I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1753

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

development of methane hydrate resources, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 11, 1999

Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. CALVERT, and Mr. COSTELLO) introduced the

following bill; which was 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

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 1999’’.

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

7 In this Act:
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1 (1) CONTRACT.—The term ‘‘contract’’ means a

2 procurement contract within the meaning of section

3 6303 of title 31, United States Code.

4 (2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘co5 operative agreement’’ means a cooperative agree6 ment within the meaning of section 6305 of title 31,

7 United States Code.

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

9 the Director of the National Science Foundation.

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

11 awarded under a grant agreement, within the mean12 ing of section 6304 of title 31, United States Code.

13 (5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The

14 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ means an in15 stitution of higher education, within the meaning of

16 section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of

17 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).

18 (6) METHANE HYDRATE.—The term ‘‘methane

19 hydrate’’ means a methane clathrate that—

20 (A) is in the form of a methane-water ice21 like crystalline material; and

22 (B) is stable and occurs naturally in deep23 ocean and permafrost areas.
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1 (7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means

2 the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assist3 ant Secretary for Fossil Energy.

4 (8) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—The term ‘‘Sec5 retary of Defense’’ means the Secretary of Defense,

6 acting through the Secretary of the Navy.

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

8 ‘‘Secretary of the Interior’’ means the Secretary of

9 the Interior, acting through the Director of the

10 United States Geological Survey.

11 SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP12 MENT PROGRAM.

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—

14 (1) COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later

15 than 180 days after the date of enactment of this

16 Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec17 retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and

18 the Director, shall commence a program of methane

19 hydrate research and development.

20 (2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Sec21 retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and

22 the Director shall designate individuals to carry out

23 this section.

24 (3) MEETINGS.—The individuals designated

25 under paragraph (2) shall meet not later than 120
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1 days after the date on which all such individuals are

2 designated and not less frequently than every 120

3 days thereafter to—

4 (A) review the progress of the program

5 under paragraph (1); and

6 (B) make recommendations on future ac7 tivities to occur subsequent to the meeting.

8 (b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE AGREE9 MENTS, INTERAGENCY FUNDS TRANSFER AGREEMENTS,

10 AND FIELD WORK PROPOSALS.—

11 (1) ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.—The

12 Secretary may award grants or contracts to, or enter

13 into cooperative agreements with, institutions of

14 higher education and industrial enterprises to—

15 (A) conduct basic and applied research to

16 identify, explore, assess, and develop methane

17 hydrate as a source of energy;

18 (B) assist in developing technologies re19 quired for efficient and environmentally sound

20 development of methane hydrate resources;

21 (C) undertake research programs to pro22 vide safe means of transport and storage of

23 methane produced from methane hydrates;
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1 (D) promote education and training in

2 methane hydrate resource research and re3 source development;

4 (E) conduct basic and applied research to

5 assess and mitigate the environmental impacts

6 of hydrate degassing (including both natural

7 degassing and degassing associated with com8 mercial development); and

9 (F) develop technologies to reduce the

10 risks of drilling through methane hydrates.

11 (2) COMPETITIVE MERIT-BASED REVIEW.—

12 Funds made available under paragraph (1) shall be

13 made available based on a competitive merit-based

14 process.

15 (c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary may establish an

16 advisory panel consisting of experts from industry, institu17 tions of higher education, and Federal agencies to—

18 (1) advise the Secretary on potential applica19 tions of methane hydrate; and

20 (2) assist in developing recommendations and

21 priorities for the methane hydrate research and de22 velopment program carried out under subsection

23 (a)(1).

24 (d) LIMITATIONS.—
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1 (1) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more

2 than 5 percent of the amount made available to

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

4 by the Secretary for expenses associated with the ad5 ministration of the program carried out under sub6 section (a)(1).

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

8 made available to carry out this section may be used

9 for the construction of a new building or the acquisi10 tion, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an exist11 ing building (including site grading and improve12 ment and architect fees).

13 (e) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In car14 rying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall—

15 (1) facilitate and develop partnerships among

16 government, industry, and institutions of higher edu17 cation to research, identify, assess, and explore

18 methane hydrate resources;

19 (2) undertake programs to develop basic infor20 mation necessary for promoting long-term interest in

21 methane hydrate resources as an energy source;

22 (3) ensure that the data and information devel23 oped through the program are accessible and widely

24 disseminated as needed and appropriate;
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1 (4) promote cooperation among agencies that

2 are developing technologies that may hold promise

3 for methane hydrate resource development; and

4 (5) report annually to Congress on accomplish5 ments under this section.

6 SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE MINING AND MINERALS POL7 ICY ACT OF 1970.

8 Section 201 of the Mining and Minerals Policy Act

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

10 (1) in paragraph (6)—

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

12 ‘‘and’’ at the end;

13 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as

14 subparagraph (H); and

15 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (F)

16 the following:

17 ‘‘(G) for purposes of this section and sec18 tions 202 through 205 only, methane hydrate;

19 and’’;

20 (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para21 graph (8); and

22 (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol23 lowing:

24 ‘‘(7) The term ‘methane hydrate’ means a

25 methane clathrate that—
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1 ‘‘(A) is in the form of a methane-water ice2 like crystalline material; and

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

4 deep-ocean and permafrost areas.’’.

5 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

6 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec7 retary of Energy to carry out this Act—

8 (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;

9 (2) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2001;

10 (3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;

11 (4) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and

12 (5) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.

13 Amounts authorized under this section shall remain avail14 able until expended.

15 SEC. 6. SUNSET.

16 Section 3 of this Act shall cease to be effective after

17 the end of fiscal year 2004.

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