H.R. 5617

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5617 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 573
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5617

[Report No. 119-659]

To direct the Department of the Interior to identify and publish 
standard procedures and guidelines for geothermal leasing and permit 
issuance for environmentally responsible geothermal operations on 
Federal lands.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 30, 2025

Ms. Ansari (for herself and Mr. Huffman) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

May 20, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
September 30, 2025]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Department of the Interior to identify and publish 
standard procedures and guidelines for geothermal leasing and permit 
issuance for environmentally responsible geothermal operations on 
Federal lands.

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 ``Geothermal Gold Book Development 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PUBLICATION OF ``GOLD BOOK'' FOR GEOTHERMAL OPERATIONS ON 
FEDERAL LANDS.

(a) Identification.--Not later than one 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 Bureau of Land Management's ``Surface Operating Standards and 
Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development'', commonly 
known as the ``Gold Book'' and last revised in 2007.
(b) Publication.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Renaming gold book.--The Secretary of the Interior 
shall rename the Gold Book to reflect the incorporation of 
standard procedures and guidelines related to geothermal 
development.
(c) Consultation.--Before publishing an updated version of the Gold 
Book, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with--
(1) other relevant Federal agencies, including field 
offices of the Bureau of Land Management; and
(2) outside stakeholders, including developers and other 
experts.
(d) Inclusions.--Each updated version of the Gold Book shall 
include standard procedures and guidelines for ensuring the efficient 
review and approval of environmentally responsible geothermal 
development, including--
(1) exploration and geophysical operations;
(2) permitting lease operations;
(3) compliance with all applicable laws and regulations;
(4) construction and maintenance; and
(5) drilling, production, and utilization operations.
(e) Periodic Revision.--The Secretary of the Interior shall--
(1) at least once every five years, review the most recent 
version of the Gold Book; and
(2) if determined necessary by the Secretary of the 
Interior to support efficient and environmentally responsible 
geothermal leasing and permitting, publish an updated version 
of the Gold Book.
Union Calendar No. 573

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5617

[Report No. 119-659]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Department of the Interior to identify and publish 
standard procedures and guidelines for geothermal leasing and permit 
issuance for environmentally responsible geothermal operations on 
Federal lands.

_______________________________________________________________________

May 20, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed