---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17286"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17286"
heading: "Geothermal assessment, exploration information, and priority activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17286"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter VII — Improved Management of Energy Policy"
  - "Part A — Management Improvements"
---

# §17286. Geothermal assessment, exploration information, and priority activities

- (a) **In general—** Not later than January 1, 2012, the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) of the Interior, acting through the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the United States Geological Survey, shall—
  - (1) complete a comprehensive nationwide [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) resource assessment that examines the full range of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) resources in the United States; and
  - (2) submit to the the[^1] Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing the results of the assessment.
- (b) **Periodic updates—** At least once every 10 years, the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall update the national assessment required under this section to support public and private sector decisionmaking.
- (c) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) of the Interior to carry out this section—
  - (1) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012; and
  - (2) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2022.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title VIII, § 807, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1723.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.