Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000
PL 106-193 (H.R.1753), enacted 05/02/2000

114 STAT. 234 
PUBLIC LAW 106-193—MAY 2, 2000 
Public Law 106-193 
106th Congress 
An Act 
May 2, 2000 
To promote the research, identification, assessment, exploration, and development 
[H.R. 1753] 
o
f
^ methane hydrate resources, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
Methane Hydrate the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Research and 
Development Act 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
30 use 1902 
'^^i^ -^^^ ^^^y ^^ cited as the "Methane Hydrate Research 
note. 
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. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-193—MAY 2, 2000 
114 STAT. 235 
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. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
114 STAT. 236 
PUBLIC LAW 106-193—MAY 2, 2000 
Establishment. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
panel consisting of experts from industrial enterprises, institutions 
of higher education, and Federal agencies to— 
(1) advise the Secretary on potential applications of 
methane hydrate; 
(2) assist in developing recommendations and priorities 
for the methane hydrate research and development program 
carried out under subsection (a)(1); and 
Deadline. 
(3) not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
Reports. 
of this Act, and at such later dates as the panel considers 
advisable, submit to Congress a report on the anticipated 
impact on global climate change from— 
(A) methane hydrate formation; 
(B) methane hydrate degassing (including natural 
degassing and degassing associated with commercial 
development); and 
(C) the consumption of natural gas produced from 
methane hydrates. 
Not more than 25 percent of the individuals serving on the advisory 
panel shall be Federal employees. 
(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 associ-
ated with the administration of the program carried out under 
subsection (a)(1). 
(2) CONSTRUCTION COSTS.—^None of the funds made avail-
able to carry out this section may be used for the construction 
of a new building or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, 
or alteration of an existing building (including site grading 
and improvement and architect fees). 
(e) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In carrying out sub-
section (b)(1), the Secretary shall— 
(1) facilitate and develop partnerships among government, 
industrial enterprises, and institutions of higher education to 
research, identify, 
assess, and explore methane 
hydrate 
resources; 
(2) undertake programs to develop basic information nec-
essary for promoting long-term interest in methane hydrate 
resources as an energy source; 
(3) ensure that the data and information developed 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 
Reports. 
(5) report annually to Congress on accomplishments under 
this section. 
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE MINING AND MINERALS POLICY 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 subpara-
graph (H); and 
PUBLIC LAW 106-193—MAY 2, 2000 
114 STAT. 237 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (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) 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 deposits of methane 
hydrate.". 
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 2001; 
(2) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2002; 
(3) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; 
(4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and 
(5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005. 
Amounts authorized under this section shall remain available until 
expended. 
SEC. 6. SUNSET. 
Section 3 of this Act shall cease to be effective after the end 
of fiscal year 2005. 
SEC. 7. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY. 
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National 
Research Council for such council to conduct a study of the progress 
made under the methane hydrate research and development pro-
gram implemented pursuant to this Act, and to make recommenda-
tions for future methane hydrate research and development needs. 
The Secretary shall transmit to the Congress, not later than Sep- Deadline, 
tember 30, 2004, a report containing the findings and recommenda- Reports, 
tions of the National Research Council under this section. 
SEC. 8. REPORTS AND STUDIES. 
The Secretary of Energy shall provide to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives copies of any report or 
114 STAT. 238 
PUBLIC LAW 106-193—MAY 2, 2000 
study that the Department of Energy prepares at the direction 
of any committee of the Congress. 
Approved May 2, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1753 (S. 330): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-377, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Science) and Ft. 2 (Comm. on 
RGSourcGs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106^33 accompanying S. 330 (Comm. on Energy and 
Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 145 (1999): Oct. 26, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Vol. 146 (2000): Apr. 3, House concurred in Senate amendments with an 
amendment pursuant to H. Res. 453. 
Apr. 13, Senate concurred in House amendment.