[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6370-S6371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NICKLES:
  S. 1183. A bill to direct the Secretary of Energy to convey to the 
city of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the former site of the NIPER facility 
of the Department of Energy; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.


                           niper legislation

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that 
will transfer ownership of land owned by the Department of Energy (DOE) 
and known as the National Institute of Petroleum Energy Research 
(NIPER) to the City of Bartlesville for business and educational 
purposes.
  The NIPER facility was originally established in 1918 as the 
Petroleum Experiment Station by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Its purpose 
was to provide research targeted to oil and gas field problems. In 
1936, as World War II approached, additions to the Work Project 
Administration building were erected. Its research was expanded to help 
the war effort. During the 1973-1974 energy crisis, the center was 
renamed the Bartlesville Energy Research Center. When the Center 
privatized in 1983, it was renamed the National Institute for Petroleum 
and Energy Research (NIPER). NIPER closed its operations on December 
22, 1998.
  According to the Surplus Property Act of 1949, excess federal 
property is screened for use by the following: Housing and Urban 
Development, Health and Human Services, and local and state 
organizations including non-profit organizations. At the conclusion of 
the screening process, a negotiated sale is conducted. If the property 
is still undeclared it goes to auction.
  Unfortunately this process can take many years, thus preventing the 
city of Bartlesville from realizing any near-term economic boost from 
NIPER's redevelopment. Consequently, this legislation is needed to 
ensure that the NIPER facilities are redeveloped as quickly as possible 
in order to provide a prompt economic boost to the community. This 
legislation also will ensure that the NIPER facilities do not 
deteriorate while the property is being

[[Page S6371]]

processed through the lengthy steps of the Surplus Property Act and 
therefore make re-use impossible.
  The City of Bartlesville intends to provide an educational facility 
and a place for business and industry that would facilitate job 
creation through technology and investment. The NIPER facility will 
also provide housing for administrative services for community 
development organization such as United Way, Women and Children in 
Crisis, and various homeless programs. This project enjoys the strong 
support of the Mayor of Bartlesville and other locally elected 
officials.
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