[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21] [Senate] [Pages 31140-31141] [From the U.S. 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. [[Page 31141]] (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 (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.''. ____________________