House Natural Resources Committee

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

Geothermal Leasing, Sinkhole Mapping, and Drilling Legislation

1324 Longworth
Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., in Room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

  • H.R. 1449 (Rep. Fulcher), “Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act” or the “CLEAN Act”, to require the Secretary of the Interior to hold lease sales annually for geothermal energy
  • H.R. 2855 (Rep. Soto), “Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2023”, directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a program to study the causes of sinkholes, including storms and droughts, and map them, authorizing $40 million annually for 5 years
  • Discussion draft of H.R. ___ (Rep. Valadao), “Right of Way Application Transparency and Accountability Act” or the “ROWATA Act”, which would require agencies to notify applicants if their right-of-way application is complete within 60 days • Discussion draft of H.R. ___ (Rep. Boebert), “Restoring American Energy Dominance Act”, would force BLM to withdraw its proposed rule updating its oil and gas leasing regulations

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

Panel I:
  • Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.)
  • Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.)
  • Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho)
Panel II
  • Tom Kropatsch, Oil and Gas Supervisor, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
  • Sarah Jewett, Vice President of Strategy, Fervo Energy
  • Gene Grace, General Counsel, American Clean Power Association
  • Melissa Hornbein, Senior Attorney, Western Environmental Law Center (Democratic witness)