Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 1753 (eh) To promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and development of gas hydrate resources, and for other purposes. [Engrossed in House] ...H.R. 1753 (eh) To promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and development of gas hydrate resources, and for other purposes. [Engrossed in House] ...
In the Senate of the United States,
November 19, 1999.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R.
1753) entitled ``An Act to promote the research, identification,
assessment, exploration, and development of gas hydrate resources, and
for other purposes.'', do pass with the following
AMENDMENTS:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Hydrate Research and
Development Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Contract.--The term ``contract'' means a procurement
contract within the meaning of section 6303 of title 31, United
States Code.
(2) Cooperative agreement.--The term ``cooperative
agreement'' means a cooperative agreement within the meaning of
section 6305 of title 31, United States Code.
(3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Science Foundation.
(4) Grant.--The term ``grant'' means a grant awarded under
a grant agreement, within the meaning of section 6304 of title
31, United States Code.
(5) Industrial enterprise.--The term ``industrial
enterprise'' means a private, nongovernmental enterprise
incorporated under Federal or State law that has an expertise
or capability that relates to methane hydrate research and
development.
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' means an institution of
higher education, within the meaning of section 102(a)(1) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)).
(7) Methane hydrate.--The term ``methane hydrate'' means--
(A) a methane clathrate that is in the form of a
methane-water ice-like crystalline material and is
stable and occurs naturally in deep-ocean and
permafrost areas, and
(B) other natural gas hydrates found in association
with deep-ocean and permafrost deposits of methane
hydrate.
(8) Secretary of energy.--The term ``Secretary of Energy''
means the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assistant
Secretary for Fossil Energy.
(9) Secretary of commerce.--The term ``Secretary of
Commerce'' means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
(10) Secretary of defense.--The term ``Secretary of
Defense'' means the Secretary of Defense, acting through the
Secretary of the Navy.
(11) Secretary of the interior.--The term ``Secretary of
the Interior'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Director of the United States Geological Survey and
the Director of the Minerals Management Service.
SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--
(1) Commencement of program.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in
collaboration with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director, shall
commence a program of methane hydrate research and development
in accordance with subsection (b).
(2) Designations.--The Secretary of Energy, the Secretary
of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the
Interior, and the Director shall designate individuals to carry
out this section.
(3) Coordination.--The individual designated by the
Secretary of Energy shall coordinate all activities within the
Department of Energy relating to methane hydrate research and
development.
(4) Meetings.--The individuals designated under paragraph
(2) shall meet not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 120
days thereafter to--
(A) review the progress of the program under
paragraph (1); and
(B) make recommendations on future activities to
occur subsequent to the meeting.
(b) Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) Assistance and coordination.--In carrying out the
program of methane hydrate research and development authorized
by this subsection the Secretary of Energy may award grants or
contracts to, or enter into cooperative agreements with,
institutions of higher education and industrial enterprises
to--
(A) conduct basic and applied research to identify,
explore, assess, and develop methane hydrate as a
source of energy;
(B) assist in developing technologies required for
efficient and environmentally sound development of
methane hydrate resources;
(C) undertake research programs to provide safe
means of transport and storage of methane produced from
gas methane hydrates;
(D) promote education and training in methane
hydrate resource research and resource development;
(E) conduct basic and applied research to assess
and mitigate the environmental impacts of hydrate
degassing (including both natural degassing and
degassing associated with commercial development);
(F) develop technologies to reduce the risks of
drilling through methane hydrates; and
(G) conduct exploratory drilling in support of the
activities authorized by this paragraph.
(2) Competitive merit-based review.--Funds made available
under paragraph (1) shall be made available based on a
competitive merit-based process.
(3) Consultation.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of Energy shall
establish an advisory panel consisting of experts from
industry, institutions of higher education, and Federal
agencies to--
(i) advise the Secretary of Energy on
potential applications of methane hydrate;
(ii) assist in developing recommendations
and priorities for the methane hydrate research
and development program carried out under
subsection (a)(1); and
(iii) not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, and at such later
dates as the panel considers advisable, submit
to Congress a report on the anticipated impact
on global climate change from--
(I) methane hydrate formation;
(II) methane hydrate degassing
(including natural degassing and
degassing associated with commercial
development); and
(III) the consumption of natural
gas produced from methane hydrates.
(B) Membership.--Not more than twenty-five percent
of the individuals serving on the advisory panel shall
be Federal employees.
(c) Limitations.--
(1) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 5 percent of
the amount made available to carry out this section for a
fiscal year may be used by the Secretary of Energy for expenses
associated with the administration of the program carried out
under subsection (a)(1).
(2) Construction costs.--None of the funds made available
to carry out this section may be used for the construction of a
new building or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or
alteration of an existing building (including site grading and
improvement and architect fees).
(d) Responsibilities of the Secretary of Energy.--In carrying out
subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Energy shall--
(1) facilitate and develop partnerships among government,
industry, and institutions of higher education to research,
identify, assess, and explore methane hydrate resources;
(2) undertake programs to develop basic information
necessary for promoting long-term interest in methane hydrate
resources as an energy source;
(3) ensure that the data and information developed through
the program are accessible and widely disseminated as needed
and appropriate;
(4) promote cooperation among agencies that are developing
technologies that may hold promise for methane hydrate resource
development; and
(5) report annually to Congress on accomplishments under
this section.
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE MINING AND MINERALS POLICY ACT OF 1970.
Section 201 of the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30
U.S.C. 1901) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as
subparagraph (H); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the
following:
``(G) for purposes of this section and sections 202
through 205 only, methane hydrate; and''.
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph 6 the following:
``(7) the term ``methane hydrate'' means--
``(A) a methane clathrate that is in the form of a
methane-water ice-like crystalline material and is
stable and occurs naturally in deep-ocean and
permafrost areas; and
``(B) other natural gas hydrates found in
association with deep-ocean and permafrost deposits of
methane hydrate.''.
SEC. 5. REPORTS AND STUDIES.
The Secretary of Energy shall simultaneously provide to the
Committee on Science and the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate copies of any report or study that the Department of Energy
prepares pursuant to this Act.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy
to carry out this Act--
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
(2) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2001;
(3) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
(5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
(6) therafter such sums as are necessary.
Amounts authorized under this section shall remain available until
expended.
Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to promote the
research, identification, assessment, exploration, and
development of methane hydrate resources, and for other
purposes.''.
Attest:
Secretary.
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1753
_______________________________________________________________________
AMENDMENTS
Pages: 1 Other Popular 106th Congressional Bills Documents:
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