STEAM Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The STEAM Act amends section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 so geothermal exploration or development under the Geothermal Steam Act can use existing NEPA categorical exclusion language that currently references oil and gas. The bill inserts geothermal resources into the subsection covering exploration or development authority and changes references to oil or gas rights-of-way and minor surface disturbances so they also cover geothermal activity. The practical effect is to make qualifying geothermal projects eligible for the same streamlined NEPA treatment already available to certain oil and gas actions under section 390.
Who Benefits and How
Geothermal developers benefit because qualifying exploration and development activities could move through NEPA review more quickly. Renewable electricity developers benefit from easier permitting for geothermal resource projects on federal lands. Investors in geothermal projects benefit from reduced uncertainty around rights-of-way and minor surface disturbance reviews. Federal land managers benefit from clearer statutory authority to apply section 390 categorical exclusions to geothermal activity. Communities seeking geothermal energy development benefit if projects reach construction sooner.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Environmental reviewers must apply oil-and-gas-style categorical exclusions to qualifying geothermal projects. Conservation groups and communities near proposed geothermal sites may face fewer full NEPA reviews for covered rights-of-way and minor surface disturbances. The Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management must update implementation guidance and permitting practice. Public commenters may have fewer opportunities for project-specific environmental review when a categorical exclusion applies.
Key Provisions
- Adds Geothermal Steam Act exploration or development to section 390 NEPA categorical-exclusion language.
- Extends rights-of-way categorical exclusion references from oil and gas to geothermal activity.
- Extends minor surface disturbance categorical exclusion references from oil and gas to geothermal activity.
- Provides geothermal developers the same review streamlining available for specified oil and gas activities.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Adds geothermal exploration and development under the Geothermal Steam Act to the Energy Policy Act's categorical exclusions for certain oil and gas activities, allowing geothermal activities to use the same NEPA review streamlining for rights-of-way and minor surface disturbances.
Key Policy Areas
Energy, Environment, Public Lands
Primary Purpose
Adds geothermal exploration and development under the Geothermal Steam Act to the Energy Policy Act's categorical exclusions for certain oil and gas activities, allowing geothermal activities to use the same NEPA review streamlining for rights-of-way and minor surface disturbances.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Geothermal developers
- Renewable electricity developers
- Geothermal project investors
- Federal land managers
- Communities seeking geothermal energy development
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Environmental reviewers
- Conservation groups
- Communities near geothermal sites
- Department of the Interior
- Bureau of Land Management
- Public commenters
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedPlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 570.
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-656.
Additional sponsors: Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Perez, Mr. Gray, and Mr. …
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-656.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Introduced in House
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "blm"
- → Bureau of Land Management
- "interior"
- → Department of the Interior
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology