Geothermal Resources Act Amendments of 1979
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
(Measure passed House, amended) Geothermal Resources Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 by eliminating references to "geothermal steam and byproducts" and replacing them with the term "geothermal resources." Extends the period after which the Secretary of the Interior may readjust the terms and conditions of any geothermal lease issued under such Act to 20 years after the date geothermal resources are produced, and extends the interval of such readjustments to every 20 years. Amends the provision allowing the entitlement to a lease without competitive bidding to include lands within a known geothermal resources area which have been previously offered for competitive bidding at a sale where no bids were received. Directs the Secretary to conduct a competitive bidding procedure for all lands within a known geothermal resources area which have not been the subject of such procedure before the date of enactment of this Act. Provides for determining priority to a lease in the event of conflicts between noncompetitive bidders. Directs the Secretary of Energy to issue regulations ensuring prompt reoffering of all relinquished, abandoned, and expired geothermal leaseholds. Makes such lands subject to geothermal leasing in accordance with such Act. Expands further the types of lands subject to such leasing to include any lands withdrawn or acquired in aid of the functions of any Federal department. Terminates the application of development requirements upon a demonstration by the lessee that the geothermal resources of a cooperative or unit plan are being produced in commercial quantities. Expands the acreage limitation applicable to holders of interest in Federal geothermal leases to 51,200 acres. Exempts from such limitation any lease containing a well shown to be capable of being commercially productive as determined by the United States Geological Survey. Directs the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal agency or department regarding terms and conditions of leases of lands withdrawn or acquired by such agency or department. Authorizes the Secretary to issue permits for the use of geothermal resources for any noncommercial application without requiring a lease or compensation therefor, upon a finding that such permit issuance is in the public interest. Authorizes Federal agencies to develop for their own use geothermal resources within lands under the jurisdiction of such agencies, so long as such development is in the public interest and would not deter commercial development. Directs the Secretary to establish leasing and operating goals. Authorizes the Secretary to utilize any relevant information in an applicable and available land management plan developed under the Federal Land Management and Policy Act or forest management plan developed under the National Forest Management Act in his preparation of any environmental assessments. Directs the Secretary to identify and publish a list of nationally significant geothermal resources located on national parks, monuments, and recreation areas; fishery hatcheries administered by the Secretary; wildlife refuges, ranges, and management areas; game ranges; waterfowl production areas; lands reserved for the protection of endangered fish and wildlife; and certain Indian lands. Prohibits the issuance of geothermal leases on Federal lands in proximity to such identified resources except to the extent that the Secretary determines that no adverse effects to such resources will occur. Prohibits Federal agencies from assisting geothermal exploration or development on lands in proximity to such protected features unless the Secretary determines that such assistance does not have potential to adversely affect such features.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed House amended" stage on February 11, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on February 18, 1980: Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
JIM SANTINI (D-NV) introduced it on December 11, 1979, and 9 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 5 Democrats, 4 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on December 11, 1979, 17122 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17053 days ago, on February 18, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers