H.R. 5587

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5587 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5587

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 28, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources 
Act of 2026'' or the ``HEATS Act''.

SEC. 2. NO FEDERAL PERMIT REQUIRED FOR GEOTHERMAL ACTIVITIES ON CERTAIN 
LAND.

The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 30. NO FEDERAL PERMIT REQUIRED FOR GEOTHERMAL ACTIVITIES ON 
CERTAIN LAND.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall not require an operator to 
obtain a Federal drilling permit for geothermal exploration and 
production activities conducted on a non-Federal surface estate, 
provided that--
``(1) the United States holds an ownership interest of less 
than 50 percent of the subsurface geothermal estate to be 
accessed by the proposed action; and
``(2) the operator submits to the Secretary a State permit 
to conduct geothermal exploration and production activities on 
the non-Federal surface estate.
``(b) No Federal Action.--A geothermal exploration and production 
activity carried out under subsection (a)--
``(1) shall not be considered a major Federal action for 
the purposes of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969;
``(2) shall require no additional Federal action;
``(3) may commence 30 days after submission of the State 
permit to the Secretary;
``(4) shall not be subject to section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973; and
``(5) shall only be considered an undertaking under 
division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the `National Historic Preservation 
Act'), if, with respect to the State in which the activity 
occurs, there is no State law in effect that addresses the 
preservation of historic properties in such State.
``(c) Royalties and Production Accountability.--(1) Nothing in this 
section shall affect the amount of royalties due to the United States 
under this Act from the production of electricity using geothermal 
resources (other than direct use of geothermal resources) or the 
production of any byproducts.
``(2) The Secretary may conduct onsite reviews and inspections to 
ensure proper accountability, measurement, and reporting of the 
production described in subsection (a), and payment of royalties.
``(d) Exceptions.--This section shall not apply to actions on 
Indian lands or resources managed in trust for the benefit of Indian 
Tribes.
``(e) Indian Land.--In this section, the term `Indian land' means--
``(1) any land located within the boundaries of an Indian 
reservation, pueblo, or rancheria; and
``(2) any land not located within the boundaries of an 
Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria, the title to which is 
held--
``(A) in trust by the United States for the benefit 
of an Indian tribe or an individual Indian;
``(B) by an Indian tribe or an individual Indian, 
subject to restriction against alienation under laws of 
the United States; or
``(C) by a dependent Indian community.''.

Passed the House of Representatives April 23, 2026.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.