30 U.S.C. § 1026 Significant Thermal Features

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 30 U.S.C. § 1026

(a) Units of National Park System

(1) The Secretary shall maintain a list of significant thermal features, as defined in section 1001(f) of this title, within units of the National Park System, including but not limited to the following units:

(A) Mount Rainier National Park.

(B) Crater Lake National Park.

(C) Yellowstone National Park.

(D) John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

(E) Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.

(F) Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.

(G) Katmai National Park.

(H) Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve.

(I) Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

(J) Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.

(K) Hot Springs National Park.

(L) Big Bend National Park (including that portion of the Rio Grande National Wild Scenic River within the boundaries of Big Bend National Park).

(M) Lassen Volcanic National Park.

(N) Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

(O) Haleakala National Park.

(P) Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

(2) The Secretary may, after notice and public comment, add significant thermal features within units of the National Park System to the significant thermal features list.

(3) The Secretary shall consider the following criteria in determining the significance of thermal features:

(A) Size, extent and uniqueness.

(B) Scientific and geologic significance.

(C) The extent to which such features remain in a natural, undisturbed condition.

(D) Significance of thermal features to the authorized purposes for which the National Park System unit was established.

(b) Monitoring program

(1) The Secretary shall maintain a monitoring program for significant thermal features within units of the National Park System.

(2) As part of the monitoring program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish a research program to collect and assess data on the geothermal resources within units of the National Park System with significant thermal features. Such program shall be carried out by the National Park Service in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey and shall begin with the collection and assessment of data for significant thermal features near current or proposed geothermal development and shall also include such features near areas of potential geothermal development.

(c) Lease application; adverse effect

(1) Upon receipt of an application for a lease under this chapter, the Secretary shall determine on the basis of scientific evidence if exploration, development or utilization of the lands subject to the lease application is reasonably likely to result in a significant adverse effect on a significant thermal feature within a unit of the National Park System. Such determination shall be subject to notice and public comment.