermal resources, in an amount equal to, with respect to a geothermal electric generating facility producing electricity from geothermal resources—</text><subparagraph id="ID0550D3FA4743422CB91F20CD8C88494B" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not less than 1 percent, and not more than 2.5 percent, of the gross proceeds from the sale of electricity produced by the geothermal electric generating facility from those geothermal resources during each year of the 10-year period beginning on the in-service date of the geothermal electric generating facility; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAE625BFBF024421EA671454B1D078856" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not less than 2 percent, and not more than 5 percent, of the gross proceeds from the sale of electricity produced by the geothermal electric generating facility from those geothermal resources during each year after the 10-year period described in subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HA6DBE957B43E4EB79E861265772223D9"><enum>306.</enum><header>NEPA review</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/15942">42 U.S.C. 15942</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="ida22d4519fb844ba0ba336b10f30a4031"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="idca2fcc8f9a324d7684314fcdc549f13c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(NEPA)</quote> and inserting <quote>(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) (referred to in this section as <term>NEPA</term>)</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf08e047de9de478290b92088b761b170"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/181">30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>)</quote> after <quote>Mineral Leasing Act</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id058a3256104b4b8ead3c40173f74188e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1001">30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.</external-xref>) for the purpose of exploration or development of geothermal resources</quote> before the period at the end; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDA47E5068DC34F1FB4F0F3028E64ACF8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="id5c9668371460463c8a912d28270a8768"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>oil or gas</quote> and inserting <quote>oil, gas, or geothermal resources</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id977da6b080444b739815bee0afd52786" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>oil or gas</quote> and inserting <quote>oil, gas, or geothermal resources</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section>