I

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1418

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 20, 1998

Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on

Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,

in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

AN ACT

To promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and development of methane hydrate resources,

and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methane Hydrate Re5 search and Development Act of 1998’’.
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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

2 In this Act:

3 (1) CONTRACT.—The term ‘‘contract’’ means a

4 procurement contract within the meaning of 6303 of

5 title 31, United States Code.

6 (2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘co7 operative agreement’’ means a cooperative agree8 ment within the meaning of section 6305 of title 31,

9 United States Code.

10 (3) GRANT.—The term ‘‘grant’’ means a grant

11 agreement within the meaning of section 6304 of

12 title 31, United States Code.

13 (4) METHANE HYDRATE.—The term ‘‘methane

14 hydrate’’ means a methane clathrate that—

15 (A) is in the form of a methane-water ice16 like crystalline material; and

17 (B) is stable and occurs naturally in deep18 ocean and permafrost areas.

19 (5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means

20 the Secretary of Energy.

21 (6) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—The term ‘‘Sec22 retary of Defense’’ means the Secretary of Defense,

23 acting through the Secretary of the Navy.

24 (7) SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.—The term

25 ‘‘Secretary of the Interior’’ means the Secretary of
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1 the Interior, acting through the Director of the

2 United States Geological Survey.

3 (8) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means

4 the Director of the National Science Foundation.

5 SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP6 MENT PROGRAM.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—

8 (1) COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later

9 than 180 days after the date of enactment of this

10 Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec11 retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and

12 the Director, shall commence a program of methane

13 hydrate research and development.

14 (2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Sec15 retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and

16 the Director shall designate individuals to implement

17 this Act.

18 (3) MEETINGS.—The individuals designated

19 under paragraph (2) shall meet not less frequently

20 than every 120 days to review the progress of the

21 program under paragraph (1) and make rec22 ommendations on future activities.

23 (b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE

24 AGREEMENTS.—
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1 (1) ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.—The

2 Secretary may award grants or contracts to, or enter

3 into cooperative agreements with, universities and

4 industrial enterprises to—

5 (A) conduct basic and applied research to

6 identify, explore, assess, and develop methane

7 hydrate as a source of energy;

8 (B) assist in developing technologies re9 quired for efficient and environmentally sound

10 development of methane hydrate resources;

11 (C) undertake research programs to pro12 vide safe means of transport and storage of

13 methane produced from methane hydrates;

14 (D) promote education and training in

15 methane hydrate resources research and re16 source development;

17 (E) conduct basic and applied research to

18 assess and mitigate the environmental impacts

19 of hydrate degassing, both natural and that as20 sociated with commercial development; and

21 (F) develop technologies to reduce the

22 risks of drilling through methane hydrates.

23 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary may estab24 lish an advisory panel consisting of experts from in25 dustry, academia, and Federal agencies to advise the
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1 Secretary on potential applications of methane hy2 drate and assist in developing recommendations and

3 priorities for the methane hydrate research and de4 velopment program carried out under this section.

5 (c) LIMITATIONS.—

6 (1) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more

7 than 5 percent of the amount made available to

8 carry out this section for a fiscal year may be used

9 by the Secretary for expenses associated with the ad10 ministration of the program under subsection (a)(1).

11 (2) CONSTRUCTION COSTS.—None of the funds

12 made available to carry out this section may be used

13 for the construction of a new building or the acquisi14 tion, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an exist15 ing building (including site grading and improve16 ment and architect fees).

17 (d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In car18 rying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall—

19 (1) facilitate and develop partnerships among

20 government, industry, and academia to research,

21 identify, assess, and explore methane hydrate re22 sources;

23 (2) undertake programs to develop basic infor24 mation necessary for promoting long-term interest in

25 methane hydrate resources as an energy source;
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1 (3) ensure that the data and information devel2 oped through the program are accessible and widely

3 disseminated as needed and appropriate;

4 (4) promote cooperation among agencies that

5 are developing technologies that may hold promise

6 for methane hydrate resource development; and

7 (5) report annually to Congress on accomplish8 ments under this Act.

9 SEC. 4. AMENDMENT TO THE MINING AND MINERALS POL10 ICY ACT OF 1970.

11 Section 201 of the Mining and Minerals Policy Act

12 of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1901) is amended—

13 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as

14 paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively;

15 (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the follow16 ing:

17 ‘‘(6) the term ‘methane hydrate’ means a meth18 ane clathrate that—

19 ‘‘(A) is in the form of a methane-water ice20 like crystalline material; and

21 ‘‘(B) is stable and occurs naturally in

22 deep-ocean and permafrost areas.’’; and

23 (3) in paragraph (7) (as redesignated by para24 graph (1))—
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1 (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking

2 ‘‘and’’;

3 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as

4 subparagraph (H); and

5 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (F)

6 the following:

7 ‘‘(G) methane hydrate; and’’.

8 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

9 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums

10 as are necessary to carry out this Act.

Passed the Senate July 17, 1998.

Attest: GARY SISCO,

Secretary.