[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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