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Energy and EmergenciesH.R. 5587Comments

HEATS Act

Official title: To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.

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Where the Bill Stands

  1. Introduced, done
  2. Committee, done
  3. Floor Vote, done
  4. Outcome, current stage

How Congress Voted

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What This Bill Does

This bill exempts certain geothermal activities on state and private lands (except Indian lands) from drilling permit requirements as well as environmental and historic preservation review requirements.

First, the bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from requiring an operator to obtain a drilling permit under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 for any geothermal exploration and production activity conducted on a nonfederal surface estate (i.e., the part of the estate that is above ground) if (1) the United States holds an ownership interest of less than 50% of the subsurface geothermal estate to be accessed by the proposed action, and (2) the operator submits to Interior a state permit to conduct the geothermal exploration and production activity on the nonfederal surface estate.

Next, the bill states that such geothermal exploration and production activity is not considered a major federal action under National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Thus, such activity does not trigger NEPA's environmental review requirements.

In addition, the bill exempts such activity from the consultation requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. It also exempts the activity from review under the National Historic Preservation Act unless the state in which the activity occurs does not have a state law that addresses the preservation of historic properties.

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Related Documents

Bill on Congress.govWeb Page ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Timeline

  1. SenateCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
  2. SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  3. House floor actionsConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1189. (consideration: CR H3073-3077)
  4. Floor Vote
  5. Passed the House
  6. House floor actionsRule H. Res. 1189 passed House.
  7. House floor actionsRules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1189 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4690, H. Res. 1182, H.R. 1897 and H.R. 5587. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4690, H. Res. 1182, H.R. 1897, and H.R. 5587 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 4690, H.R. 1897, and H.R. 5587.
  8. House floor actionsReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-613.
  9. House committee actionsSubcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
  10. House committee actionsSubcommittee Hearings Held
  11. House committee actionsReferred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  12. Library of CongressIntroduced in House
  13. House floor actionsReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  14. Introduced
  15. Committee

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