Directs the Secretary to establish a panel to: (1) provide advice on applications of methane hydrate and priorities for the program; and (2) report to Congress on the impact on global climate change from methane hydrate formation and degassing and the consumption of natural gas produced from such hydrates. Limits to five percent the amount of program funding that can be used for administrative expense and prohibits the use of program funding for building construction.
Requires the Secretary, in awarding such grants or contracts or entering into such cooperative agreements, to: (1) facilitate and develop partnerships among government, industry, and institutions of higher education; (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; (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.
Amends the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 to: (1) redefine "marine mineral resource" to include methane hydrate (for the purposes of the marine mineral resources research program); and (2) define "methane hydrate."
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2002 through 2005.
Sunsets the methane hydrate research and development program after the end of FY 2005.
Instructs the Secretary to: (1) enter into an agreement with the National Research Council for a study and report to Congress on the progress made under the methane hydrate research and development program, together with any recommendations for future methane hydrate research and development needs; and (2) provide to the House Committee on Science any report or study prepared at the direction of any congressional committee.
[106th Congress Public Law 193]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ193.106]
[[Page 233]]
METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2000
[[Page 114 STAT. 234]]
Public Law 106-193
106th Congress
An Act
To <<NOTE: May 2, 2000 - [H.R. 1753]>> promote the research,
identification, assessment, exploration, and development of methane
hydrate resources, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Methane Hydrate Research
and Development Act of 2000. 30 USC 1902 note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Hydrate Research and
Development Act of 2000''.
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 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) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Fossil
Energy.
(8) Secretary of commerce.--The term ``Secretary of
Commerce'' means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
(9) Secretary of defense.--The term ``Secretary of Defense''
means the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Secretary of
the Navy.
(10) 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.
[[Page 114 STAT. 235]]
SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--
(1) Commencement of <<NOTE: Deadline.>> program.--Not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary, in consultation 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 this section.
(2) Designations.--The Secretary, 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 shall coordinate all activities within the Department
of Energy relating to methane hydrate research and development.
(4) Meetings.--The <<NOTE: Deadline.>> individuals
designated under paragraph (2) shall meet not later than 270
days after the date of the 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, Cooperative Agreements, Interagency Funds
Transfer Agreements, and Field Work Proposals.--
(1) Assistance and coordination.--In carrying out the
program of methane hydrate research and development authorized
by this section, the Secretary 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
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.
[[Page 114 STAT. 236]]
(c) Consultation.--The <<NOTE: Establishment.>> Secretary shall
establish an advisory panel consisting of experts from industrial
enterprises, institutions of higher education, and Federal agencies to--
(1) advise the Secretary on potential applications of
methane hydrate;
(2) assist in developing recommendations and priorities for
the methane hydrate research and development program carried out
under subsection (a)(1); and
(3) not <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports.>> later than 2 years
after the date of the 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--
(A) methane hydrate formation;
(B) methane hydrate degassing (including natural
degassing and degassing associated with commercial
development); and
(C) the consumption of natural gas produced from
methane hydrates.
Not more than 25 percent of the individuals serving on the advisory
panel shall be Federal employees.
(d) 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 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).
(e) Responsibilities of the Secretary.--In carrying out subsection
(b)(1), the Secretary shall--
(1) facilitate and develop partnerships among government,
industrial enterprises, 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) <<NOTE: Reports.>> 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
[[Page 114 STAT. 237]]
(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. 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 2001;
(2) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(3) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
(4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
(5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
Amounts authorized under this section shall remain available until
expended.
SEC. 6. SUNSET.
Section 3 of this Act shall cease to be effective after the end of
fiscal year 2005.
SEC. 7. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY.
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National
Research Council for such council to conduct a study of the progress
made under the methane hydrate research and development program
implemented pursuant to this Act, and to make recommendations for future
methane hydrate research and development needs.
The <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports.>> Secretary shall transmit to the
Congress, not later than September 30, 2004, a report containing the
findings and recommendations of the National Research Council under this
section.
SEC. 8. REPORTS AND STUDIES.
The Secretary of Energy shall provide to the Committee on Science of
the House of Representatives copies of any report or
[[Page 114 STAT. 238]]
study that the Department of Energy prepares at the direction of any
committee of the Congress.
Approved May 2, 2000.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1753 (S. 330):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-377, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Science) and Pt. 2 (Comm. on
Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-33 accompanying S. 330 (Comm. on Energy and
Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 145 (1999):
Oct. 26, considered and passed
House.
Nov. 19, considered and passed
Senate, amended.
Vol. 146 (2000):
Apr. 3, House concurred in Senate
amendments with an amendment
pursuant to H. Res. 453.
Apr. 13, Senate concurred in House
amendment.
<all>
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 349.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S15195-15197)
Amendment SP 2806 proposed by Senator Daschle for Senator Akaka.
Amendment SP 2806 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S15195-15197)
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S15195-15197)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H. Res. 453.(consideration: CR H1634-1636)
House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H. Res. 453. (consideration: CR H1634-1636)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendments.
Enacted as Public Law 106-193
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Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2805-2807; text as Senate agreed to House amendments: CR S2805-2806)
Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2805-2807; text as Senate agreed to House amendments: CR S2805-2806)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 106-193.
Became Public Law No: 106-193.