HEATS Act

What this does

The bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 so the Interior Secretary may not require a federal drilling permit for geothermal exploration and production on non-federal surface land when the United States holds less than 50 percent of the subsurface geothermal estate being accessed and the operator submits a state permit. Such activity is deemed not a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act, requires no additional federal action, is exempt from Endangered Species Act section 7 consultation, and may begin 30 days after the state permit is submitted. It is treated as an undertaking under the National Historic Preservation Act only where the state has no historic-preservation law of its own. Royalties owed to the United States are unchanged, and the Secretary may still inspect for accountability. The exemptions do not apply to Indian lands or resources held in trust for Indian Tribes.