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activities, including activities authorized under this
subtitle—
(1) $583,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $611,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(3) $626,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(b) ALLOCATIONS.—From amounts authorized under
subsection (a), the following sums are authorized:
(1) For activities under section 954, $20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008.
(2) For activities under section 955—
(A) $337,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(B) $364,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(C) $394,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(3) For activities under section 956—
(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(B) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(4) For the Office of Arctic Energy under section
3197 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (42 U.S.C.
7144d) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006
through 2008.
(c) EXTENDED AUTHORIZATION.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the Office of
Arctic Energy established under section 3197 of the Floyd
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D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2001 (42 U.S.C. 7144d) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2009 through 2012.
(d) LIMITATIONS.—
(1) USES.—None of the funds authorized under
this section may be used for Fossil Energy Environ-
mental Restoration or Import/Export Authorization.
(2) INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—Of
the funds authorized under subsection (b)(1), not less
than 20 percent of the funds appropriated for each
fiscal year shall be dedicated to research and develop-
ment carried out at institutions of higher education.
SEC. 952. OIL AND GAS RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
(a) OIL AND GAS RESEARCH.—The Secretary shall
conduct a program of research, development, demonstration,
and commercial application of oil and gas, including—
(1) exploration and production;
(2) gas hydrates;
(3) reservoir life and extension;
(4) transportation and distribution infrastruc-
ture;
(5) ultraclean fuels;
(6) heavy oil and shale; and
(7) related environmental research.
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(b) NATURAL GAS AND OIL DEPOSITS REPORT.—Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act
and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior,
in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies,
shall submit to Congress a report on the latest estimates
of natural gas and oil reserves, reserves growth, and undis-
covered resources in Federal and State waters off the coast
of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi.
(c) INTEGRATED CLEAN POWER AND ENERGY RE-
SEARCH.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
CENTER.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a national center or consortium
of excellence in clean energy and power generation,
using the resources of the Clean Power and Energy
Research Consortium in existence on the date of en-
actment of this Act, to address the critical dependence
of the United States on energy and the need to reduce
emissions.
(2) FOCUS
AREAS.—The center or consortium
shall conduct a program of research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application on inte-
grating the following 6 focus areas:
(A) Efficiency and reliability of gas tur-
bines for power generation.
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(B) Reduction in emissions from power gen-
eration.
(C) Promotion of energy conservation
issues.
(D) Effectively using alternative fuels and
renewable energy.
(E) Development of advanced materials
technology for oil and gas exploration and use in
harsh environments.
(F) Education on energy and power genera-
tion issues.
SEC. 953. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Methane Hydrate Research
and Development Act of 2000 (30 U.S.C. 1902 note; Public
Law 106–193) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Methane Hydrate Re-
search and Development Act of 2000’.
‘‘SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
‘‘Congress finds that—
‘‘(1) in order to promote energy independence
and meet the increasing demand for energy, the
United States will require a diversified portfolio of
substantially increased quantities of electricity, nat-
ural gas, and transportation fuels;
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‘‘(2) according to the report submitted to Con-
gress by the National Research Council entitled
‘Charting the Future of Methane Hydrate Research in
the United States’, the total United States resources
of gas hydrates have been estimated to be on the order
of 200,000 trillion cubic feet;
‘‘(3) according to the report of the National
Commission on Energy Policy entitled ‘Ending the
Energy Stalemate—A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet
America’s Energy Challenge’, and dated December
2004, the United States may be endowed with over 1/
4 of the methane hydrate deposits in the world;
‘‘(4) according to the Energy Information Ad-
ministration, a shortfall in natural gas supply from
conventional and unconventional sources is expected
to occur in or about 2020; and
‘‘(5) the National Academy of Science states that
methane hydrate may have the potential to alleviate
the projected shortfall in the natural gas supply.
‘‘SEC. 3. 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.
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‘‘(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 insti-
tution of higher education (as defined in section 102
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1002)).
‘‘(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-
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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, act-
ing 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, the Director of the Bureau
of Land Management, and the Director of the Min-
erals Management Service.
‘‘SEC. 4. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later
than 90 days after the date of enactment of the En-
ergy Research, Development, Demonstration, and
Commercial Application Act of 2005, 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 meth-
ane hydrate research and development in accordance
with this section.
‘‘(2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
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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 180
days after the date of enactment of the Energy Re-
search, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial
Application Act of 2005 and not less frequently than
every 180 days thereafter to—
‘‘(A) review the progress of the program
under paragraph (1); and
‘‘(B) coordinate interagency research and
partnership efforts in carrying out the program.
‘‘(b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS, 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 to, or enter into contracts
or cooperative agreements with, institutions of higher
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education, oceanographic institutions, and industrial
enterprises to—
‘‘(A) conduct basic and applied research to
identify, explore, assess, and develop methane hy-
drate as a commercially viable source of energy;
‘‘(B) identify methane hydrate resources
through remote sensing;
‘‘(C) acquire and reprocess seismic data
suitable for characterizing methane hydrate ac-
cumulations;
‘‘(D) assist in developing technologies re-
quired for efficient and environmentally sound
development of methane hydrate resources;
‘‘(E) promote education and training in
methane hydrate resource research and resource
development through fellowships or other means
for graduate education and training;
‘‘(F) conduct basic and applied research to
assess and mitigate the environmental impact of
hydrate 
degassing 
(including 
both 
natural
degassing and degassing associated with commer-
cial development);
‘‘(G) develop technologies to reduce the risks
of drilling through methane hydrates; and
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‘‘(H) conduct exploratory drilling, well test-
ing, and production testing operations on per-
mafrost and non-permafrost gas hydrates in sup-
port of the activities authorized by this para-
graph, including drilling of 1 or more full-scale
production test wells.
‘‘(2) COMPETITIVE PEER REVIEW.—Funds made
available under paragraph (1) shall be made avail-
able based on a competitive process using external sci-
entific peer review of proposed research.
‘‘(c) METHANE HYDRATES ADVISORY PANEL.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
an advisory panel (including the hiring of appro-
priate staff) consisting of representatives of industrial
enterprises, institutions of higher education, oceano-
graphic institutions, State agencies, and environ-
mental organizations with knowledge and expertise in
the natural gas hydrates field, to—
‘‘(A) assist in developing recommendations
and broad programmatic priorities for the meth-
ane hydrate research and development program
carried out under subsection (a)(1);
‘‘(B) provide scientific oversight for the
methane hydrates program, including assessing
progress toward program goals, evaluating pro-
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gram balance, and providing recommendations
to enhance the quality of the program over time;
and
‘‘(C) not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Energy Research, Development,
Demonstration, and Commercial Application Act
of 2005, and at such later dates as the panel con-
siders advisable, submit to Congress—
‘‘(i) an assessment of the methane hy-
drate research program; and
‘‘(ii) an assessment of the 5-year re-
search plan of the Department of Energy.
‘‘(2) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—In appointing
each member of the advisory panel established under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure, to the max-
imum extent practicable, that the appointment of the
member does not pose a conflict of interest with re-
spect to the duties of the member under this Act.
‘‘(3) MEETINGS.—The advisory panel shall—
‘‘(A) hold the initial meeting of the advisory
panel not later than 180 days after the date of
establishment of the advisory panel; and
‘‘(B) meet biennially thereafter.
‘‘(4) COORDINATION.—The advisory panel shall
coordinate activities of the advisory panel with pro-
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gram managers of the Department of Energy at ap-
propriate national laboratories
‘‘(d) CONSTRUCTION COSTS.—None of the funds made
available to carry out this section may be used for the con-
struction of a new building or the acquisition, expansion,
remodeling, or alteration of an existing building (including
site grading and improvement 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;
‘‘(5) report annually to Congress on the results
of actions taken to carry out this Act; and
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‘‘(6) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable,
greater participation by the Department of Energy in
international cooperative efforts.
‘‘SEC. 5. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY.
‘‘(a) AGREEMENT FOR STUDY.—The Secretary shall
offer to enter into an agreement with the National Research
Council under which the National Research Council shall—
‘‘(1) conduct a study of the progress made under
the methane hydrate research and development pro-
gram implemented under this Act; and
‘‘(2) make recommendations for future methane
hydrate research and development needs.
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 2009, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the
findings and recommendations of the National Research
Council under this section.
‘‘SEC. 6. REPORTS AND STUDIES FOR CONGRESS.
‘‘The Secretary shall 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 Department of Energy pre-
pares at the direction of any committee of Congress relating
to the methane hydrate research and development program
implemented under this Act.
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‘‘SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this Act, to remain available until
expended—
‘‘(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
‘‘(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
‘‘(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
‘‘(4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
‘‘(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.’’.
(b) RECLASSIFICATION.—The Law Revision Counsel
shall reclassify the Methane Hydrate Research and Develop-
ment Act of 2000 (30 U.S.C. 1902 note; Public Law 106–
193) to a new chapter at the end of title 30, United States
Code.
SEC. 954. LOW-VOLUME GAS RESERVOIR RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM.
(a) DEFINITIONS OF GIS.—In this section, the term
‘‘GIS’’ means geographic information systems technology
that facilitates the organization and management of data
with a geographic component.
(b) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish a pro-
gram of research, development, demonstration, and commer-
cial application to maximize the productive capacity of
marginal wells and reservoirs.
(c) DATA COLLECTION.—Under the program, the Sec-
retary shall collect data on—
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(1) the status and location of marginal wells and
gas reservoirs;
(2) the production capacity of marginal wells
and gas reservoirs;
(3) the location of low-pressure gathering facili-
ties and pipelines; and
(4) the quantity of natural gas vented or flared
in association with crude oil production.
(d) ANALYSIS.—Under the program, the Secretary
shall—
(1) estimate the remaining producible reserves
based on variable pipeline pressures; and
(2) recommend measures that will enable the
continued production of those resources.
(e) STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award a
grant to an organization of States that contain sig-
nificant numbers of marginal oil and natural gas
wells to conduct an annual study of low-volume nat-
ural gas reservoirs.
(2) ORGANIZATION
WITH
NO
GIS
CAPABILI-
TIES.—If an organization receiving a grant under
paragraph (1) does not have GIS capabilities, the or-
ganization shall contract with an institution of high-
er education with GIS capabilities.
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(3) STATE GEOLOGISTS.—The organization re-
ceiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall collaborate
with the State geologist of each State being studied.
(f) PUBLIC INFORMATION.—The Secretary may use the
data collected and analyzed under this section to produce
maps and literature to disseminate to States to promote
conservation of natural gas reserves.
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
this section—
(1) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
(2) $450,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and
2008.
SEC. 955. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR COAL MIN-
ING TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall carry out
a program for research and development on coal mining
technologies.
(b) COOPERATION.—In carrying out the program, the
Secretary shall cooperate with appropriate Federal agen-
cies, coal producers, trade associations, equipment manu-
facturers, institutions of higher education with mining en-
gineering departments, and other relevant entities.
(c) PROGRAM.—The research and development activi-
ties carried out under this section shall—
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(1) be guided by the mining research and devel-
opment priorities identified by the Mining Industry
of the Future Program and in the recommendations
from relevant reports of the National Academy of
Sciences on mining technologies;
(2) include activities exploring minimization of
contaminants in mined coal that contribute to envi-
ronmental concerns including development and dem-
onstration of electromagnetic wave imaging ahead of
mining operations;
(3) develop and demonstrate coal bed electro-
magnetic wave imaging, spectroscopic reservoir anal-
ysis technology, and techniques for horizontal drilling
in order to—
(A) identify areas of high coal gas content;
(B) increase methane recovery efficiency;
(C) prevent spoilage of domestic coal re-
serves; and
(D) minimize water disposal associated
with methane extraction; and
(4) expand mining research capabilities at insti-
tutions of higher education.
SEC. 956. COAL AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the programs au-
thorized under title IV, the Secretary shall conduct a pro-
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gram of technology research, development, and demonstra-
tion and commercial application for coal and power sys-
tems, including programs to facilitate production and gen-
eration of coal-based power through—
(1) innovations for existing plants (including
mercury removal);
(2) gasification systems;
(3) advanced combustion systems;
(4) turbines for synthesis gas derived from coal;
(5) carbon capture and sequestration research
and development;
(6) coal-derived chemicals and transportation
fuels;
(7) liquid fuels derived from low rank coal
water;
(8) solid fuels and feedstocks;
(9) advanced coal-related research;
(10) advanced separation technologies; and
(11) fuel cells for the operation of synthesis gas
derived from coal.
(b) COST AND PERFORMANCE GOALS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out programs au-
thorized by this section, the Secretary shall identify
cost and performance goals for coal-based technologies
that would permit the continued cost-competitive use
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of coal for the production of electricity, chemical feed-
stocks, and transportation fuels in 2008, 2010, 2012,
and 2016, and each calendar year beginning after
September 30, 2021.
(2) ADMINISTRATION.—In establishing the cost
and performance goals, the Secretary shall—
(A) consider activities and studies under-
taken as of the date of enactment of this Act by
industry in cooperation with the Department in
support of the identification of the goals;
(B) 
consult 
with 
interested 
entities,
including—
(i) coal producers;
(ii) industries using coal;
(iii) organizations that promote coal
and advanced coal technologies;
(iv) environmental organizations;
(v) organizations representing workers;
and
(vi) organizations representing con-
sumers;
(C) not later than 120 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, publish in the Federal
Register proposed draft cost and performance
goals for public comments; and