SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gas 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 ‘‘co-
operative agreement’’ means a cooperative agree-
ment 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 mean-
ing of section 6304 of title 31, United States Code.
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ means an in-
stitution of higher education, within the meaning of
section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assist-
ant Secretary for Fossil Energy.
(7) SECRETARY
OF
COMMERCE.—The term
‘‘Secretary of Commerce’’ means the Secretary of
Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(8) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary of Defense’’ means the Secretary of Defense,
acting through the Secretary of the Navy.
(9) 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. GAS HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of the Interior, and the Director, shall
commence a program of gas hydrate research and
development.
(2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of the Interior, and the Director shall des-
ignate individuals to carry out this section.
(3) MEETINGS.—The individuals designated
under paragraph (2) shall meet not later than 120
days after the date on which all such individuals are
designated 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 ac-
tivities to occur subsequent to the meeting.
(b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE AGREE-
MENTS, INTERAGENCY FUNDS TRANSFER AGREEMENTS,
AND FIELD WORK PROPOSALS.—
(1) ASSISTANCE
AND
COORDINATION.—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 gas hy-
drate as a source of energy;
(B) assist in developing technologies re-
quired for efficient and environmentally sound
development of gas hydrate resources;
(C) undertake research programs to pro-
vide safe means of transport and storage of gas
produced from gas hydrates;
(D) promote education and training in gas
hydrate resource research and resource develop-
ment;
(E) conduct basic and applied research to
assess and mitigate the environmental impacts
of hydrate degassing (including both natural
degassing and degassing associated with com-
mercial development); and
(F) develop technologies to reduce the
risks of drilling through gas hydrates.
(2) COMPETITIVE
MERIT-BASED
REVIEW.—
Funds made available under paragraph (1) shall be
made available based on a competitive merit-based
process.
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall establish
an advisory panel consisting of experts from industry, in-
stitutions of higher education, and Federal agencies to—
(1) advise the Secretary on potential applica-
tions of gas hydrate;
(2) assist in developing recommendations and
priorities for the gas hydrate research and develop-
ment program carried out under subsection (a)(1);
and
(3) report to the Congress within 2 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, or at such
later date as the Secretary considers advisable, on
the impact on global climate change from gas hy-
drate extraction and consumption.
(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 ad-
ministration of the program carried out under sub-
section (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 acquisi-
tion, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an exist-
ing building (including site grading and improve-
ment and architect fees).
(e) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In car-
rying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall—
(1) facilitate and develop partnerships among
Government, industry, and institutions of higher
education to research, identify, assess, and explore
gas hydrate resources;
(2) undertake programs to develop basic infor-
mation necessary for promoting long-term interest in
gas hydrate resources as an energy source;
(3) ensure that the data and information devel-
oped 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 gas hydrate resource development; and
(5) report annually to Congress on accomplish-
ments under this section.
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE MINING AND MINERALS POL-
ICY ACT OF 1970.
Section 201 of the Mining and Minerals Policy Act
of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1901) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through
(7) as paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(4) The term ‘gas hydrate’ means a gas clath-
rate that—
‘‘(A) is in the form of a gas-water ice-like
crystalline material; and
‘‘(B) is stable and occurs naturally in
deep-ocean and permafrost areas.’’; and
(3) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated by
paragraph (1) of this section—
(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 sec-
tions 202 through 205 only, gas hydrate; and’’.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary 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; and
(5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
Amounts authorized under this section shall remain avail-
able until expended.
SEC. 6. SUNSET.
Section 3 of this Act shall cease to be effective after
the end of fiscal year 2004.
SEC. 7. REPORTS AND STUDIES.
The Secretary shall simultaneously provide to the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate copies of any report or study that the Depart-
ment of Energy prepares at the direction of any committee
of the Congress.
Passed the House of Representatives October 26,
1999.
Attest:
Clerk.