(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assist-
ant Secretary for Fossil Energy.
(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.
SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and
the Director, shall commence a program of methane
hydrate research and development.
(2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and
the Director shall designate 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 methane
hydrate 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 pro-
vide safe means of transport and storage of
methane produced from methane hydrates;
(D) promote education and training in
methane hydrate resource research and re-
source 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 com-
mercial development); and
(F) develop technologies to reduce the
risks of drilling through methane 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 may establish an
advisory panel consisting of experts from industry, institu-
tions of higher education, and Federal agencies to—
(1) advise the Secretary on potential applica-
tions of methane hydrate; and
(2) assist in developing recommendations and
priorities for the methane hydrate research and de-
velopment program carried out under subsection
(a)(1).
(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 edu-
cation to research, identify, assess, and explore
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
methane clathrate that—
‘‘(A) is in the form of a methane-water ice-
like crystalline material; and
‘‘(B) is stable and occurs naturally in
deep-ocean and permafrost areas.’’.
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) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(4) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
(5) $10,000,000 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.
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