Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988

(Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment) Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to remove bona fide sales of geothermal steam as a requirement for geothermal lease extensions. Amends the commercial production or utilization requirement of geothermal steam leases to include wells capable of producing geothermal steam in commercial quantities only if the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) determines that diligent efforts are being made towards geothermal steam utilization. Permits extension of lease terms for up to two successive five-year periods even though geothermal steam has not been produced or utilized in commercial quantities by the end of its primary or extended term if the lessee can show bona fide production or utilization efforts and: (1) make annual payments in lieu of the production of commercial quantities; or (2) demonstrate significant expenditures on an annual basis. Requires the Secretary to review cooperative or unit plans of development on a five-year periodic basis in order to eliminate those leases that are not regarded as reasonably necessary to operations. Requires the Secretary to maintain a list of National Park System units with significant thermal features and to maintain a monitoring program for such features. Specifies units to be listed. Directs the Secretary to determine if operations proposed by a lease applicant would likely subject significant thermal features within the National Park System to significant adverse effects. Prohibits the issuance of a lease upon such a finding. Mandates that stipulations designed to protect significant thermal features be included in leases and drilling permits. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consider the effects on significant thermal features within units of the National Park System in determining whether to consent to leasing lands under his jurisdiction. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a lease for land within the Island Park Geothermal Area. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the presence or absence of significant thermal features within Crater Lake National Park. Suspends all geothermal resource production (including leases and drilling permits) in the Corwin Springs Known Geothermal Resources Area until 180 days after the United States Geological Survey has submitted to the Congress an impact study of present and potential geothermal resources development in such areas on thermal features within Yellowstone National Park.

(Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 2794) Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to remove bona fide sales of geothermal steam as a requirement for geothermal lease extensions. Amends the commercial production or utilization requirement of geothermal steam leases to include wells capable of producing geothermal steam in commercial quantities only if the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) determines that diligent efforts are being made towards geothermal steam utilization. Permits extension of lease terms for up to two successive five-year periods even though geothermal steam has not been produced or utilized in commercial quantities by the end of its primary or extended term if the lessee can show bona fide production or utilization efforts and: (1) make annual payments in lieu of the production of commercial quantities; or (2) demonstrate significant expenditures on an annual basis. Requires the Secretary to review cooperative or unit plans of development on a five-year periodic basis in order to eliminate those leases that are not regarded as reasonably necessary to operations. Requires the Secretary to maintain a list of National Park System units with significant thermal features and to maintain a monitoring program for such features. Specifies units to be listed. Directs the Secretary to determine if operations proposed by a lease applicant would likely subject significant thermal features within the National Park System to significant adverse effects. Prohibits the issuance of a lease upon such a finding. Mandates that stipulations designed to protect significant thermal features be included in leases and drilling permits. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consider the effects on significant thermal features within units of the National Park System in determining whether to consent to leasing lands under his jurisdiction. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a lease for land within the Island Park Geothermal Area. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the presence or absence of significant thermal features within Crater Lake National Park. Suspends all geothermal resource production (including leases and drilling permits) in the Corwin Springs Known Geothermal Resources Area until 180 days after the United States Geological Survey has submitted to the Congress an impact study of present and potential geothermal resources development in such areas on thermal features within Yellowstone National Park.

(Measure passed Senate, amended) Geothermal Steam Act Amendments - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to state that significant thermal features within the National Park System shall include features designated as significant in a certain Federal Register notice as well as Crater Lake National Park. Provides that if geothermal steam is produced or utilized in commercial quantities under an approved operation within any lease or administrative lease extension period, such lease shall continue for so long as geothermal steam is produced (or utilized) in commercial quantities, for a maximum continuation of an additional 40 years. Sets forth conditions under which geothermal leases in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be extended for a maximum of three successive five-year periods. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to review any cooperative or unit plan of development every five years after approval in order to eliminate any lease or part of a lease not regarded as reasonably necessary to cooperative or unit operations. Requires such elimination to be based on scientific evidence, and only upon the Secretary's determination that it is for the purpose of conserving and properly managing the geothermal resource. Requires the Secretary to maintain a monitoring program for significant thermal features within units of the National Park System, and as part of such program, to establish a research program to collect and assess data on geothermal resources within units of the National Park System with significant thermal features. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a geothermal lease if the exploration, development, or utilization of the land subject to the lease application is reasonably likely to result in a significant adverse effect on a significant thermal feature within National Park System units. Requires the Secretary to withdraw from leasing any lands subject to a geothermal lease application if development, exploration, or utilization is reasonably likely to result in a significantly adverse effect upon a significant thermal feature within units of the National Park System. Directs the Secretary to include in geothermal drilling permits stipulations necessary to protect significant thermal features within specified units of the National Park System where use of permit lands is reasonably likely to adversely affect such features. (Current law restricts such stipulation to geothermal leases). Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consider the effects on significant thermal features within units of the National Park System when determining consent to leasing lands within the Secretary's administrative purview. Requires the United States Geological Survey to study and report to the Congress the impact of geothermal development in the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park upon thermal features within the Park. Prohibits geothermal well production or development in the Corwin Springs Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study. Requires the Secretary to make recommendations to the Congress regarding the acquisition of geothermal rights necessary to protect Yellowstone National Park thermal resources if it is determined under the study that geothermal drilling may adversely affect such resources. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing, extending, or modifying any geothermal lease or drilling permit in the Corwin Springs Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study. Declares that the Island Park Geothermal Area leasing ban is not affected by the provisions of this Act.

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 100-283) Geothermal Steam Act Amendments - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to state that significant thermal features within the National Park System shall include features designated as significant in a certain Federal Register notice as well as Crater Lake National Park. Provides that if geothermal steam is produced or utilized in commercial quantities under an approved operation within any lease or administrative lease extension period, such lease shall continue for so long as geothermal steam is produced (or utilized) in commercial quantities, for a maximum continuation of an additional 40 years. Sets forth conditions under which geothermal leases in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be extended for a maximum of three successive five-year periods. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to review any cooperative or unit plan of development every five years after approval in order to eliminate any lease or part of a lease not regarded as reasonably necessary to cooperative or unit operations. Requires such elimination to be based on scientific evidence, and only upon the Secretary's determination that it is for the purpose of conserving and properly managing the geothermal resource. Requires the Secretary to maintain a monitoring program for significant thermal features within units of the National Park System, and as part of such program, to establish a research program to collect and assess data on geothermal resources within units of the National Park System with significant thermal features. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a geothermal lease if the exploration, development, or utilization of the land subject to the lease application is reasonably likely to result in a significant adverse effect on a significant thermal feature within National Park System units. Requires the Secretary to withdraw from leasing any lands subject to a geothermal lease application if development, exploration, or utilization is reasonably likely to result in a significantly adverse effect upon a significant thermal feature within units of the National Park System. Directs the Secretary to include in geothermal drilling permits stipulations necessary to protect significant thermal features within specified units of the National Park System where use of permit lands is reasonably likely to adversely affect such features. (Current law restricts such stipulation to geothermal leases). Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consider the effects on significant thermal features within units of the National Park System when determining consent to leasing lands within the Secretary's administrative purview. Requires the United States Geological Survey to study and report to the Congress the impact of geothermal development in the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park upon thermal features within the Park. Prohibits geothermal well production or development in the Corwin Springs Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study. Requires the Secretary to make recommendations to the Congress regarding the acquisition of geothermal rights necessary to protect Yellowstone National Park thermal resources if it is determined under the study that geothermal drilling may adversely affect such resources. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing, extending, or modifying any geothermal lease or drilling permit in the Corwin Springs Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study. Declares that the Island Park Geothermal Area leasing ban is not affected by the provisions of this Act.

Geothermal Steam Act Amendments - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to provide that if geothermal steam is produced or utilized in commercial quantities under an approved operation within any lease or administrative lease extension period, such lease shall continue for so long as geothermal steam is produced (or utilized) in commercial quantities, for a maximum continuation of an additional 40 years. Sets forth conditions under which geothermal leases in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be extended for a maximum of three successive five-year periods. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to review any cooperative or unit plan of development every five years after approval in order to eliminate any lease or part of a lease not regarded as reasonably necessary to cooperative or unit operations. Requires such elimination to be based on scientific evidence, and only upon the Secretary's determination that it is for the purpose of conserving and properly managing the geothermal resource. States that for purposes of specified Federal law, significant thermal features within the National Park System shall include features designated as significant in a certain Federal Register notice. Amends Federal law (Continuing Appropriations, Fiscal Year 1987), to direct the Secretary to include in geothermal drilling permits stipulations necessary to protect significant thermal features within specified units of the National Park System where use of permit lands is reasonably likely to adversely affect such features. (Current law restricts such stipulation to geothermal leases). Requires the Secretary, as part of a geothermal monitoring program, to establish a research program to collect and assess data on geothermal resources within units of the National Park System with significant thermal features. Requires the United States Geological Survey to study and report to the Congress the impact of geothermal development in the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park upon thermal features within the Park. Prohibits geothermal well production or development in the Corwin Spring Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study. Requires the Secretary to make recommendations to the Congress regarding the acquisition of geothermal rights necessary to protect Yellowstone National Park thermal resources if it is determined under the study that geothermal drilling may adversely affect such resources. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing, extending, or modifying any geothermal lease or drilling permit in the Corwin Spring Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study.