II

Calendar No. 467

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1418

[Report No. 105–248]

To promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and

development of methane hydrate resources, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

NOVEMBER 7, 1997

Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. CRAIG, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. Nickles, and Mr. LOTT) introduced the following bill; which was read twice

and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

JULY 13, 1998

Reported by Mr. MURKOWSKI, with amendments

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

A BILL

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 1997’’.
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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 the

4 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 and the Secretary of the Interior,

12 shall commence a program of methane hydrate re13 search and development.

14 (2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, Secretary

15 of Defense, and Secretary of the Interior shall des16 ignate individuals to implement this Act.

17 (1) COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later

18 than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,

19 the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of

20 Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Direc21 tor, shall commence a program of methane hydrate re22 search and development.

23 (2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Sec24 retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and
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1 the Director shall designate individuals to implement

2 this Act.

3 (3) MEETINGS.—The individuals designated

4 under paragraph (2) shall meet not less frequently

5 than every 120 days to review the progress of the

6 program under paragraph (1) and make rec7 ommendations on future activities.

8 (b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE

9 AGREEMENTS.—

10 (1) ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.—The

11 Secretary may award grants or contracts to, or enter

12 into cooperative agreements with, universities and

13 industrial enterprises to—

14 (A) conduct basic and applied research to

15 identify, explore, assess, and develop methane

16 hydrate as a source of energy;

17 (B) assist in developing technologies re18 quired for efficient and environmentally sound

19 development of methane hydrate resources;

20 (C) undertake research programs to pro21 vide safe means of transport and storage of

22 methane produced from methane hydrates;

23 (D) promote education and training in

24 methane hydrate resources research and re25 source development;
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1 (E) conduct basic and applied research to

2 assess and mitigate the environmental impacts

3 of hydrate degassing, both natural and that as4 sociated with commercial development; and

5 (F) develop technologies to reduce the

6 risks of drilling through methane hydrates.

7 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary may estab8 lish an advisory panel consisting of experts from in9 dustry, academia, and Federal agencies to advise the

10 Secretary on potential applications of methane hy11 drate and assist in developing recommendations and

12 priorities for the methane hydrate research and de13 velopment program carried out under this section.

14 (c) LIMITATIONS.—

15 (1) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more

16 than 5 percent of the amount made available to

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

18 by the Secretary for expenses associated with the ad19 ministration of the program under subsection (a)(1).

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

21 made available to carry out this section may be used

22 for the construction of a new building or the acquisi23 tion, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an exist24 ing building (including site grading and improve25 ment and architect fees).
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1 (d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In car2 rying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall—

3 (1) facilitate and develop partnerships among

4 government, industry, and academia to research,

5 identify, assess, and explore methane hydrate re6 sources;

7 (2) undertake programs to develop basic infor8 mation necessary for promoting long-term interest in

9 methane hydrate resources as an energy source;

10 (3) ensure that the data and information devel11 oped through the program are accessible and widely

12 disseminated as needed and appropriate;

13 (4) promote cooperation among agencies that

14 are developing technologies that may hold promise

15 for methane hydrate resource development; and

16 (5) report annually to Congress on accomplish17 ments under this Act.

18 SEC. 4. AMENDMENT TO THE MINING AND MINERALS POL19 ICY ACT OF 1970.

20 Section 201 of the Mining and Minerals Policy Act

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

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

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

24 (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the follow25 ing:
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1 ‘‘(6) the term ‘methane hydrate’ means a meth2 ane clathrate that—

3 ‘‘(A) is in the form of a methane-water ice4 like crystalline material; and

5 ‘‘(B) is stable and occurs naturally in deep6 ocean and permafrost areas.’’; and

7 (3) in paragraph (7) (as redesignated by para8 graph (1))—

9 (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking

10 ‘‘and’’;

11 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as

12 subparagraph (H); and

13 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the

14 following:

15 ‘‘(G) methane hydrate; and’’.

16 SEC. 4. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

17 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums

18 as are necessary to carry out this Act.
Calendar No. 467

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1418

[Report No. 105–248]

A BILL

To promote the research, identification, assessment,

resources, and for other purposes.exploration, and development of methane hydrate

JULY 13, 1998

Reported with amendments