119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 5576
This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to speed up geothermal energy exploration on federal lands. It defines small-scale "geothermal exploration projects," such as drilling temperature gradient or monitoring wells, that meet specific size and time limits, and states that these projects, along with related activities like geotechnical surveys and road work, do not count as "major Federal actions" under the National Environmental Policy Act. This means such projects would be exempt from the lengthy environmental review process normally required for major federal decisions, allowing companies to move forward more quickly. Lease holders would still need to notify the Secretary of the Interior at least 30 days before starting drilling, and they must restore project sites within three years unless the land is used for further energy development. The bill primarily affects geothermal energy companies holding federal leases and federal land management agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, aiming to make it easier and faster to explore geothermal resources on public lands.