I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7422 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 20, 2024 Ms. Ocasio-Cortez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to provide cost-recovery authority for the Department of the Interior.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2024 . 2. Cost recovery from geothermal leasing, permitting, and inspections Section 6 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ( 30 U.S.C. 1005 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Cost recovery (1) In general The Secretary may require an applicant for, or a holder of, a geothermal lease to reimburse the United States for all reasonable administrative and other costs incurred by the United States from— (A) processing the application for the geothermal lease, including any application for an operations plan, geothermal drilling permit, utilization plan, site license, facility construction permit, commercial use permit, and any other approval associated with a geothermal lease; and (B) inspecting and monitoring— (i) geophysical exploration activities; (ii) the drilling, plugging, and abandonment of wells; and (iii) the construction, operation, termination, and reclamation of any well site or facility for the utilization of geothermal resources pursuant to the geothermal lease. (2) Considerations In determining whether to require reimbursement under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider whether there is in existence a cooperative cost share agreement between the United States and the holder of a geothermal lease. .