[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15147-S15148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                        AKAKA AMENDMENT NO. 2806

  Mr. DASCHLE (for Mr. Akaka) proposed an amendment to the bill (H.R. 
1753) to promtoe the research, identification, assessment, exploration, 
and development of methane hydrate resources, and for other purposes; 
as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Hydrate Research and 
     Development Act of 1999''.

     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 
     enterprise'' means a private, nongovernmental enterprise 
     incorporated under Federal or State law that has an expertise 
     or capability that relates to methane hydrate research and 
     development.
       (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' means an institution of 
     higher education, within the meaning of section 102(a)(1) of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)).
       (7) Methane hydrate.--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 permaforst deposits of methane hydrate.
       (8) Secretary of energy.--The term ``Secretary of Energy'' 
     means the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assistant 
     Secretary for Fossil Energy.
       (9) Secretary of commerce.--The term ``Secretary of 
     Commerce'' means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through 
     the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.
       (10) Secretary of defense.--The term ``Secretary of 
     Defense'' means the Secretary of Defense, acting through the 
     Secretary of the Navy.
       (11) 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 Mineals Management Service.

     SEC. 3. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Commencement of program.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, 
     in collaboration 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 subsection (b).
       (2) Designations.--The Secretary of Energy, the Secretary 
     of Commerce, 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 
     Secretary of Energy shall coordinate all activities within 
     the Department of Energy relating to methane hydrate research 
     and development.
       (4) Meetings.--The individuals designated under paragraph 
     (2) shall meet not later than 270 days after the date on 
     enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 120 
     days thereafter to--
       (A) review the progress of the program under paragraph (1); 
     and
       (B) make recommendations on future activities to occur 
     subsequent to the meeting.
       (b) Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements.--
       (1) Assistance and coordination.--In carrying out the 
     program of methane hydrate research and development 
     authorized by this subsection the Secretary of Energy may 
     award grants or contracts 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 
     efficient and environmentally sound development of methane 
     hydrate resources;
       (C) undertake research programs to provide safe means of 
     transport and storage of methane produced from gas 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 
     activities authorized by this paragraph.
       (2) Competitive merit-based review.--Funds made available 
     under paragraph (1) shall be made available based on a 
     competitive merit-based process.
       (3) Consultation.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish an 
     advisory panel consisting of experts from industry, 
     institutions of higher education, and Federal agencies to--
       (i) advise the Secretary of Energy on potential 
     applications of methane hydrate; and
       (ii) assist in developing recommendations and priorities 
     for them as methane hydrate research and development carried 
     out under subsection (a)(1); and
       (iii) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 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--
       (I) methane hydrate formation;
       (II) methane hydrate degassing (including natural degassing 
     and degassing associated with commercial development); and
       (III) the consumption of natural gas produced from methane 
     hydrates.
       (B) Memership.--Not more than twenty-five percent of the 
     individuals serving on the advisory panel shall be Federal 
     employees.
       (c) 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 of Energy for 
     expenses associated with the administration of the program 
     carried out under subsection (a)(1).
       (2) Construction costs.--None of the funds made available 
     to carry out this section may be used for the construction of 
     a new building or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or 
     alteration of a existing building (including site grading and 
     improvement and architect fees.).
       (d) Responsibilities of the Secretary of Energy.--In 
     carrying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Energy 
     shall--
       (1) facilitate and develop partnerships among government, 
     industry, and institutions of higher education to research, 
     identify, assess, and explore methane hydrate resources;
       (2) undertake programs to develop basic information 
     necessary 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
       (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 subparagraph (H); 
     and
       (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

[[Page S15148]]

       (3) by inserting after paragraph 6 the following:
       ``(7) the term ``Methane hydrate'' means--
       ``(A) a methane clathrate that is in the form of amethane-
     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. REPORTS AND STUDIES.

       The Secretary of Energy shall simultaneously provide to the 
     Committee on Science and the Committee on Resources of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate copies of any report or study 
     that the Department of Energy pursuant to this Act.

     SEC. 6. 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 2000;
       (2) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2001;
       (3) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
       (4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
       (5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
       (6) thereafter such sums as are necessary.

     Amounts authorized under his section shall remain available 
     until expended.
       Amend the title to read as follows: ``An act to promote the 
     research, identification, assessment, exploration, and 
     development of methane hydrate resources, and for other 
     purposes.''.

                          ____________________