US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 5617 — what changed

Geothermal Gold Book Development Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 1 section amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 2 Publication of “Gold Book” for geothermal operations on Federal lands

(a)
changed Identification— Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Department 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.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)
added Publication—
(1)
added 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)
added 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.
(b)
removed Publication— Not later than 180 days after identifying standard procedures and guidelines under subsection (a), the Department of the Interior shall publish a “Gold Book” containing such standard procedures and guidelines for use by the field offices of the Bureau of Land Management and geothermal operators.
(c)
changed Consultation— Before publishing an updated version of the Gold Book, the Department 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)
changed Inclusions— The Each updated version of the Gold Book shall include standard procedures and guidelines for—for ensuring the efficient review and approval of environmentally responsible geothermal development, including—
(1)
removed land use planning and geothermal lease sales; and
(2)
removed ensuring the efficient review and approval of environmentally responsible geothermal development, including—
(1)
renumbered was (5)(4)(2) exploration and geophysical operations;
(2)
renumbered was (5)(4)(3) permitting lease operations;
(3)
renumbered was (5)(4)(4) compliance with all applicable laws and regulations;
(4)
added construction and maintenance; and
(5)
added drilling, production, and utilization operations.
(D)
removed construction and maintenance;
(E)
removed drilling and production operations;
(F)
removed appeals; and
(G)
removed relevant categorical exclusions available at each stage.
(e)
changed Periodic revision— The Department Secretary of the Interior shall—
(1)
changed at least once every five years, review the most recent version of the Gold Book; and
(2)
changed as necessary, revise 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.