[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 527 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.527
One Hundred Thirteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
the third day of January, two thousand and thirteen
An Act
To amend the Helium Act to complete the privatization of the Federal
helium reserve in a competitive market fashion that ensures stability in
the helium markets while protecting the interests of American taxpayers,
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 ``Helium Stewardship Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
Section 2 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
``In this Act:
``(1) Cliffside field.--The term `Cliffside Field' means the
helium storage reservoir in which the Federal Helium Reserve is
stored.
``(2) Federal helium pipeline.--The term `Federal Helium
Pipeline' means the federally owned pipeline system through which
helium for the Federal Helium Reserve may be transported.
``(3) Federal helium reserve.--The term `Federal Helium
Reserve' means helium reserves owned by the United States.
``(4) Federal helium system.--The term `Federal Helium System'
means--
``(A) the Federal Helium Reserve;
``(B) the Cliffside Field;
``(C) the Federal Helium Pipeline; and
``(D) all other infrastructure owned, leased, or managed
under contract by the Secretary for the storage,
transportation, withdrawal, enrichment, purification, or
management of helium.
``(5) Federal user.--The term `Federal user' means a Federal
agency or extramural holder of one or more Federal research grants
using helium.
``(6) Low-btu gas.--The term `low-Btu gas' means a fuel gas
with a heating value of less than 250 Btu per standard cubic foot
measured as the higher heating value resulting from the inclusion
of noncombustible gases, including nitrogen, helium, argon, and
carbon dioxide.
``(7) Person.--The term `person' means any individual,
corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public
or private institution, or State or political subdivision.
``(8) Priority pipeline access.--The term `priority pipeline
access' means the first priority of delivery of crude helium under
which the Secretary schedules and ensures the delivery of crude
helium to a helium refinery through the Federal Helium System.
``(9) Qualified bidder.--
``(A) In general.--The term `qualified bidder' means a
person the Secretary determines is seeking to purchase helium
for their own use, refining, or redelivery to users.
``(B) Exclusion.--The term `qualified bidder' does not
include a person who was previously determined to be a
qualified bidder if the Secretary determines that the person
did not meet the requirements of a qualified bidder under this
Act.
``(10) Qualifying domestic helium transaction.--The term
`qualifying domestic helium transaction' means any agreement
entered into or renegotiated agreement during the preceding 1-year
period in the United States for the purchase or sale of at least
15,000,000 standard cubic feet of crude or pure helium to which any
holder of a contract with the Secretary for the acceptance,
storage, delivery, or redelivery of crude helium from the Federal
Helium System is a party.
``(11) Refiner.--The term `refiner' means a person with the
ability to take delivery of crude helium from the Federal Helium
Pipeline and refine the crude helium into pure helium.
``(12) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of
the Interior.''.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.
Section 3 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167a) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(c) Extraction of Helium From Deposits on Federal Land.--All
amounts received by the Secretary from the sale or disposition of
helium on Federal land shall be credited to the Helium Production Fund
established under section 6(e).''.
SEC. 4. STORAGE, WITHDRAWAL AND TRANSPORTATION.
Section 5 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167c) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 5. STORAGE, WITHDRAWAL AND TRANSPORTATION.
``(a) In General.--If the Secretary provides helium storage,
withdrawal, or transportation services to any person, the Secretary
shall impose a fee on the person that accurately reflects the economic
value of those services.
``(b) Minimum Fees.--The fees charged under subsection (a) shall 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.
``(c) Schedule of Fees.--Prior to sale or auction under subsection
(a), (b), or (c) of section 6, the Secretary shall annually publish a
standardized schedule of fees that the Secretary will charge under this
section.
``(d) Treatment.--All fees received by the Secretary under this
section shall be credited to the Helium Production Fund established
under section 6(e).
``(e) Storage and Delivery.--In accordance with this section, the
Secretary shall--
``(1) allow any person or qualified bidder to which crude
helium is sold or auctioned under section 6 to store helium in the
Federal Helium Reserve; and
``(2) establish a schedule for the transportation and delivery
of helium using the Federal Helium System that--
``(A) ensures timely delivery of helium auctioned pursuant
to section 6(b)(2);
``(B) ensures timely delivery of helium acquired from the
Secretary from the Federal Helium Reserve by means other than
an auction under section 6(b)(2), including nonallocated sales;
and
``(C) provides priority access to the Federal Helium
Pipeline for in-kind sales for Federal users.
``(f) New Pipeline Access.--The Secretary shall consider any
applications for access to the Federal Helium Pipeline in a manner
consistent with the schedule for phasing out commercial sales and
disposition of assets pursuant to section 6.''.
SEC. 5. SALE OF CRUDE HELIUM.
Section 6 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167d) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 6. SALE OF CRUDE HELIUM.
``(a) Phase A: Allocation Transition.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer crude helium for
sale in such quantities, at such times, at not less than the
minimum price established under subsection (b)(7), and under such
terms and conditions as the Secretary determines necessary to carry
out this subsection with minimum market disruption.
``(2) Federal purchases.--Federal users may purchase refined
helium with priority pipeline access under this subsection from
persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an
equivalent quantity of crude helium at the in-kind price from the
Secretary.
``(3) Duration.--This subsection applies during--
``(A) the period beginning on the date of enactment of the
Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 and ending on September 30,
2014; and
``(B) any period during which the sale of helium under
subsection (b) is delayed or suspended.
``(b) Phase B: Auction Implementation.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer crude helium for
sale in quantities not subject to auction under paragraph (2),
after completion of each auction, at not less than the minimum
price established under paragraph (7), and under such terms and
conditions as the Secretary determines necessary--
``(A) to maximize total recovery of helium from the Federal
Helium Reserve over the long term;
``(B) to maximize the total financial return to the
taxpayer;
``(C) to manage crude helium sales according to the ability
of the Secretary to extract and produce helium from the Federal
Helium Reserve;
``(D) to give priority to meeting the helium demand of
Federal users in the event of any disruption to the Federal
Helium Reserve; and
``(E) to carry out this subsection with minimum market
disruption.
``(2) Auction quantities.--For the period described in
paragraph (4) and consistent with the conditions described in
paragraph (8), the Secretary shall annually auction to any
qualified bidder a quantity of crude helium in the Federal Helium
Reserve equal to--
``(A) for fiscal year 2015, 10 percent of the total volume
of crude helium made available for that fiscal year;
``(B) for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019, a
percentage of the total volume of crude helium that is 15
percentage points greater than the percentage made available
for the previous fiscal year; and
``(C) for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter,
100 percent of the total volume of crude helium made available
for that fiscal year.
``(3) Federal purchases.--Federal users may purchase refined
helium with priority pipeline access under this subsection from
persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an
equivalent quantity of crude helium at the in-kind price from the
Secretary.
``(4) Duration.--This subsection applies during the period--
``(A) beginning on October 1, 2014; and
``(B) ending on the date on which the volume of recoverable
crude helium at the Federal Helium Reserve (other than
privately owned quantities of crude helium stored temporarily
at the Federal Helium Reserve under section 5 and this section)
is 3,000,000,000 standard cubic feet.
``(5) Safety valve.--The Secretary may adjust the quantities
specified in paragraph (2)--
``(A) downward, if the Secretary determines the adjustment
necessary--
``(i) to minimize market disruptions that pose a threat
to the economic well-being of the United States; and
``(ii) only after submitting a written justification of
the adjustment to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives; or
``(B) upward, if the Secretary determines the adjustment
necessary to increase participation in crude helium auctions or
returns to the taxpayer.
``(6) Auction format.--The Secretary shall conduct each auction
using a method that maximizes revenue to the Federal Government.
``(7) Prices.--The Secretary shall annually establish, as
applicable, separate sale and minimum auction prices under
subsection (a)(1) and paragraphs (1) and (2) using, if applicable
and in the following order of priority:
``(A) The sale price of crude helium in auctions held by
the Secretary under paragraph (2).
``(B) Price recommendations and disaggregated data from a
qualified, independent third party who has no conflict of
interest, who shall conduct a confidential survey of qualifying
domestic helium transactions.
``(C) The volume-weighted average price of all crude helium
and pure helium purchased, sold, or processed by persons in all
qualifying domestic helium transactions.
``(D) The volume-weighted average cost of converting
gaseous crude helium into pure helium.
``(8) Terms and conditions.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require all persons
that are parties to a contract with the Secretary for the
withdrawal, acceptance, storage, transportation, delivery, or
redelivery of crude helium to disclose, on a strictly
confidential basis--
``(i) the volumes and associated prices in dollars per
thousand cubic feet of all crude and pure helium purchased,
sold, or processed by persons in qualifying domestic helium
transactions;
``(ii) the volumes and associated costs in dollars per
thousand cubic feet of converting crude helium into pure
helium; and
``(iii) refinery capacity and future capacity
estimates.
``(B) Condition.--As a condition of sale or auction to a
refiner under subsection (a)(1) and paragraphs (1) and (2),
effective beginning 90 days after the date of enactment of the
Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the refiner shall make excess
refining capacity of helium available at commercially
reasonable rates to--
``(i) any person prevailing in auctions under paragraph
(2); and
``(ii) any person that has acquired crude helium from
the Secretary from the Federal Helium Reserve by means
other than an auction under paragraph (2) after the date of
enactment of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, including
nonallocated sales.
``(9) Use of information.--The Secretary may use the
information collected under this Act--
``(A) to approximate crude helium prices; and
``(B) to ensure the recovery of fair value for the
taxpayers of the United States from sales of crude helium.
``(10) Protection of confidentiality.--The Secretary shall
adopt such administrative policies and procedures as the Secretary
considers necessary and reasonable to ensure the confidentiality of
information submitted pursuant to this Act.
``(11) Forward auctions.--Effective beginning in fiscal year
2016, the Secretary may conduct a forward auction once each fiscal
year of a quantity of helium that is equal to up to 10 percent of
the volume of crude helium to be made available at auction during
the following fiscal year if the Secretary determines that the
forward auction will--
``(A) not cause a disruption in the supply of helium from
the Reserve;
``(B) represent a cost-effective action;
``(C) generate greater returns for taxpayers; and
``(D) increase the effectiveness of price discovery.
``(12) Sale schedule and frequency.--For fiscal year 2015 the
Secretary shall conduct only one auction, which shall precede, and
one sale, which shall take place no later than August 1, 2014, with
full and final payment for the sale being made no later than
September 26, 2014. Consistent with the annual volumes established
under paragraph (2), effective beginning in fiscal year 2016, the
Secretary may conduct auctions twice during each fiscal year if the
Secretary determines that the auction frequency will--
``(A) not cause a disruption in the supply of helium from
the Reserve;
``(B) represent a cost-effective action;
``(C) generate greater returns for taxpayers; and
``(D) increase the effectiveness of price discovery.
``(13) One-time sale.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (4)(A), the
Secretary shall hold a one-time sale of helium, no later than
August 1, 2014 from amounts available in fiscal year 2016
pursuant to this section. Full and final payment for the sale
must be made no later than 45 days after the date the sale
takes place.
``(B) Volume sold.--The volume of helium sold under this
paragraph--
``(i) shall be at least 250 million cubic feet; and
``(ii) shall be made available for sale consistent with
paragraph (2)(B).
``(c) Phase C: Continued Access for Federal Users.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer crude helium for
sale to Federal users in such quantities, at such times, at such
prices required to reimburse the Secretary for the full costs of
the sales, and under such terms and conditions as the Secretary
determines necessary to carry out this subsection.
``(2) Federal purchases.--Federal users may purchase refined
helium with priority pipeline access under this subsection from
persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an
equivalent quantity of crude helium at the in-kind price from the
Secretary.
``(3) Effective date.--This subsection applies beginning on the
day after the date described in subsection (b)(4)(B).
``(d) Phase D: Disposal of Assets.--
``(1) In general.--Not earlier than 2 years after the date of
commencement of Phase C described in subsection (c) and not later
than September 30, 2021, the Secretary shall designate as excess
property and dispose of all facilities, equipment, and other real
and personal property, and all interests in the same, held by the
United States in the Federal Helium System.
``(2) Applicable law.--The disposal of the property described
in paragraph (1) shall be in accordance with subtitle I of title
40, United States Code.
``(3) Proceeds.--All proceeds accruing to the United States by
reason of the sale or other disposal of the property described in
paragraph (1) shall be treated as funds received under this Act for
purposes of subsection (e).
``(4) Costs.--All costs associated with the sale and disposal
(including costs associated with termination of personnel) and with
the cessation of activities under this subsection shall be paid
from amounts available in the Helium Production Fund established
under subsection (e).
``(e) Helium Production Fund.--
``(1) In general.--All amounts received under this Act,
including amounts from the sale or auction of crude helium, shall
be credited to the Helium Production Fund, which shall be available
without fiscal year limitation for purposes determined to be
necessary and cost effective by the Secretary to carry out this Act
(other than sections 16, 17, and 18), including capital investments
in upgrades and maintenance at the Federal Helium System,
including--
``(A) well head maintenance at the Cliffside Field;
``(B) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of
facilities that pressurize the Cliffside Field;
``(C) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of
equipment related to the storage, withdrawal, enrichment,
transportation, purification, and sale of crude helium from the
Federal Helium Reserve;
``(D) entering into purchase, lease, or other agreements to
drill new or uncap existing wells to maximize the recovery of
crude helium from the Federal Helium System; and
``(E) any other scheduled or unscheduled maintenance of the
Federal Helium System.
``(2) Excess funds.--Amounts in the Helium Production Fund in
excess of amounts the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry
out paragraph (1) shall be paid to the general fund of the Treasury
and used to reduce the annual Federal budget deficit.
``(3) Retirement of public debt.--Out of amounts paid to the
general fund of the Treasury under paragraph (2), the Secretary of
the Treasury shall use $51,000,000 to retire public debt.
``(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a
report describing all expenditures by the Bureau of Land Management
to carry out this Act.
``(f) Minimum Quantity.--The Secretary shall offer for sale or
auction during each fiscal year under subsections (a), (b), and (c) a
quantity of crude helium that is the lesser of--
``(1) the quantity of crude helium offered for sale by the
Secretary during fiscal year 2012; or
``(2) the maximum total production capacity of the Federal
Helium System.''.
SEC. 6. INFORMATION, ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH, AND STRATEGY.
The Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by repealing section 15 (50 U.S.C. 167m);
(2) by redesignating section 17 (50 U.S.C. 167 note) as section
20; and
(3) by inserting after section 14 (50 U.S.C. 167l) the
following:
``SEC. 15. INFORMATION.
``(a) Transparency.--The Secretary, acting through the Bureau of
Land Management, shall make available on the Internet information
relating to the Federal Helium System that includes--
``(1) continued publication of an open market and in-kind
price;
``(2) aggregated projections of excess refining capacity;
``(3) ownership of helium held in the Federal Helium Reserve;
``(4) the volume of helium delivered to persons through the
Federal Helium Pipeline;
``(5) pressure constraints of the Federal Helium Pipeline;
``(6) an estimate of the projected date when 3,000,000,000
standard cubic feet of crude helium will remain in the Federal
Helium Reserve and the final phase described in section 6(c) will
begin;
``(7) the amount of the fees charged under section 5;
``(8) the scheduling of crude helium deliveries through the
Federal Helium Pipeline; and
``(9) other factors that will increase transparency.
``(b) Reporting.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, to provide the market
with appropriate and timely information affecting the helium resource,
the Director of the Bureau of Land Management shall establish a timely
and public reporting process to provide data that affects the helium
industry, including--
``(1) annual maintenance schedules and quarterly updates, that
shall include--
``(A) the date and duration of planned shutdowns of the
Federal Helium Pipeline;
``(B) the nature of work to be undertaken on the Federal
Helium System, whether routine, extended, or extraordinary;
``(C) the anticipated impact of the work on the helium
supply;
``(D) the efforts being made to minimize any impact on the
supply chain; and
``(E) any concerns regarding maintenance of the Federal
Helium Pipeline, including the pressure of the pipeline or
deviation from normal operation of the pipeline;
``(2) for each unplanned outage, a description of--
``(A) the beginning of the outage;
``(B) the expected duration of the outage;
``(C) the nature of the problem;
``(D) the estimated impact on helium supply;
``(E) a plan to correct problems, including an estimate of
the potential timeframe for correction and the likelihood of
plan success within the timeframe;
``(F) efforts to minimize negative impacts on the helium
supply chain; and
``(G) updates on repair status and the anticipated online
date;
``(3) monthly summaries of meetings and communications between
the Bureau of Land Management and the Cliffside Refiners Limited
Partnership, including a list of participants and an indication of
any actions taken as a result of the meetings or communications;
and
``(4) current predictions of the lifespan of the Federal Helium
System, including how much longer the crude helium supply will be
available based on current and forecasted demand and the projected
maximum production capacity of the Federal Helium System for the
following fiscal year.
``SEC. 16. HELIUM GAS RESOURCE ASSESSMENT.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the Secretary, acting
through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall--
``(1) in coordination with appropriate heads of State
geological surveys--
``(A) complete a national helium gas assessment that
identifies and quantifies the quantity of helium, including the
isotope helium-3, in each reservoir, including assessments of
the constituent gases found in each helium resource, such as
carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and natural gas; and
``(B) make available the modern seismic and geophysical log
data for characterization of the Bush Dome Reservoir;
``(2) in coordination with appropriate international agencies
and the global geology community, complete a global helium gas
assessment that identifies and quantifies the quantity of the
helium, including the isotope helium-3, in each reservoir;
``(3) in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, acting
through the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration,
complete--
``(A) an assessment of trends in global demand for helium,
including the isotope helium-3;
``(B) a 10-year forecast of domestic demand for helium
across all sectors, including scientific and medical research,
commercial, manufacturing, space technologies, cryogenics, and
national defense; and
``(C) an inventory of medical, scientific, industrial,
commercial, and other uses of helium in the United States,
including Federal uses, that identifies the nature of the
helium 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
``(4) submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives a report describing the results of the
assessments required under this paragraph.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000.
``SEC. 17. LOW-BTU GAS SEPARATION AND HELIUM CONSERVATION.
``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Energy shall support
programs of research, development, commercial application, and
conservation (including the programs described in subsection (b))--
``(1) to expand the domestic production of low-Btu gas and
helium resources;
``(2) to separate and capture helium from natural gas streams;
and
``(3) to reduce the venting of helium and helium-bearing low-
Btu gas during natural gas exploration and production.
``(b) Programs.--
``(1) Membrane technology research.--The Secretary of Energy,
in consultation with other appropriate agencies, shall support a
civilian research program to develop advanced membrane technology
that is used in the separation of low-Btu gases, including
technologies that remove helium and other constituent gases that
lower the Btu content of natural gas.
``(2) Helium separation technology.--The Secretary of Energy
shall support a research program to develop technologies for
separating, gathering, and processing helium in low concentrations
that occur naturally in geological reservoirs or formations,
including--
``(A) low-Btu gas production streams; and
``(B) technologies that minimize the atmospheric venting of
helium gas during natural gas production.
``(3) Industrial helium program.--The Secretary of Energy,
working through the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the Department
of Energy, shall carry out a research program--
``(A) to develop 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
``(B) to develop industrial gathering technologies to
capture helium from other chemical processing, including
ammonia processing.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000.
``SEC. 18. HELIUM-3 SEPARATION.
``(a) Interagency Cooperation.--The Secretary shall cooperate with
the Secretary of Energy, or a designee, on any assessment or research
relating to the extraction and refining of the isotope helium-3 from
crude helium and other potential sources, including--
``(1) gas analysis; and
``(2) infrastructure studies.
``(b) Feasibility Study.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Energy, or a designee, may carry out a study to assess 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.
``(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report
that contains a description of the results of the assessments conducted
under this section.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000.
``SEC. 19. FEDERAL AGENCY HELIUM ACQUISITION STRATEGY.
``In anticipation of the implementation of Phase D described in
section 6(d), and not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the Secretary (in consultation with
the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the
National Science Foundation, the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the National
Institutes of Health, and other agencies as appropriate) shall submit
to Congress a report that provides for Federal users--
``(1) an assessment of the consumption of, and projected demand
for, crude and refined helium;
``(2) a description of a 20-year Federal strategy for securing
access to helium;
``(3) a determination of a date prior to September 30, 2021,
for the implementation of Phase D as described in section 6(d) that
minimizes any potential supply disruptions for Federal users;
``(4) an assessment of the effects of increases in the price of
refined helium and methods and policies for mitigating any
determined effects; and
``(5) a description of a process for prioritization of uses
that accounts for diminished availability of helium supplies that
may occur over time.''.
SEC. 7. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Section 4 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167b) is amended by
striking ``section 6(f)'' each place it appears in subsections (c)(3),
(c)(4), and (d)(2) and inserting ``section 6(e)''.
(b) Section 8 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167f) is repealed.
SEC. 8. EXISTING AGREEMENTS.
(a) In General.--This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall
not affect or diminish the rights and obligations of the Secretary of
the Interior and private parties under agreements in existence on the
date of enactment of this Act, except to the extent that the agreements
are renewed or extended after that date.
(b) Delivery.--No agreement described in subsection (a) shall
affect or diminish the right of any party that purchases helium after
the date of enactment of this Act in accordance with section 6 of the
Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167d) (as amended by section 5) to receive
delivery of the helium in accordance with section 5(e)(2) of the Helium
Act (50 U.S.C. 167c(e)(2)) (as amended by section 4).
SEC. 9. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary of the Interior shall promulgate such regulations as
are necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this
Act, including regulations necessary to prevent unfair acts and
practices.
SEC. 10. AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS.
(a) Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination
Program.--
(1) Secure payments for states and counties containing federal
land.--
(A) Availability of payments.--Section 101 of the Secure
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16
U.S.C. 7111) is amended by striking ``2012'' each place it
appears and inserting ``2013''.
(B) Elections.--Section 102(b) of the Secure Rural Schools
and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C.
7112(b)) is amended--
(i) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``2012'' and
inserting ``2013''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``2012'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2013''.
(C) Distribution of payments to eligible counties.--Section
103(d)(2) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7113(d)(2)) is amended by
striking ``and 2012'' and inserting ``through 2013''.
(2) Continuation of authority to conduct special projects on
federal land.--Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act of 2000 is amended--
(A) in section 203(a)(1) (16 U.S.C. 7123(a)(1)), by
striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2013'';
(B) in section 204(e)(3)(B)(iii) (16 U.S.C.
7124(e)(3)(B)(iii)), by striking ``2012'' and inserting
``2013'';
(C) in section 205(a)(4) (16 U.S.C. 7125(a)(4)), by
striking ``2011'' each place it appears and inserting ``2012'';
(D) in section 207(a) (16 U.S.C. 7127(a)), by striking
``2012'' and inserting ``2013''; and
(E) in section 208 (16 U.S.C. 7128)--
(i) in subsection (a), by striking ``2012'' and
inserting ``2013''; and
(ii) in subsection (b), by striking ``2013'' and
inserting ``2014''.
(3) Continuation of authority to reserve and use county
funds.--Section 304 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7144) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``2012'' and inserting
``2013''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``2013'' and inserting
``2014''.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 402 of the Secure
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16
U.S.C. 7152) is amended by striking ``2012'' and inserting
``2013''.
(b) Abandoned Well Remediation.--Section 349 of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15907) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(i) Federally Drilled Wells.--Out of any amounts in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2014,
$36,000,000 for fiscal year 2015, and $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2019
shall be made available to the Secretary, without further appropriation
and to remain available until expended, to remediate, reclaim, and
close abandoned oil and gas wells on current or former National
Petroleum Reserve land.''.
(c) National Parks Maintenance Backlog.--Section 814(g) of the
Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 1f) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Available funds.--Out of any amounts in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, $20,000,000 shall be made available to the
Secretary of the Interior for fiscal year 2018, and $30,000,000
shall be made available to the Secretary of the Interior for fiscal
year 2019, without further appropriation and to remain available
until expended, to pay the Federal funding share of challenge cost-
share agreements for deferred maintenance projects and to correct
deficiencies in National Park Service infrastructure.
``(5) Cost-share requirement.--Not less than 50 percent of the
total cost of project for funds made available under paragraph (4)
to pay the Federal funding share shall be derived from non-Federal
sources, including in-kind contribution of goods and services
fairly valued.''.
(d) Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.--Section 411(h) of the Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1240a(h)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Supplemental funding.--
``(A) Waiver of limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (5),
the limitation on the total annual payments to a certified
State or Indian tribe under this subsection shall not apply for
fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
``(B) Limitation on waiver.--Notwithstanding subparagraph
(A), the total annual payment to a certified State or Indian
tribe under this subsection for fiscal year 2014 shall not be
more than $28,000,000 and for fiscal year 2015 shall not be
more than $75,000,000.
``(C) Insufficient amounts.--If the total annual payment to
a certified State or Indian tribe under paragraphs (1) and (2)
is limited by subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall--
``(i) give priority to making payments under paragraph
(2); and
``(ii) use any remaining funds to make payments under
paragraph (1).''.
(e) Soda Ash Royalties.--Notwithstanding section 24 of the Mineral
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 262) and the terms of any lease under that Act,
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 shall be 4 percent.
(f) Authorization Offset.--Section 207(c) of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17022(c)) is amended
by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, except
that the amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
not appropriated as of the date of enactment of the Helium Stewardship
Act of 2013 shall be reduced by $6,000,000''.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.