IV
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 453
Providing for the consideration of the bill H.R. 1753 and the Senate
amendments thereto.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 3, 2000
Mr. SENSENBRENNER submitted the following resolution; which was
considered under suspension of the rules and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Providing for the consideration of the bill H.R. 1753 and
the Senate amendments thereto.
Resolved, That, upon the adoption of this resolution,
the House shall be considered to have taken from the
Speaker’s table the bill H.R. 1753 together with the Sen-
ate amendments thereto, and to have: (1) concurred in the
amendment of the Senate to the title; and (2) concurred
in the amendment of the Senate to the text with an
amendment as follows: In lieu of the matter proposed to
be inserted by the Senate amendment, insert the following:
•HRES 453 ATH
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methane Hydrate Re-
search 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 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) 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 devel-
opment.
(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ means an in-
stitution of higher education, within the meaning of
•HRES 453 ATH
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 Assist-
ant Secretary for Fossil Energy.
(8) SECRETARY
OF
COMMERCE.—The term
‘‘Secretary of Commerce’’ means the Secretary of
Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the
National 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 Minerals Management Service.
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 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
•HRES 453 ATH
commence a program of methane hydrate research
and development in accordance with this section.
(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) 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 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-
•HRES 453 ATH
retary 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);
(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.
•HRES 453 ATH
(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 en-
terprises, institutions of higher education, and Federal
agencies 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 de-
velopment 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 re-
port 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.
•HRES 453 ATH
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 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, industrial enterprises, and institutions
of higher education 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;
•HRES 453 ATH
(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
•HRES 453 ATH
(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 ma-
terial 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.
•HRES 453 ATH
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
research 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
recommendations 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.
Æ