106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H.R. 1753
AMENDMENT
TO
SENATE AMENDMENTS
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
April 3, 2000.
Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment of the
Senate to the title; and agree to the amendment of the Sen-
ate to the text to the bill (H.R. 1753) entitled ‘‘An Act to
promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration,
and development of gas hydrate resources, and for other pur-
poses’’, with the following
AMENDMENT:
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the
Senate amendment, insert the following:
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 ‘‘co-
operative 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 mean-
ing of section 6304 of title 31, United States Code.
(5) INDUSTRIAL
ENTERPRISE.—The term ‘‘in-
dustrial enterprise’’ means a private, nongovern-
mental enterprise that has an expertise or capability
that relates to methane hydrate research and develop-
ment.
(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ means an in-
stitution 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 ‘‘Sec-
retary of Commerce’’ means the Secretary of Com-
merce, acting through the Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(9) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary 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 Min-
erals Management Service.
SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.
(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 Secretary
of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary
of the Interior, and the Director, shall commence a
program of methane hydrate research and develop-
ment in accordance with this section.
(2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
retary 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 hy-
drate research and development.
(4) MEETINGS.—The 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 ac-
tivities to occur subsequent to the meeting.
(b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS,
INTERAGENCY FUNDS TRANSFER AGREEMENTS, AND FIELD
WORK PROPOSALS.—
(1) ASSISTANCE
AND
COORDINATION.—In car-
rying out the program of methane hydrate research
and development authorized by this section, the Sec-
retary may award grants or contracts to, or enter
into cooperative agreements with, institutions of high-
er education and industrial enterprises to—
(A) conduct basic and applied research to
identify, explore, assess, and develop methane hy-
drate as a source of energy;
(B) assist in developing technologies re-
quired 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 commer-
cial 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.
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall establish an
advisory panel consisting of experts from industrial enter-
prises, institutions of higher education, and Federal agen-
cies to—
(1) advise the Secretary on potential applica-
tions of methane hydrate;
(2) assist in developing recommendations and
priorities for the methane hydrate research and devel-
opment program carried out under subsection (a)(1);
and
(3) not 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 pro-
duced 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 Sec-
retary 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 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, industrial enterprises, and institutions of
higher education to research, identify, assess, and ex-
plore methane hydrate resources;
(2) undertake programs to develop basic infor-
mation necessary for promoting long-term interest in
methane 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
methane 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) in paragraph (6)—
(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, methane hydrate;
and’’;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(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 de-
posits of methane hydrate.’’.
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 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 avail-
able 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 re-
search and development program implemented pursuant to
this Act, and to make recommendations for future methane
hydrate research and development needs. The Secretary
shall transmit to the Congress, not later than September
30, 2004, a report containing the findings and rec-
ommendations of the National Research Council under this
section.
SEC. 8. REPORTS AND STUDIES.
The Secretary of Energy shall provide to the Com-
mittee on Science of the House of Representatives copies of
any report or study that the Department of Energy pre-
pares at the direction of any committee of the Congress.
Attest:
Clerk.