Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

20 November 1987

Last action

22 September 1988 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 100-443.

Summary

Geothermal Steam Act Amendments - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to provide that if geothermal steam is produced or utilized in commercial quantities under an approved operation within any lease or administrative lease extension period, such lease shall continue for so long as geothermal steam is produced (or utilized) in commercial quantities, for a maximum continuation of an additional 40 years. Sets forth conditions under which geothermal leases in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be extended for a maximum of three successive five-year periods. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to review any cooperative or unit plan of development every five years after approval in order to eliminate any lease or part of a lease not regarded as reasonably necessary to cooperative or unit operations. Requires such elimination to be based on scientific evidence, and only upon the Secretary's determination that it is for the purpose of conserving and properly managing the geothermal resource. States that for purposes of specified Federal law, significant thermal features within the National Park System shall include features designated as significant in a certain Federal Register notice. Amends Federal law (Continuing Appropriations, Fiscal Year 1987), to direct the Secretary to include in geothermal drilling permits stipulations necessary to protect significant thermal features within specified units of the National Park System where use of permit lands is reasonably likely to adversely affect such features. (Current law restricts such stipulation to geothermal leases). Requires the Secretary, as part of a geothermal monitoring program, to establish a research program to collect and assess data on geothermal resources within units of the National Park System with significant thermal features. Requires the United States Geological Survey to study and report to the Congress the impact of geothermal development in the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park upon thermal features within the Park. Prohibits geothermal well production or development in the Corwin Spring Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study. Requires the Secretary to make recommendations to the Congress regarding the acquisition of geothermal rights necessary to protect Yellowstone National Park thermal resources if it is determined under the study that geothermal drilling may adversely affect such resources. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing, extending, or modifying any geothermal lease or drilling permit in the Corwin Spring Known Geothermal Resource Area until 180 days after the Congress receives such study.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

20 November 1987
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Source: IntroReferral
20 November 1987
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
23 November 1987
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Mineral Resources and Development.
Source: Committee
27 January 1988
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
4 February 1988
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 527.
Source: Calendars
4 February 1988
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Johnston with amendments. With written report No. 100-283.
Source: Committee
4 February 1988
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Johnston with amendments. With written report No. 100-283.
Source: Committee
16 February 1988
Passed
Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
16 February 1988
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
17 February 1988
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Source: IntroReferral
17 February 1988
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
17 March 1988
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources.
Source: Committee
13 June 1988
Floor
Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Floor
13 June 1988
Floor
House Incorporated H.R.2794 in This Measure as an Amendment.
Source: Floor
13 June 1988
Passed
Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
13 June 1988
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
13 June 1988
Discharge
House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
13 June 1988
Committee
House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
14 June 1988
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
9 August 1988
ResolvingDifferences
Senate concurred in the House amendments with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
9 August 1988
NotUsed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendments with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
9 August 1988
Floor
Measure laid before Senate.
Source: Floor
9 September 1988
Passed
House Agreed to Senate Amendments to House Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
9 September 1988
Passed
Resolving differences -- House actions: House Agreed to Senate Amendments to House Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Source: NotUsed
13 September 1988
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
13 September 1988
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
13 September 1988
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
22 September 1988
Became law
Became Public Law No: 100-443.
Source: President
22 September 1988
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
22 September 1988
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

6 official files

Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 23 September 1988
View Download Open at official source
Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment
summary · EN · 9 August 1988
Open at official source
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 13 June 1988
Open at official source
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 16 February 1988
Open at official source
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 4 February 1988
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 20 November 1987
Open at official source

Related records

related to → Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/senate-bill/1889
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/100/s/1889
us · 100-s-1889 · source updated 24 March 2026