TITLE 30 - US CODE - CHAPTER 32 - METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

30 USC 2001 - Findings

Congress finds that

(1) in order to promote energy independence and meet the increasing demand for energy, the United States will require a diversified portfolio of substantially increased quantities of electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuels;

(2) according to the report submitted to Congress by the National Research Council entitled Charting the Future of Methane Hydrate Research in the United States, the total United States resources of gas hydrates have been estimated to be on the order of 200,000 trillion cubic feet;

(3) according to the report of the National Commission on Energy Policy entitled Ending the Energy StalemateA Bipartisan Strategy to Meet Americas Energy Challenge, and dated December 2004, the United States may be endowed with over one-fourth of the methane hydrate deposits in the world;

(4) according to the Energy Information Administration, a shortfall in natural gas supply from conventional and unconventional sources is expected to occur in or about 2020; and

(5) the National Academy of Sciences states that methane hydrate may have the potential to alleviate the projected shortfall in the natural gas supply.

30 USC 2002 - Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Contract
The term contract means a procurement contract within the meaning of section 6303 of title 31.

(2) Cooperative agreement
The term cooperative agreement means a cooperative agreement within the meaning of section 6305 of title 31.

(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).

(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 (as defined in section 1002 of title 20).

(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, the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, and the Director of the Minerals Management Service.

30 USC 2003 - Methane hydrate research and development program

(a) In general

(1) Commencement of program
Not later than 90 days after August 8, 2005, 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 180 days after August 8, 2005, and not less frequently than every 180 days thereafter to

(A) review the progress of the program under paragraph (1); and

(B) coordinate interagency research and partnership efforts in carrying out the program.

(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 to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, institutions of higher education, oceanographic institutions, and industrial enterprises to

(A) conduct basic and applied research to identify, explore, assess, and develop methane hydrate as a commercially viable source of energy;

(B) identify methane hydrate resources through remote sensing;

(D) assist in developing technologies required for efficient and environmentally sound development of methane hydrate resources;

(E) promote education and training in methane hydrate resource research and resource development through fellowships or other means for graduate education and training;

(F) conduct basic and applied research to assess and mitigate the environmental impact of hydrate degassing (including both natural degassing and degassing associated with commercial development);

(G) develop technologies to reduce the risks of drilling through methane hydrates; and

(H) conduct exploratory drilling, well testing, and production testing operations on permafrost and non-permafrost gas hydrates in support of the activities authorized by this paragraph, including drilling of one or more full-scale production test wells.

(2) Competitive peer review
Funds made available under paragraph (1) shall be made available based on a competitive process using external scientific peer review of proposed research.

(1) In general
The Secretary shall establish an advisory panel (including the hiring of appropriate staff) consisting of representatives of industrial enterprises, institutions of higher education, oceanographic institutions, State agencies, and environmental organizations with knowledge and expertise in the natural gas hydrates field, to

(A) assist in developing recommendations and broad programmatic priorities for the methane hydrate research and development program carried out under subsection (a)(1);

(B) provide scientific oversight for the methane hydrates program, including assessing progress toward program goals, evaluating program balance, and providing recommendations to enhance the quality of the program over time; and

(C) not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, and at such later dates as the panel considers advisable, submit to Congress

(i) an assessment of the methane hydrate research program; and

(ii) an assessment of the 5-year research plan of the Department of Energy.

(2) Conflicts of interest
In appointing each member of the advisory panel established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the appointment of the member does not pose a conflict of interest with respect to the duties of the member under this chapter.

(3) Meetings
The advisory panel shall

(A) hold the initial meeting of the advisory panel not later than 180 days after the date of establishment of the advisory panel; and

(B) meet biennially thereafter.

(4) Coordination
The advisory panel shall coordinate activities of the advisory panel with program managers of the Department of Energy at appropriate National Laboratories.

(d) 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;

(5) report annually to Congress on the results of actions taken to carry out this chapter; and

(6) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, greater participation by the Department of Energy in international cooperative efforts.

30 USC 2004 - National Research Council study

(a) Agreement for Study
The Secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement with the National Research Council under which the National Research Council shall

(1) conduct a study of the progress made under the methane hydrate research and development program implemented under this chapter; and

(2) make recommendations for future methane hydrate research and development needs.

(b) Report
Not later than September 30, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings and recommendations of the National Research Council under this section.

30 USC 2005 - Reports and studies for Congress

The Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Science 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 prepares at the direction of any committee of Congress relating to the methane hydrate research and development program implemented under this chapter.

30 USC 2006 - Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this chapter, to remain available until expended

(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;

(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(4) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and

(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.