Introduced in House

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 301 Introduced in House (IH)] 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 301 To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 9, 2025 Ms. Maloy introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act'' or the ``GEO Act''.

SEC. 2. EFFECT OF PENDING CIVIL ACTIONS ON PROCESSING APPLICATIONS

SEC. 2. EFFECT OF PENDING CIVIL ACTIONS ON PROCESSING APPLICATIONS RELATED TO GEOTHERMAL LEASING.

Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003) is

Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(h) Effect of Pending Civil Actions on Processing Applications Related to Geothermal Leasing.-- ``(1) Requirement to process applications.--Notwithstanding the existence of 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 United States 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 and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code. ``(2) No new authority for federal courts.--Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as modifying 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. ``(3) Definition of authorization.--In this subsection, the term `authorization' 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 or regulations in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a geothermal project administered by a Federal agency.''.