Helium Stewardship Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-527
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Doc [R-WA-4]
Introduced: 2013-02-06 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business records
California
Coal
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Energy prices
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Indian lands and resources rights
Land use and conservation
Mining
Oil and gas
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pipelines
Research and development
Roads and highways
Solid waste and recycling
Strategic materials and reserves
Texas
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-06
text: 
Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act - Amends the Helium Act to redefine the Federal Helium Reserve as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cliffside Gas Field and supporting infrastructure, including: (1) the Cliffside Gas Field helium storage reservoir; and (2) all associated infrastructure owned, leased, or managed under contract by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) for helium storage, transportation, withdrawal, purification, or management.
 
Directs the Secretary (who currently is merely authorized) to offer for sale crude helium for federal, medical, scientific, and commercial uses, dividing such sales into three phases, the second of which is to maximize total recovery of helium from the Reserve. Limits the first phase to the one-year period following enactment of this Act, and specifies duration requirements for the second and third phases.
 Requires the Secretary to establish prices for crude helium sales during the first phase that are not less than the last sales of crude helium from the Federal Helium Reserve before enactment of this Act. 
Prescribes requirements for the sale of crude helium at auction for federal, medical, scientific, and commercial uses. 
 
Permits designated federal agencies and grantees to purchase refined helium from an eligible person for federal, medical, research, and scientific uses at either the minimum auction price, or another price designated by the Secretary.
 
Directs the Secretary to require all parties to a contract for the acceptance, storage, and redelivery of crude helium to disclose, on a confidential basis, in dollars per thousand cubic feet, the weighted average price of all crude helium and bulk liquid helium purchased, sold, or processed by them in qualifying domestic helium transactions during the fiscal year.
 
 Specifies conditions under which the Secretary is authorized to change the minimum sales price for crude helium. 
 
Requires persons participating in auctions of helium from the Federal Helium Reserve to furnish, upon request, records of transactions in helium auctions required by the Secretary to reconstruct bidding or trading in the course of a particular inquiry or investigation conducted for enforcement or surveillance purposes.
 
Sets forth uses of the Helium Production Fund, including capital investments and maintenance at the Cliffside Gas Field helium storage reservoir and helium pipeline.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) publicize on the Internet certain information regarding the current refining capacity on the Federal Helium Reserve pipeline, and (2) take any applications for new refining capacity on the Federal Helium Reserve pipeline. 
 
Requires the BLM Director to establish a real-time reporting process, including reporting over the Internet, providing specified data affecting the helium industry (including effects for all persons in the industry from crude helium suppliers to end users).
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a national helium gas resource assessment in each reservoir (including the isotope helium-3); (2) complete an assessment of trends in global demand for helium, including such isotope; (3) cooperate with the Secretary of Energy on any assessment or research relating to the extraction and refining of the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at either the Federal Helium Reserve or along the Federal Helium Reserve pipeline system; and (4) report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a facility to separate the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at either the Federal Helium Reserve or at an existing helium separation or purification facility connected to the Federal Helium Reserve pipeline system.
 
 
 
 

action_date: 2013-04-18
text: 
Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Helium Act to define the &quot;Federal Helium Reserve&quot; as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cliffside Gas Field and supporting infrastructure, including: (1) the Cliffside Gas Field helium storage reservoir; and (2) all associated infrastructure owned, leased, or managed under contract by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) for helium storage, transportation, withdrawal, purification, or management.
 
Defines &quot;qualifying domestic helium transaction&quot; as any new or newly negotiated agreement for the purchase or sale of at least 15 million standard cubic feet of crude helium or bulk liquid helium delivered in the United States in the most recent full fiscal year, excluding the purchase of crude helium from the Secretary.
 
(Sec. 3) Revises requirements for the sale of helium by dividing sales into three phases: (1) Phase A: Finalizing Debt Payoff, (2) Phase B: Maximizing Total Recovery of Helium and Increasing Returns to the American Taxpayer, and (3) Phase C: Access for Federal Users.
 
Directs the Secretary (who currently is merely authorized) to offer for sale crude helium for federal, medical, research, scientific, and commercial uses (stated uses) in such quantities, at such times, and under such conditions (stated conditions) as necessary to carry out Phase A with minimum market disruption. Requires the Secretary, during Phase A, to offer for sale during each fiscal year a quantity of crude helium equivalent to the quantity of crude helium produced from the Federal Helium Reserve during FY2012. 
 
Authorizes agencies and holders of federal research grants to purchase refined helium during Phase A from persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium from the Secretary.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish prices for crude helium sales during Phase A that are not less than the price in the last sale of crude helium from the Reserve before enactment of this Act, except that any sale to agencies or grant holders for an authorized purchase shall be at a price specified by the Secretary. 
 
Terminates Phase A one year after this Act's enactment.
 
Requires the Secretary, during Phase B, to offer for sale at auction crude helium for the stated uses and under the stated conditions as necessary to: (1) maximize total recovery and conservation of helium from the Reserve; (2) manage crude helium sales according to the Secretary's ability to extract and produce helium from the Reserve; (3) respond to helium market supply and demand and minimize market disruption; and (4) give priority to meeting the helium demand of federal users through certain in-kind purchases by federal agencies and grantees.
 
Authorizes federal agencies and holders of federal research grants, during Phase B, to purchase refined helium for federal, medical, research, and scientific uses from a helium distributer registered with the Secretary. Requires the Secretary then to provide an equivalent volume of crude helium to the distributer as if the distributer was the successful bidder for the helium at auction, and at the minimum price established for the most recent auction or another price specified by the Secretary. 
 
Terminates Phase B when the volume of recoverable crude helium at the Reserve (other than privately owned quantities of crude helium stored there temporarily) is 3 billion standard cubic feet.
 
Limits the total volume of crude helium offered for sale during a fiscal year to the lesser of: (1) the Reserve's projected maximum total production capacity, or (2) the maximum refining capacity of persons connected by pipeline to the Reserve.
 
Authorizes the Secretary during Phase C to offer crude helium for sale for federal uses (including medical, research, and scientific uses) under the stated conditions as necessary to carry out Phase C.
 
Authorizes federal agencies and holders of federal helium-related research grants to purchase refined helium under such Phase from persons with enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium from the Secretary.
 
Requires sales of crude helium by the Secretary in each Phase B auction to be conducted under the following conditions: (1) at least 60% (adjustable up to 100%) of the volume sold shall be made available to entities with either adequate refining capacity or tolling agreements for refining in place; (2) 20% of the volume sold shall be made available to any bidder, under specific conditions; and (3) up to an additional 20% volume that can be refined shall be made available in auctions after the first one through tolling agreements or otherwise. Authorizes the Secretary to adjust such percentages and amounts in any auction if necessary to respond to market supply and demand and minimize market disruption or increase auction participation.
 
Requires the Secretary to conduct auctions under Phase B: (1) within 180 days after the end of Phase A; and (2) when necessary to ensure a reliable supply of helium and a fair return to taxpayers, but at least twice each fiscal year. 
Requires the Secretary to conduct each auction by sealed bid for predetermined volume lots, unless an alternative bidding method may result in more revenue to the government or increase auction participation. 
Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a forward auction, available to any bidder, once each fiscal year for up to 10% of the volume of crude helium to be made available at auction during the following fiscal year.
 
Directs the Secretary, in carrying out a Phase B auction, to accept bids only from persons seeking to purchase helium for their own use, for refining, or for delivery to users. Prohibits the award to a person in a Phase B auction of more than 30% of the total volume offered, except that the Secretary may adjust such limitation based on the number of bidders. 
Requires the Secretary to charge each winning bidder a storage fee for purchased crude helium that remains in the Reserve. 
 
Requires the Secretary to determine minimum sale prices under Phase B using specified factors. 
Authorizes the Secretary to change the minimum price charged for crude helium sold by up to 10% if the Secretary believes that it may not reflect the current market value of helium, or if a higher minimum price may result in greater conservation of the federal crude helium resource. 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) require all parties to a contract for the acceptance, storage, and redelivery of crude helium to disclose, on a confidential basis, the weighted average price of all crude helium and bulk liquid helium purchased, sold, or processed by them in qualifying domestic helium transactions during the fiscal year; and (2) appoint a qualified independent third party to perform data collection and analysis for a confidential survey to assist in determining the minimum sale price. 
Requires auction participants to furnish, upon request, auction transaction records required by the Secretary to reconstruct bidding or trading in the course of a particular inquiry or investigation conducted for enforcement or surveillance purposes.
 
Authorizes the use of the Helium Production Fund (HP Fund) to conduct helium auction and otherwise administer the Act. Requires transfer to the Treasury general fund during a specified period of any amounts in the HP Fund exceeding those needed for auctions and general administration.
 
Authorizes the use of remaining amounts in the HP Fund for the following capital investments in upgrades and maintenance at the Reserve: (1) wellhead maintenance at the Cliffside Gas Field helium storage reservoir; (2) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of facilities that pressurize such reservoir; (3) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of equipment related to the storage, withdrawal, transportation, purification, and sale of crude helium at such reservoir; and (4) any other maintenance of such reservoir and helium pipeline.
 
Requires payment to the Treasury general fund of all amounts received from the sale or disposition of crude helium on federal land, and the crediting of such amounts against all amounts required to be repaid to the United States under the Act as of October 1, 1995.
 
Requires the Secretary to ensure that there is no disruption in the supply of helium from the Reserve during the transition between phases of helium sales.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, acting through the BLM, to: (1) publicize on the Internet certain information regarding the current refining capacity on the Federal Helium Reserve pipeline, and (2) take any applications for new refining capacity on the pipeline. Requires any such new refining capacity added to the pipeline system to be granted access to crude helium equal to the access provided to existing refining facilities.
 
Requires the Secretary, in scheduling crude helium deliveries through such pipeline, to grant pipeline access in a specified order of priority.
 
Requires the BLM Director to establish a real-time reporting process, including reporting over the Internet, providing specified data affecting the helium industry (including effects for all industry persons from crude helium suppliers to end users).
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to: (1) complete a national helium gas resource assessment identifying the quantity of helium in each reservoir (including the isotope helium-3); (2) make available the modern seismic and geophysical log data for characterization of the Bush Dome Reservoir; (3) complete a global helium gas assessment, including an assessment of trends in global demand; (4) complete an a 10-year forecast of domestic demand for helium across all sectors; and (5) complete an inventory of helium uses in the United States that identifies the nature of each use, the amounts required, the technical and commercial viability of helium recapture and recycling in that use, and the availability of material substitutes wherever possible.
 
Requires the Secretary also to: (1) cooperate with the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) on any assessment or research relating to the extraction and refining of the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at either the Federal Helium Reserve or along the Reserve pipeline system; (2) assess the feasibility of establishing a facility to separate the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at either the Reserve or at an existing helium separation or purification facility connected to the Reserve pipeline system; and (3) report on such assessments.

action_date: 2013-04-26
text: 
Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Helium Act to define the &quot;Federal Helium Reserve&quot; as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cliffside Gas Field and supporting infrastructure, including: (1) the Cliffside Gas Field helium storage reservoir; and (2) all associated infrastructure owned, leased, or managed under contract by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) for helium storage, transportation, withdrawal, purification, or management.
 
Defines &quot;qualifying domestic helium transaction&quot; as any new or newly negotiated agreement for the purchase or sale of at least 15 million standard cubic feet of crude helium or bulk liquid helium delivered in the United States in the most recent full fiscal year, excluding the purchase of crude helium from the Secretary.
 
(Sec. 3) Revises requirements for the sale of helium by dividing sales into three phases: (1) Phase A: Finalizing Debt Payoff, (2) Phase B: Maximizing Total Recovery of Helium and Increasing Returns to the American Taxpayer, and (3) Phase C: Access for Federal Users.
 
Directs the Secretary (who currently is merely authorized) to offer for sale crude helium for federal, medical, research, scientific, and commercial uses (stated uses) in such quantities, at such times, and under such conditions (stated conditions) as necessary to carry out Phase A with minimum market disruption. Requires the Secretary, during Phase A, to offer for sale during each fiscal year a quantity of crude helium equivalent to the quantity of crude helium produced from the Federal Helium Reserve during FY2012. 
 
Authorizes agencies and holders of federal research grants to purchase refined helium during Phase A from persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium from the Secretary.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish prices for crude helium sales during Phase A that are not less than the price in the last sale of crude helium from the Reserve before enactment of this Act, except that any sale to agencies or grant holders for an authorized purchase shall be at a price specified by the Secretary. 
 
Terminates Phase A one year after this Act's enactment.
 
Requires the Secretary, during Phase B, to offer for sale at auction crude helium for the stated uses and under the stated conditions as necessary to: (1) maximize total recovery and conservation of helium from the Reserve; (2) manage crude helium sales according to the Secretary's ability to extract and produce helium from the Reserve; (3) respond to helium market supply and demand and minimize market disruption; and (4) give priority to meeting the helium demand of federal users through certain in-kind purchases by federal agencies and grantees.
 
Authorizes federal agencies and holders of federal research grants, during Phase B, to purchase refined helium for federal, medical, research, and scientific uses from a helium distributer registered with the Secretary. Requires the Secretary then to provide an equivalent volume of crude helium to the distributer as if the distributer was the successful bidder for the helium at auction, and at the minimum price established for the most recent auction or another price specified by the Secretary. 
 
Terminates Phase B when the volume of recoverable crude helium at the Reserve (other than privately owned quantities of crude helium stored there temporarily) is 3 billion standard cubic feet.
 
Limits the total volume of crude helium offered for sale during a fiscal year to the lesser of: (1) the Reserve's projected maximum total production capacity, or (2) the maximum refining capacity of persons connected by pipeline to the Reserve.
 
Authorizes the Secretary during Phase C to offer crude helium for sale for federal uses (including medical, research, and scientific uses) under the stated conditions as necessary to carry out Phase C.
 
Authorizes federal agencies and holders of federal helium-related research grants to purchase refined helium under such Phase from persons with enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium from the Secretary.
 
Requires sales of crude helium by the Secretary in each Phase B auction to be conducted under the following conditions: (1) at least 60% (adjustable up to 100%) of the volume sold shall be made available to entities with either adequate refining capacity or tolling agreements for refining in place; (2) 20% of the volume sold shall be made available to any bidder, under specific conditions; and (3) up to an additional 20% volume that can be refined shall be made available in auctions after the first one through tolling agreements or otherwise. Authorizes the Secretary to adjust such percentages and amounts in any auction if necessary to respond to market supply and demand and minimize market disruption or increase auction participation.
 
Requires the Secretary to conduct auctions under Phase B: (1) within 180 days after the end of Phase A; and (2) when necessary to ensure a reliable supply of helium and a fair return to taxpayers, but at least twice each fiscal year. 
Requires the Secretary to conduct each auction by sealed bid for predetermined volume lots, unless an alternative bidding method may result in more revenue to the government or increase auction participation. 
Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a forward auction, available to any bidder, once each fiscal year for up to 10% of the volume of crude helium to be made available at auction during the following fiscal year.
 
Directs the Secretary, in carrying out a Phase B auction, to accept bids only from persons seeking to purchase helium for their own use, for refining, or for delivery to users. Prohibits the award to a person in a Phase B auction of more than 30% of the total volume offered, except that the Secretary may adjust such limitation based on the number of bidders. 
Requires the Secretary to charge each winning bidder a storage fee for purchased crude helium that remains in the Reserve. 
 
Requires the Secretary to determine minimum sale prices under Phase B using specified factors. 
Authorizes the Secretary to change the minimum price charged for crude helium sold by up to 10% if the Secretary believes that it may not reflect the current market value of helium, or if a higher minimum price may result in greater conservation of the federal crude helium resource. 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) require all parties to a contract for the acceptance, storage, and redelivery of crude helium to disclose, on a confidential basis, the weighted average price of all crude helium and bulk liquid helium purchased, sold, or processed by them in qualifying domestic helium transactions during the fiscal year; and (2) appoint a qualified independent third party to perform data collection and analysis for a confidential survey to assist in determining the minimum sale price. 
Requires auction participants to furnish, upon request, auction transaction records required by the Secretary to reconstruct bidding or trading in the course of a particular inquiry or investigation conducted for enforcement or surveillance purposes.
 
Authorizes the use of the Helium Production Fund (HP Fund) to conduct helium auction and otherwise administer the Act. Requires transfer to the Treasury general fund during a specified period, to reduce the annual federal budget deficit, of any amounts in the HP Fund exceeding those needed for auctions and general administration.
 
Authorizes the use of remaining amounts in the HP Fund for the following capital investments in upgrades and maintenance at the Reserve: (1) wellhead maintenance at the Cliffside Gas Field helium storage reservoir; (2) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of facilities that pressurize such reservoir; (3) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of equipment related to the storage, withdrawal, transportation, purification, and sale of crude helium at such reservoir; and (4) any other maintenance of such reservoir and helium pipeline.
 
Requires payment to the Treasury general fund of all amounts received from the sale or disposition of crude helium on federal land, and the crediting of such amounts against all amounts required to be repaid to the United States under the Act as of October 1, 1995.
 
Requires the Secretary to ensure that there is no disruption in the supply of helium from the Reserve during the transition between phases of helium sales.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, acting through the BLM, to: (1) publicize on the Internet certain information regarding the current refining capacity on the Federal Helium Reserve pipeline, and (2) take any applications for new refining capacity on the pipeline. Requires any such new refining capacity added to the pipeline system to be granted access to crude helium equal to the access provided to existing refining facilities.
 
Requires the Secretary, in scheduling crude helium deliveries through such pipeline, to grant pipeline access in a specified order of priority.
 
Requires the BLM Director to establish a real-time reporting process, including reporting over the Internet, providing specified data affecting the helium industry (including effects for all industry persons from crude helium suppliers to end users).
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to: (1) complete a national helium gas resource assessment identifying the quantity of helium in each reservoir (including the isotope helium-3); (2) make available the modern seismic and geophysical log data for characterization of the Bush Dome Reservoir; (3) complete a global helium gas assessment, including an assessment of trends in global demand; (4) complete an a 10-year forecast of domestic demand for helium across all sectors; (5) complete an inventory of helium uses in the United States that identifies the nature of each use, the amounts required, the technical and commercial viability of helium recapture and recycling in that use, and the availability of material substitutes wherever possible; and (6) complete an assessment of options for ensuring a domestic helium supply in the future.
 
Requires the Secretary also to: (1) cooperate with the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) on any assessment or research relating to the extraction and refining of the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at either the Federal Helium Reserve or along the Reserve pipeline system; (2) assess the feasibility of establishing a facility to separate the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at either the Reserve or at an existing helium separation or purification facility connected to the Reserve pipeline system; and (3) report on such assessments.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes the Secretary to allow any person not connected to the Federal Helium Reserve to connect to it for storing helium, subject to any required storage fees. Requires withdrawal of such helium to be governed by the Act.

action_date: 2013-09-19
text: 
Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Helium Act to require that all proceeds received by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) from the sale or disposition of helium on federal land from sale or auction be credited to the Helium Production Fund (established in this Act).
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to impose a fee that accurately reflects the economic value of helium storage, withdrawal, or transportation services.
 
Requires that such a fee be not less than the amount required to reimburse the Secretary for the full costs of providing storage, withdrawal, or transportation services, including capital investments in upgrades and maintenance at the Federal Helium System.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish annually a standardized schedule of fees that will be charged for such services; (2) credit such fees to the Helium Production Fund; (3) allow any person or qualified bidder to which crude helium is sold or auctioned under this Act to store it in the Federal Helium Reserve (Reserve); (4) establish a transportation and delivery schedule that ensures timely delivery of helium, including those by non-allocated sales or other non-auction means, and provide priority access to the Federal Helium Pipeline for in-kind sales for federal users; and (5) consider applications for access to the Federal Helium Pipeline in a manner consistent with the schedule for phasing out commercial sales and disposition of assets under this Act.
 
(Sec. 5) Revises requirements for the sale of crude helium, now in four phases.
 
Directs the Secretary offer crude helium for sale in Phase A, between the enactment of this Act and October 1, 2014, as under current law, but without limitation of: (1) purchasers to the Department of Defense (DOD), the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and other federal agencies; or (2) uses to federal, medical, scientific, and commercial.
 
Authorizes federal users to purchase refined helium with priority pipeline access from persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase from the Secretary an equivalent quantity of crude helium at the in-kind price.
 
Applies Phase A requirements to any period during which helium sales are delayed or suspended.
 
Prescribes for Phase B an auction implementation process for crude helium sales.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer crude helium for sale in quantities not subject to auction, after completion of each auction, at not less than the established minimum price, and under terms and conditions necessary to: (1) maximize total recovery of helium from the Reserve over the long term, (2) maximize the total financial return to the taxpayer, and, among other things, (3) give priority to meeting the helium demand of federal users in the event of any disruption to the Reserve. 
Directs the Secretary to auction annually to any qualified bidder a quantity of crude helium in the Reserve equal to: (1) 10% of the total volume of crude helium made available for FY2015; (2) a percentage of the total volume of crude helium for each of FY2016-FY2019 that is 15% greater than the percentage available for the previous fiscal year; and (3) for FY2020 and subsequent fiscal years, 100% of the total volume available for that fiscal year. 
Extends Phase B from October 1, 2014, to the date on which the volume of recoverable crude helium at the Reserve is 3 billion standard cubic feet (excluding privately owned quantities of crude helium stored there temporarily).
 
Permits the Secretary to adjust the auctioned quantities: (1) downward to minimize market disruptions threatening U.S. economic well-being, but only after submitting a written justification to specified congressional committees; or (2) upward if necessary to increase participation in auctions or returns to the taxpayer.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish annually sale and minimum auction prices using a specified order of priority, and (2) adopt procedures to ensure confidentiality of information submitted under this Act.
 
Requires a refiner, as a condition of purchase, to make excess refining capacity of helium available to specified persons at commercially reasonable rates.
 
Directs the Secretary, during Phase C, to offer crude helium for sale to federal users at prices required to reimburse the Secretary for the full costs of sales.
 
Permits federal users, also during Phase C, to purchase refined helium with priority pipeline access from persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium at the in-kind price from the Secretary.
 
Requires a Phase D for disposal of assets, beginning not earlier than two years after the commencement of Phase C, and ending September 30, 2022, during which the Secretary shall designate as excess property and dispose of all facilities, equipment, and other real and personal property held by the United States in the Federal Helium System.
 
Makes the Helium Production Fund available for specified purposes, including capital investments in upgrades and maintenance of the Federal Helium System.
 
Requires excess funds in such Fund to be: (1) paid to the general fund of the Treasury, and (2) used to reduce the annual federal budget deficit. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to use $51 million of the amounts paid into the general fund to retire public debt.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer crude helium for sale or auction during each fiscal year during Phases A, B, and C in a minimum quantity that is the lesser of: (1) the quantity of crude helium offered for sale by the Secretary during FY2012, or (2) the maximum total production capacity of the Federal Helium System.
 
(Sec. 6) Repeals the requirement that the Secretary arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to study whether disposal of helium reserves will have a substantial adverse effect on scientific, technical, biomedical, or national security interests.
 
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to make specified information available on the Internet relating to the Federal Helium System, including an open market and in-kind price. Requires the BLM Director to establish a timely and public reporting process to provide data affecting the helium industry.
 
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to: (1) undertake a national helium gas resource assessment; and (2) submit to certain congressional committees assessments of global and domestic demand for helium, including an inventory of diverse uses of helium.
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to support research, development, commercial application, and conservation programs to: (1) expand domestic production of low-Btu gas and helium resources, (2) separate and capture helium from natural gas streams, and (3) reduce the venting of helium and helium-bearing low-Btu gas during natural gas operations. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Requires DOE to support or carry out directly research programs to develop: (1) advanced membrane technology used in the separation of low-Btu gases, and (2) helium separation technology.
 
Requires also a DOE industrial helium research program to develop: (1) low-cost technologies and technology systems for recycling, reprocessing, and reusing helium for all medical, scientific, industrial, commercial, aerospace, and other uses of helium in the United States, including federal uses; and (2) industrial gathering technologies to capture helium from other chemical processing, including ammonia processing. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with DOE on any assessment or research regarding extraction and refinement of the isotope helium-3 from crude helium and other potential sources.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to study the feasibility of: (1) establishing a facility to separate the isotope helium-3 from crude helium, and (2) exploring other potential sources of the isotope helium-3.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to certain congressional committees regarding the results of assessments conducted under this Act.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on a federal agency acquisition strategy, including: (1) a 20-year federal strategy for securing access to crude helium; (2) certain assessments for federal users of the consumption of, and projected demand for, crude and refined helium, as well as of the effects of increases in the price of refined helium and methods and policies for mitigating any determined effects; (3) a process for prioritization of uses that accounts for diminished availability of helium supplies that may occur over time; and (4) a determination of a date before September 30, 2022, for the implementation of the Phase D disposal of all federally held assets in the Federal Helium System that minimizes any potential supply disruptions for federal users.
 
(Sec. 10) Amends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 to extend through FY2013: (1) certain federal payments to states and counties containing federal land to fund schools and roads (including certain payments to eligible counties in California), (2) authority to conduct special projects on federal land, (3) authority to reserve and use county funds, and (4) the authorization of appropriations for the Act.
 
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to make available to DOE $46 million for FY2014 and $4 million for FY2018 to remediate, reclaim, and close abandoned oil and gas wells on current or former National Petroleum Reserve land.
 
Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to make $50 million available for FY2018 to the Secretary to pay the federal funding share of challenge cost-share agreements for deferred maintenance projects and to correct deficiencies in National Park Service infrastructure.
 
Requires that at least 50% of the total cost of such projects be derived from non-federal sources, including in-kind contribution of goods and services fairly valued.
 
Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 relating to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to: (1) waive the limitation on the total annual payments to a state or Indian tribe certified as having completed coal reclamation for FY2014, but (2) restrict to $75 million the total FY2014 payment to any certified state or Indian tribe. Prescribes requirements for making such payments if the total annual amount to a certified state or Indian tribe is limited by the $75 million ceiling.
 
Fixes at 4% the royalty rate on the quantity of gross value of the output of sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market from federal land in the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
 
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce by $6 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for grants for production of advanced biofuels that has not been appropriated as of the date of enactment of this Act.

action_date: 2013-10-02
text: 
Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Helium Act to require that all proceeds received by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) from the sale or disposition of helium on federal land from sale or auction be credited to the Helium Production Fund (established in this Act).
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to impose a fee that accurately reflects the economic value of helium storage, withdrawal, or transportation services.
 
Requires that such a fee be not less than the amount required to reimburse the Secretary for the full costs of providing storage, withdrawal, or transportation services, including capital investments in upgrades and maintenance at the Federal Helium System.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish annually a standardized schedule of fees that will be charged for such services; (2) credit such fees to the Helium Production Fund; (3) allow any person or qualified bidder to which crude helium is sold or auctioned under this Act to store it in the Federal Helium Reserve (Reserve); (4) establish a transportation and delivery schedule that ensures timely delivery of helium, including those by non-allocated sales or other non-auction means, and provide priority access to the Federal Helium Pipeline for in-kind sales for federal users; and (5) consider applications for access to the Federal Helium Pipeline in a manner consistent with the schedule for phasing out commercial sales and disposition of assets under this Act.
 
(Sec. 5) Revises requirements for the sale of crude helium, now in four phases.
 
Directs the Secretary offer crude helium for sale in Phase A, between the enactment of this Act and October 1, 2014, as under current law, but without limitation of: (1) purchasers to the Department of Defense (DOD), the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and other federal agencies; or (2) uses to federal, medical, scientific, and commercial.
 
Authorizes federal users to purchase refined helium with priority pipeline access from persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase from the Secretary an equivalent quantity of crude helium at the in-kind price.
 
Applies Phase A requirements to any period during which helium sales are delayed or suspended.
 
Prescribes for Phase B an auction implementation process for crude helium sales.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer crude helium for sale in quantities not subject to auction, after completion of each auction, at not less than the established minimum price, and under terms and conditions necessary to: (1) maximize total recovery of helium from the Reserve over the long term, (2) maximize the total financial return to the taxpayer, and, among other things, (3) give priority to meeting the helium demand of federal users in the event of any disruption to the Reserve. 
Directs the Secretary to auction annually to any qualified bidder a quantity of crude helium in the Reserve equal to: (1) 10% of the total volume of crude helium made available for FY2015; (2) a percentage of the total volume of crude helium for each of FY2016-FY2019 that is 15% greater than the percentage available for the previous fiscal year; and (3) for FY2020 and subsequent fiscal years, 100% of the total volume available for that fiscal year. 
Extends Phase B from October 1, 2014, to the date on which the volume of recoverable crude helium at the Reserve is 3 billion standard cubic feet (excluding privately owned quantities of crude helium stored there temporarily).
 
Permits the Secretary to adjust the auctioned quantities: (1) downward to minimize market disruptions threatening U.S. economic well-being, but only after submitting a written justification to specified congressional committees; or (2) upward if necessary to increase participation in auctions or returns to the taxpayer.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish annually sale and minimum auction prices using a specified order of priority, and (2) adopt procedures to ensure confidentiality of information submitted under this Act.
 
Requires a refiner, as a condition of purchase, to make excess refining capacity of helium available to specified persons at commercially reasonable rates.
 
Requires the Secretary to hold a one-time sale of at least 250 million cubic feet no later than August 1, 2014.
 
Directs the Secretary, during Phase C, to offer crude helium for sale to federal users at prices required to reimburse the Secretary for the full costs of sales.
 
Permits federal users, also during Phase C, to purchase refined helium with priority pipeline access from persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium at the in-kind price from the Secretary.
 
 Requires a Phase D for disposal of assets, beginning not earlier than two years after the commencement of Phase C, and ending September 30, 2021, during which the Secretary shall designate as excess property and dispose of all facilities, equipment, and other real and personal property held by the United States in the Federal Helium System.
 
Makes the Helium Production Fund available for specified purposes, including capital investments in upgrades and maintenance of the Federal Helium System.
 
Requires excess funds in such Fund to be: (1) paid to the general fund of the Treasury, and (2) used to reduce the annual federal budget deficit. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to use $51 million of the amounts paid into the general fund to retire public debt.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer crude helium for sale or auction during each fiscal year during Phases A, B, and C in a minimum quantity that is the lesser of: (1) the quantity of crude helium offered for sale by the Secretary during FY2012, or (2) the maximum total production capacity of the Federal Helium System.
 
(Sec. 6) Repeals the requirement that the Secretary arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to study whether disposal of helium reserves will have a substantial adverse effect on scientific, technical, biomedical, or national security interests.
 
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to make specified information available on the Internet relating to the Federal Helium System, including an open market and in-kind price. Requires the BLM Director to establish a timely and public reporting process to provide data affecting the helium industry.
 
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to: (1) undertake a national helium gas resource assessment; and (2) submit to certain congressional committees assessments of global and domestic demand for helium, including an inventory of diverse uses of helium.
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to support research, development, commercial application, and conservation programs to: (1) expand domestic production of low-Btu gas and helium resources, (2) separate and capture helium from natural gas streams, and (3) reduce the venting of helium and helium-bearing low-Btu gas during natural gas operations. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Requires DOE to support or carry out directly research programs to develop: (1) advanced membrane technology used in the separation of low-Btu gases, and (2) helium separation technology.
 
Requires also a DOE industrial helium research program to develop: (1) low-cost technologies and technology systems for recycling, reprocessing, and reusing helium for all medical, scientific, industrial, commercial, aerospace, and other uses of helium in the United States, including federal uses; and (2) industrial gathering technologies to capture helium from other chemical processing, including ammonia processing. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with DOE on any assessment or research regarding extraction and refinement of the isotope helium-3 from crude helium and other potential sources.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to study the feasibility of: (1) establishing a facility to separate the isotope helium-3 from crude helium, and (2) exploring other potential sources of the isotope helium-3.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to certain congressional committees regarding the results of assessments conducted under this Act.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on a federal agency acquisition strategy, including: (1) a 20-year federal strategy for securing access to crude helium; (2) certain assessments for federal users of the consumption of, and projected demand for, crude and refined helium, as well as of the effects of increases in the price of refined helium and methods and policies for mitigating any determined effects; (3) a process for prioritization of uses that accounts for diminished availability of helium supplies that may occur over time; and (4) a determination of a date before September 30, 2021, for the implementation of the Phase D disposal of all federally held assets in the Federal Helium System that minimizes any potential supply disruptions for federal users.
 
(Sec. 10) Amends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 to extend through FY2013: (1) certain federal payments to states and counties containing federal land to fund schools and roads (including certain payments to eligible counties in California), (2) authority to conduct special projects on federal land, (3) authority to reserve and use county funds, and (4) the authorization of appropriations for the Act.
 
 Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to make available to DOE $10 million for FY2014, $36 million for FY2015, and $4 million for FY2019 to remediate, reclaim, and close abandoned oil and gas wells on current or former NPR land.
 
Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to make $20 million for FY2018 and $30 million for FY2019 available to the Secretary to pay the federal funding share of challenge cost-share agreements for deferred maintenance projects and to correct deficiencies in National Park Service infrastructure.
 
Requires that at least 50% of the total cost of such projects be derived from non-federal sources, including in-kind contribution of goods and services fairly valued.
 
Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 relating to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to: (1) waive the limitation on the total annual payments to a state or Indian tribe certified as having completed coal reclamation for FY2014 and FY2015, but (2) restrict to $28 million for FY2014 and $75 million for FY2015 the total payment to any certified state or Indian tribe. Prescribes requirements for making such payments if the total annual amount to a certified state or Indian tribe is limited by the such ceilings.
 
Fixes at 4% the royalty rate on the quantity of gross value of the output of sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market from federal land in the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
 
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce by $6 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for grants for production of advanced biofuels that has not been appropriated as of the date of enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Became Public Law No: 113-40.
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Became Public Law No: 113-40.
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-09-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-09-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-09-26
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2013-09-26
text: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6932-6933)
action_date: 2013-09-26
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6932-6933)
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H. Res. 354. (consideration: CR H5824-5825)
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H. Res. 354.(consideration: CR H5824-5825)
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 2. Record Vote Number: 203.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 2. Record Vote Number: 203.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6632-6634)
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2013-05-06
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 394 - 1 (Roll no. 128).
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 394 - 1 (Roll no. 128).
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 - 211 (Roll no. 127).
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H2375)
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schneider motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add at the end of the bill a new section on banning exports to hostile nations that seek nuclear weapons or missile technology.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Mr. Schneider moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources. (consideration: CR H2375-2376; text: CR H2375)
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2357-2360)
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H2375)
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 527.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2374-2377)
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 527 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: On motion that the Commitee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Mr. Hastings (WA) moved that the Commitee rise.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 178, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Thornberry amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 178, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holt amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Dent amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Dent demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 178, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Dent amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 178, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Collins (GA) amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2357-2364)
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 527 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: Mr. Hastings (WA) moved that the Committee rise.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 527.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Jason Chaffetz to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 178 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 527 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 178. (consideration: CR H2323-2327)
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: Rule H. Res. 178 passed House.
action_date: 2013-04-24
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 178 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 527 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2013-04-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 27.
action_date: 2013-04-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-42.
action_date: 2013-04-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-42.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-02-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-02-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-02-06
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 113-40