In the Senate of the United States,
November 19, 1999.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 1753) entitled ‘‘An Act to promote the research,
identification, assessment, exploration, and development of
gas hydrate resources, and for other purposes.’’, do pass with
the following
AMENDMENTS:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methane Hydrate Re-
search 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
HR 1753 EAS
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 incorporated under Federal or
State law that has an expertise or capability that re-
lates to methane hydrate research and development.
(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ means an in-
stitution of higher education, within the meaning of
section 102(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)).
(7) METHANE
HYDRATE.—The term ‘‘methane
hydrate’’ means—
(A) a methane clathrate that is in the form
of a methane-water ice-like crystalline material
and is stable and occurs naturally in deep-ocean
and permafrost areas, and
HR 1753 EAS
(B) other natural gas hydrates found in as-
sociation with deep-ocean and permafrost depos-
its of methane hydrate.
(8) SECRETARY
OF
ENERGY.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary of Energy’’ means the Secretary of Energy,
acting through the Assistant Secretary for Fossil En-
ergy.
(9) SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary of Commerce’’ means the Secretary of Com-
merce, acting through the Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(10) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary of Defense’’ means the Secretary of Defense,
acting through the Secretary of the Navy.
(11) 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 Min-
erals Management Service.
SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) COMMENCEMENT
OF
PROGRAM.—Not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Energy, in collaboration with the
HR 1753 EAS
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of the Interior, and the Director, shall com-
mence a program of methane hydrate research and
development in accordance with subsection (b).
(2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary of Energy,
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director shall
designate individuals to carry out this section.
(3) COORDINATION.—The individual designated
by the Secretary of Energy shall coordinate all activi-
ties within the Department of Energy relating to
methane hydrate research and development.
(4) MEETINGS.—The individuals designated
under paragraph (2) shall meet not later than 270
days after the date of 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, AND COOPERATIVE AGREE-
MENTS.—
(1) ASSISTANCE
AND
COORDINATION.—In car-
rying out the program of methane hydrate research
and development authorized by this subsection the
HR 1753 EAS
Secretary of Energy may award grants or contracts
to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, institu-
tions of higher education and industrial enterprises
to—
(A) conduct basic and applied research to
identify, explore, assess, and develop methane hy-
drate 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 provide
safe means of transport and storage of methane
produced from gas methane hydrates;
(D) promote education and training in
methane hydrate resource research and resource
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 commer-
cial 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.
HR 1753 EAS
(2) COMPETITIVE MERIT-BASED REVIEW.—Funds
made available under paragraph (1) shall be made
available based on a competitive merit-based process.
(3) CONSULTATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy
shall establish an advisory panel consisting of
experts from industry, institutions of higher edu-
cation, and Federal agencies to—
(i) advise the Secretary of Energy on
potential applications of methane hydrate;
(ii) assist in developing recommenda-
tions and priorities for the methane hydrate
research and development program carried
out under subsection (a)(1); and
(iii) not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, and at such
later dates as the panel considers advisable,
submit to Congress a report on the antici-
pated impact on global climate change
from—
(I) methane hydrate formation;
(II) methane hydrate degassing
(including 
natural 
degassing 
and
degassing associated with commercial
development); and
HR 1753 EAS
(III) the consumption of natural
gas produced from methane hydrates.
(B) MEMBERSHIP.—Not more than twenty-
five percent of the individuals serving on the ad-
visory panel shall be Federal employees.
(c) 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 of Energy 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).
(d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY OF EN-
ERGY.—In carrying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of
Energy shall—
(1) facilitate and develop partnerships among
government, industry, and institutions of higher edu-
cation to research, identify, assess, and explore meth-
ane hydrate resources;
HR 1753 EAS
(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; 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’’.
HR 1753 EAS
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph 6 the following:
‘‘(7) the term ‘‘methane hydrate’’ means—
‘‘(A) a methane clathrate that is in the form
of a methane-water ice-like crystalline material
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. REPORTS AND STUDIES.
The Secretary of Energy shall simultaneously provide
to the Committee on Science and the Committee on Re-
sources 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 pursuant to this Act.
SEC. 6. 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) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
HR 1753 EAS
(5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
(6) therafter such sums as are necessary.
Amounts authorized under this section shall remain avail-
able until expended.
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘An Act to promote
the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and
development of methane hydrate resources, and for other
purposes.’’.
Attest:
Secretary.