[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 39 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1634-H1636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONCURRING IN SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 1753, METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2000
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 453) providing for the consideration of the
bill H.R. 1753 and the Senate amendments thereto.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 453
Resolved, That, upon the adoption of this resolution, the
House shall be considered to have taken from the Speaker's
table the bill H.R. 1753 together with the Senate amendments
thereto, and to have (1) concurred in the amendment of the
Senate to the title, and (2) concurred in the amendment of
the Senate to the text with an amendment as follows: In lieu
of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate
amendment, insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Hydrate Research 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
enterprise'' 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
``institution of higher education'' means an institution of
higher education, 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.
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
[[Page H1635]]
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
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 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 of
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, Cooperative Agreements, Interagency
Funds Transfer Agreements, and Field Work Proposals.--
(1) Assistance and coordination.--In carrying out the
program of methane hydrate research and development
authorized by this section, the Secretary 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 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.
(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
(3) 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--
(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 twenty-five 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
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 an existing building (including site grading
and improvement and architect fees).
(e) Responsibilities of the Secretary.--In carrying out
subsection (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
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
(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 program implemented pursuant to this Act, and to
make recommendations for future methane hydrate research and
development needs. The Secretary shall transmit to the
Congress, not later than September 30, 2004, a report
containing the findings and recommendations 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 study that the Department of Energy prepares at the
direction of any committee of the Congress.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Costello) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Sensenbrenner).
General Leave
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on this legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, methane hydrates which consist of a mixture of methane
and water frozen into a solid crystalline state have great energy
potential and are found in many areas throughout the world. The U.S.
Geological Survey's 1995 national assessment of United States oil and
gas reserves estimated the value of U.S. in-place methane hydrate
resources to be an astounding 320 quadrillion cubic feet of gas.
By comparison, the United States annually consumes about 33 trillion
cubic feet of methane as natural gas. The world's currently known gas
reserves are about 5 quadrillion cubic feet. H.R. 1753 directs the
Secretary of Energy in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce,
Defense and the Interior and the director of the National Science
Foundation to commence a program of methane hydrate R&D. It authorizes
the Secretary of Energy $5 million for fiscal year 2001, $7.5 million
for fiscal year 2002, $11 million for fiscal year 2003, and $12 million
for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005 to carry out the programs.
The bill also authorizes the Secretary of Energy to award grants or
contracts to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, institutions
of higher education and industrial enterprises to conduct methane
hydrate R&D.
{time} 1415
It requires that all such awards be made available based upon a
competitive merit review process. It limits administrative expenses to
not more than 5 percent and prohibits any funds from being used for
either the construction of the new building or alteration of an
existing building, including site grading and improvement in architect
fees.
It allows the Secretary of the Interior to award methane hydrate R&D
[[Page H1636]]
contracts and grants to and to enter into cooperative agreements with
qualified entities under the Marine Mineral Resources Research Act of
1996. It sunsets the methane hydrate R&D program after the end of
fiscal year 2005, and it requires the Secretary of Energy to engage the
national research council to conduct a study of the progress of the
program and to make recommendations for future methane hydrate R&D
needs. The NRC report is to be transmitted to Congress not later than
September 30, 2004.
Mr. Speaker, the House unanimously approved a similar version of H.R.
1753 last October, which the Senate amended in November. I commend this
revised version of the bill which represents the bipartisan agreement
with the Senate to the House for its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to move one step closer to
enactment of the Gas Hydrates Research and Development Act. I am happy
that we have reached an agreement that everyone can support. I would
like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the
chairman of the full committee, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Hall), the ranking member, along with the gentleman from California
(Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the subcommittee, for all of their hard
work on this bill. I would also like to commend my good friend and
colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) for his leadership and his hard
work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, gas hydrates have the potential to provide a significant
natural gas resource to this country if they can be safely and
economically extracted from the ocean floor, where they are found. This
legislation establishes an interagency research and development program
to examine many issues associated with the extraction of gas hydrates,
including the possible economic, environmental, and energy benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Energy and
Environment Subcommittee, I am pleased that we are considering H.R.
1753, the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000. My
friend and colleague on the subcommittee, Mr. Doyle, introduced H.R.
1753 in May 1999, and last October 26, the House unanimously approved a
similar version of the bill. The Senate amended the House-passed bill
last November, and this revised version of the bill represents a
bipartisan agreement with the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, I have the distinct pleasure of serving on both the
House Science Committee and the Resources Committee which shared
jurisdiction on this bill. I want to thank my friends on Resources for
all their hard work in getting H.R. 1753 to the floor. I would
especially like to thank Chairman Young and Congresswoman Cubin for
their willingness to work with me and the chairman of the Science
Committee on this important piece of legislation.
Methane hydrates are ice-like substances found in undersea sediments
and in Arctic permafrost. These hydrates will one day provide an
abundant supply of clean natural gas if science can discover practical
and environmentally sound extraction methods. However, much more
research is needed before we can attain that goal. H.R. 1753 brings us
closer to the day when we can safely and effectively begin to use this
abundant, new source of energy.
This legislation will make funds available to continue research into
extracting this clean and bountiful potential source of energy. It also
seeks to better coordinate the research efforts of the Department of
Energy, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Navy, the Minerals
Management Service, and NOAA.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which will help
secure our energy future. I thank the Chair.
Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House is considering
H.R. 1753. The Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act, a five
year authorization measure that will promote the research,
identification, assessment, exploration and development of methane
hydrate resources.
As members will recall, H.R. 1753 was previously considered on the
suspension calendar and passed by the House on October 26, 1999. Under
the leadership of Senator Akaka, the bill was subsequently passed by
the Senate in November of 1999. The version before us today does not
differ in scope or direction, but does incorporate minor changes agreed
to by all parties that have been involved in this most important energy
initiative.
In my view, the need for heightened methane hydrate research has
always been critical in nature. But the attention being paid to the
recent increase in oil prices and cost hikes at the gas pump has served
to reinforce our nation's need to become less dependent on foreign oil
and to enhance the use of our domestic fuel base in a manner that meets
the requirements for cleaner fuels and reduced emissions.
The potential for significant benefits to consumers, the environment,
and business exist in methane hydrate research. I have previously sited
the following information, but it bears repeating. It has been
projected that U.S. gas consumption is expected to increase by 40% by
the year 2020. Couple this with the fact that currently more than half
of the present U.S. oil supply is imported and without natural gas
production, our oil import volume would be much larger. But if only 1%
of the methane hydrate resource could be made recoverable, the United
States could more than double its domestic natural gas resource base.
In short, when a new, abundant resource is found that meets a growing
demand with a greater level of efficiency, consumers will not only have
a greater selection of options, but more affordable costs as well.
I am particularly proud of the existing research into this area that
has been done by DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory in
Pittsburgh, as well as the recognized efforts of Gerald Holder at the
University of Pittsburgh. I am confident that framework, guidance, and
authority embodied in The Methane Hydrates Research and Development Act
will enable further examination into what could conceivably save
consumers billions of dollars, make difficult national environmental
decisions easier, and strengthen our Nation's energy security.
Once again, I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to Senator
Akaka, Chairman Sensenbrenner, Representative Calvert, and
Representative Costello for their efforts and support in moving forward
with H.R. 1753, The Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of
2000.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution
453.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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