H. R. 1753
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and development
of methane hydrate resources, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methane Hydrate Research
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 ‘‘cooperative
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 meaning of section 6304
of title 31, United States Code.
(5) INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE.—The term ‘‘industrial enter-
prise’’ means a private, nongovernmental enterprise that has
an expertise or capability that relates to methane hydrate
research and development.
(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘institu-
tion of higher education’’ means an institution of higher edu-
cation, within the meaning of 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 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 Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
(9) SECRETARY
OF
DEFENSE.—The term ‘‘Secretary 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.
H. R. 1753—2
SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM.
(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 Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary
of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director,
shall commence a program of methane hydrate research and
development in accordance with this section.
(2) DESIGNATIONS.—The Secretary, the Secretary of Com-
merce, 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 Sec-
retary shall coordinate all activities within the Department
of Energy relating to methane hydrate research and develop-
ment.
(4) MEETINGS.—The individuals designated under para-
graph (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 para-
graph (1); and
(B) make recommendations on future activities to occur
subsequent to the meeting.
(b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, INTER-
AGENCY FUNDS TRANSFER AGREEMENTS, AND FIELD WORK PRO-
POSALS.—
(1) ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.—In carrying out the
program of methane hydrate research and development author-
ized by this section, the Secretary may award grants or con-
tracts 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 required for effi-
cient and environmentally 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 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 commercial development);
(F) develop technologies to reduce the risks of drilling
through methane hydrates; and
(G) conduct exploratory drilling in support of the activi-
ties authorized by this paragraph.
(2) COMPETITIVE MERIT-BASED REVIEW.—Funds made avail-
able under paragraph (1) shall be made available based on
a competitive merit-based process.