I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4160 
To authorize the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of the Interior 
to jointly establish a program, in partnership with the private sector, 
to support research, development, demonstration, and commercial applica-
tion activities related to advanced hydrogen-based motorboat propulsion 
technologies suitable for operations in sensitive resource areas such as 
national parks, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2004 
Mr. RENZI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary 
of the Interior to jointly establish a program, in partner-
ship with the private sector, to support research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and commercial application activi-
ties related to advanced hydrogen-based motorboat pro-
pulsion technologies suitable for operations in sensitive 
resource areas such as national parks, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Grand Canyon Hydro-
gen-Powered Motorboat Demonstration Act of 2004’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act, the term— 
(1) ‘‘Departments’’ means the Department of 
Energy jointly with the Department of the Interior; 
and 
(2) ‘‘Secretaries’’ means the Secretary of En-
ergy jointly with the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) there is a need for a research and develop-
ment program to support and foster the develop-
ment, demonstration, and deployment of emerging 
hydrogen-based motorboat propulsion technologies 
suitable for use in sensitive resource areas; 
(2) partnerships between the Department of 
Energy, the Department of the Interior, and United 
States industry to develop hydrogen-based energy 
technologies can provide significant benefits to our 
Nation, including enhancing our environmental stew-
ardship, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, in-
creasing our energy security, as well as creating jobs 
for United States workers and improving the com-
petitive position of the United States in the global 
economy; and 
(3) when technologically and economically fea-
sible, the implementation of clean, silent or nearly 
silent, hydrogen-based motorboat propulsion tech-
nologies would further resource stewardship and ex-
periential goals in sensitive resource areas including 
units of the National Park System, such as Grand 
Canyon 
National 
Park, 
where 
motor-powered 
watercraft are used for recreational and other pur-
poses. 
SEC. 4. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall jointly es-
tablish and carry out a research and development pro-
gram, in partnership with the private sector, relating to 
hydrogen-based motorboat propulsion technologies suit-
able for operations in sensitive resource areas such as na-
tional parks. The Secretaries, in partnership with the pri-
vate sector, shall conduct a demonstration of hydrogen- 
based motorboat propulsion technology at Grand Canyon 
National Park within three years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. At his discretion, the Secretary of En-
ergy may choose to extend existing Department of Energy 
hydrogen-related vehicle research and development pro-
grams in order to meet the objectives and requirements 
of this Act. 
(b) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the program shall 
be to research, develop, and demonstrate, in cooperation 
with affected and related industries, a hydrogen-based al-
ternative motorboat propulsion system suitable for rec-
reational whitewater river operations on the Colorado 
River within Grand Canyon National Park, that meets the 
following standards: 
(1) Silent or near-silent operation, meaning the 
propulsion system should generally not be audible 
over the sound of the watercraft moving through the 
water to a listener stationed a moderate distance 
away. 
(2) Low, ultra low, or zero emission of pollut-
ants. 
(3) Reliability. 
(4) Safe conveyance of passengers and crew. 
(c) PARTNERSHIP.—In order to accomplish the objec-
tive set forth in subsection (b), the Secretaries shall estab-
lish a partnership among the Departments, manufactur-
ers, other affected or related industries, and the National 
Park Service concessioners authorized to provide river 
running services in Grand Canyon National Park.
SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
One year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter for the duration of the program, the 
Secretaries shall submit a report to the Committees on 
Appropriations, Resources, and Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives and the Committees on Ap-
propriations and Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate describing the ongoing activities of the Secretaries 
and the Departments relating to the program authorized 
under this Act and, to the extent practicable, the activities 
planned for the coming fiscal year. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secre-
taries to carry out this Act, in addition to any amounts 
made available for these or related purposes under other 
Acts, $400,000 per year for three consecutive fiscal years 
beginning with the full fiscal year following the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
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