Union Calendar No. 225
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1753
[Report No. 106–377, Parts I and II]
A BILL
To promote the research, identification, assessment,
exploration, and development of methane hydrate
resources, and for other purposes.
OCTOBER 18, 1999
Reported from the Committee on Resources with an
amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be
printed
IB
Union Calendar No. 225
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1753
[Report No. 106–377, Parts I and II]
To promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and
development of methane hydrate resources, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 11, 1999
Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. CALVERT, and Mr. COSTELLO) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, and in
addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
OCTOBER 13, 1999
Reported from the Committee on Science with amendments
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
OCTOBER 13, 1999
Referral to the Committee on Resources extended for a period ending not later
than October 18, 1999
OCTOBER 18, 1999
Reported from the Committee on Resources with an amendment; committed
to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and or-
dered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in boldface roman]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 11, 1999]
A BILL
To promote the research, identification, assessment, explo-
ration, and development of methane hydrate resources,
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 ‘‘Gas Hydrate Research
and Development Act of 1999’’.
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) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ means an in-
stitution of higher education, within the meaning of
section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assistant
Secretary for Fossil Energy.
(7) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary of Defense’’ means the Secretary of Defense,
acting through the Secretary of the Navy.
(8) 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. GAS HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM.
(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 Secretary of
Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Direc-
tor, shall commence a program of gas hydrate re-
search 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 AGREEMENTS,
INTERAGENCY FUNDS TRANSFER AGREEMENTS, AND FIELD
WORK PROPOSALS.—
(1) ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.—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 gas hydrate
as a source of energy;
(B) assist in developing technologies re-
quired for efficient and environmentally sound
development of gas hydrate resources;
(C) undertake research programs to provide
safe means of transport and storage of gas pro-
duced from gas hydrates;
(D) promote education and training in gas
hydrate resource research and resource develop-
ment;
(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); and
(F) develop technologies to reduce the risks
of drilling through gas 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 gas hydrate; and
(2) assist in developing recommendations and
priorities for the gas hydrate research and develop-
ment 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 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, industry, and institutions of higher edu-
cation to research, identify, assess, and explore gas
hydrate resources;
(2) undertake programs to develop basic infor-
mation necessary for promoting long-term interest in
gas 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 gas
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 meth-
ane 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.
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to promote the
research, identification, assessment, exploration, and de-
velopment of gas hydrate resources, and for other pur-
poses.’’.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methane Hy-
drate Research and Development Act of 1999’’.
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 ‘‘cooperative agreement’’ means a
cooperative agreement within the mean-
ing 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 meaning of section 6304 of
title 31, United States Code.
(5) 
INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER
EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘‘institution of higher
education’’ means an institution of higher
education, within the meaning of section
1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).
(6) 
METHANE
HYDRATE.—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.
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’
means the Secretary of Energy, acting
through the Assistant 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 Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration.
(9) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—The term
‘‘Secretary of Defense’’ means the Sec-
retary of Defense, acting through the Sec-
retary 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 en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Com-
merce, the Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
retary of the Interior, and the Director,
shall commence a program of methane
hydrate research and development.
(2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
Defense, the Secretary of the Interior,
and the Director shall designate individ-
uals to carry out this section.
(3) MEETINGS.—The individuals des-
ignated 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 fu-
ture activities to occur subsequent to
the meeting.
(b) 
GRANTS, 
CONTRACTS, 
COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS, INTERAGENCY FUNDS TRANSFER
AGREEMENTS, AND FIELD WORK PROPOSALS.—
(1) ASSISTANCE
AND
COORDINATION.—
The Secretary may award grants or con-
tracts to, or enter into cooperative agree-
ments with, institutions of higher edu-
cation and industrial enterprises to—
(A) conduct basic and applied re-
search to identify, explore, assess,
and develop methane hydrate as a
source of energy;
(B) assist in developing tech-
nologies required for efficient and en-
vironmentally 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 train-
ing in methane hydrate resource re-
search and resource development;
(E) conduct basic and applied re-
search to assess and mitigate the en-
vironmental 
impacts 
of 
hydrate
degassing (including both natural
degassing and degassing associated
with commercial development); and
(F) develop technologies to re-
duce the risks of drilling through
methane hydrates.
(2) 
COMPETITIVE
MERIT-BASED
RE-
VIEW.—Funds made available under para-
graph (1) shall be made available based
on a competitive merit-based process.
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish an advisory panel consisting of ex-
perts from industry, institutions of higher
education, and Federal agencies to—
(1) advise the Secretary on potential
applications of methane hydrate;
(2) assist in developing recommenda-
tions and priorities for the methane hy-
drate research and development program
carried out under subsection (a)(1); and
(3) report to the Congress within 2
years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, or at such later date as the Sec-
retary considers advisable, on the impact
on global climate change from methane
hydrate extraction and consumption.
(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 adminis-
tration 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 acquisition, ex-
pansion, remodeling, or alteration of an
existing building (including site grading
and improvement and architect fees).
(e) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.—
In carrying out subsection (b)(1), the Sec-
retary shall—
(1) facilitate and develop partner-
ships among government, industry, and
institutions of higher education to re-
search, 
identify, 
assess, 
and 
explore
methane hydrate resources;
(2) undertake programs to develop
basic information necessary for pro-
moting long-term interest in methane hy-
drate resources as an energy source;
(3) ensure that the data and informa-
tion developed through the program are
accessible and widely disseminated as
needed and appropriate;
(4) promote cooperation among agen-
cies that are developing technologies that
may hold promise for methane hydrate
resource development; and
(5) report annually to Congress on ac-
complishments 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 strik-
ing ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
subpara-
graph (G) as subparagraph (H); and
(C) by inserting after subpara-
graph (F) the following:
‘‘(G) for purposes of this section
and sections 202 through 205 only,
methane hydrate; and’’;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as
paragraph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6)
the following:
‘‘(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 Secretary of Energy to carry out this
Act—
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
(2) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
(3) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and
(5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
Amounts authorized under this section shall
remain available until expended.
SEC. 6. SUNSET.
Section 3 of this Act shall cease to be ef-
fective after the end of fiscal year 2004.