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(2) ‘‘Secretaries’’ means the Secretary of En-
ergy jointly with the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 2403. 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 transportation technologies suitable
for use in sensitive resource areas;
(2) partnerships between the Department of
Energy, the Department of the Interior, Native
American Tribes, and United States industry to de-
velop hydrogen-based energy technologies can pro-
vide significant benefits to our Nation, including en-
hancing our environmental stewardship, reducing
our dependence on foreign oil, increasing our energy
security, as well as creating jobs for United States
workers and improving the competitive 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 transportation technologies
would further resource stewardship and experiential
goals in sensitive resource areas including units of
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the National Park System, such as Grand Canyon
National Park.
SEC. 2404. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRA-
TION 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 transportation technologies suitable for
operations in sensitive resource areas such as national
parks. The Secretaries, in partnership with the private
sector, shall conduct a demonstration of hydrogen-based
public transportation technology at Grand Canyon Na-
tional Park within three years after the date of enactment
of this Act. At his discretion, the Secretary of Energy may
choose to extend existing Department of Energy hydrogen-
related vehicle research and development programs in
order to meet the objectives and requirements of this title.
The Secretaries shall provide preference to tribal entities
in the establishment of the research and development pro-
gram.
(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 public transportation system suitable for oper-
1033
ations within Grand Canyon National Park, that meets
the following standards:
(1) Silent or near-silent operation.
(2) Low, ultra low, or zero emission of pollut-
ants.
(3) Reliability.
(4) Safe conveyance of passengers and operator.
(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, Native American
Tribes, and the National Park Service shuttle operators
and tour operators authorized to provide services in Grand
Canyon National Park.
SEC. 2405. 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 title and, to the extent practicable, the activities
planned for the coming fiscal year.
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SEC. 2406. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secre-
taries to carry out this title, 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.
TITLE XXV—ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS
SEC. 2501. LIMITATION ON RENT AND OTHER CHARGES
WITH RESPECT TO WIND ENERGY DEVELOP-
MENT PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior may
not impose rent and other charges, excluding for the cost
of processing rights-of-way, with respect to any wind en-
ergy development project on public lands that, in the ag-
gregate, exceed 50 percent of the maximum amount of
rent that could be charged with respect to that project
under the terms of Bureau of Land Management Instruc-
tion Memorandum No. 2003–020, dated October 16,
2002.
(b) TERMINATION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply
after the earlier of—
(1) the date on which the Secretary of the Inte-
rior determines there exists at least 10,000
megawatts of electricity generating capacity from