42 U.S.C. § 16297 — Complex Well Technology Testing Facil-

Page 8853 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 16297 (B) increase methane recovery efficiency; (C) prevent spoilage of domestic coal re- serves; and (D) minimize water disposal associated with methane extraction; and (4) expand mining research capabilities at institutions of higher education. (Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 964, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 892.) § 16295. Oil and gas research programs (a) In general The Secretary shall conduct a program of re- search, development, demonstration, and com- mercial application of oil and gas, including— (1) exploration and production; (2) gas hydrates; (3) reservoir life and extension; (4) transportation and distribution infra- structure; (5) ultraclean fuels; (6) heavy oil, oil shale, and tar sands; and (7) related environmental research. (b) Objectives The objectives of this program shall include advancing the science and technology available to domestic petroleum producers, particularly independent operators, to minimize the eco- nomic dislocation caused by the decline of do- mestic supplies of oil and natural gas resources. (c) Natural gas and oil deposits report Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of the In- terior, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies, shall submit to Congress a re- port on the latest estimates of natural gas and oil reserves, reserves growth, and undiscovered resources in Federal and State waters off the coast of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Mis- sissippi. (d) Integrated clean power and energy research (1) Establishment of center The Secretary shall establish a national cen- ter or consortium of excellence in clean en- ergy and power generation, using the re- sources of the Clean Power and Energy Re- search Consortium in existence on August 8, 2005, to address the critical dependence of the United States on energy and the need to re- duce emissions. (2) Focus areas The center or consortium shall conduct a program of research, development, demonstra- tion, and commercial application on inte- grating the following 6 focus areas: (A) Efficiency and reliability of gas tur- bines for power generation. (B) Reduction in emissions from power generation. (C) Promotion of energy conservation issues. (D) Effectively using alternative fuels and renewable energy. (E) Development of advanced materials technology for oil and gas exploration and use in harsh environments. (F) Education on energy and power genera- tion issues. (Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 965, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 892.) § 16296. Low-volume oil and gas reservoir re- search program (a) Definition of GIS In this section, the term ‘‘GIS’’ means geo- graphic information systems technology that fa- cilitates the organization and management of data with a geographic component. (b) Program The Secretary shall establish a program of re- search, development, demonstration, and com- mercial application to maximize the productive capacity of marginal wells and reservoirs. (c) Data collection Under the program, the Secretary shall collect data on— (1) the status and location of marginal wells and oil and gas reservoirs; (2) the production capacity of marginal wells and oil and gas reservoirs; (3) the location of low-pressure gathering fa- cilities and pipelines; and (4) the quantity of natural gas vented or flared in association with crude oil produc- tion. (d) Analysis Under the program, the Secretary shall— (1) estimate the remaining producible re- serves based on variable pipeline pressures; and (2) recommend measures that will enable the continued production of those resources. (e) Study (1) In general The Secretary may award a grant to an or- ganization of States that contain significant numbers of marginal oil and natural gas wells to conduct an annual study of low-volume nat- ural gas reservoirs. (2) Organization with no GIS capabilities If an organization receiving a grant under paragraph (1) does not have GIS capabilities, the organization shall contract with an insti- tution of higher education with GIS capabili- ties. (3) State geologists The organization receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall collaborate with the State geologist of each State being studied. (f) Public information The Secretary may use the data collected and analyzed under this section to produce maps and literature to disseminate to States to promote conservation of natural gas reserves. (Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 966, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 893.) § 16297. Complex Well Technology Testing Facil- ity The Secretary, in coordination with industry leaders in extended research drilling technology, Page 8854 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 16298 shall establish a Complex Well Technology Test- ing Facility at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center to increase the range of extended drilling technologies. (Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 967, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 894.) § 16298. Carbon utilization program (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Ad- ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall carry out a program of research, development, demonstration, and commer- cialization relating to carbon utilization. (b) Activities Under the program described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) assess and monitor— (A) potential changes in lifecycle carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; and (B) other environmental safety indicators of new technologies, practices, processes, or methods used in enhanced hydrocarbon re- covery as part of the activities authorized under section 16293 of this title; (2) identify and evaluate novel uses for car- bon (including conversion of carbon oxides) that, on a full lifecycle basis, achieve a perma- nent reduction, or avoidance of a net increase, in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, for use in commercial and industrial products such as— (A) chemicals; (B) plastics; (C) building materials; (D) fuels; (E) cement; (F) products of coal utilization in power systems or in other applications; and (G) other products with demonstrated mar- ket value; (3) identify and assess carbon capture tech- nologies for industrial systems; and (4) identify and assess alternative uses for coal that result in zero net emissions of car- bon dioxide or other pollutants, including products derived from carbon engineering, car- bon fiber, and coal conversion methods. (c) Prioritization In supporting demonstration and commer- cialization research under the program de- scribed in subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize consideration of projects that— (1) have access to a carbon dioxide emissions stream generated by a stationary source in the United States that is capable of supplying not less than 250 metric tons per day of carbon di- oxide for research; (2) have access to equipment for testing small-scale carbon dioxide utilization tech- nologies, with onsite access to larger test bays for scale-up; and (3) have 1 or more existing partnerships with a National Laboratory, an institution of high- er education, a private company, or a State or other government entity. (d) Coordination The Secretary shall coordinate the activities authorized under this section with the activities authorized in section 16298a of this title as part of a single consolidated program of the Depart- ment. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000, to remain available until expended. (Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 969, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. S, § 102(c)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2248.) § 16298a. Carbon utilization program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a program of re- search, development, and demonstration for car- bon utilization— (1) to assess and monitor— (A) potential changes in lifecycle carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; and (B) other environmental safety indicators of new technologies, practices, processes, or methods used in enhanced hydrocarbon re- covery as part of the activities authorized under section 16293 of this title; (2) to identify and assess novel uses for car- bon, including the conversion of carbon and carbon oxides for commercial and industrial products and other products with potential market value; (3) to develop or obtain, in coordination with other applicable Federal agencies and stand- ard-setting organizations, standards and cer- tifications, as appropriate, to facilitate the commercialization of the products and tech- nologies described in paragraph (2); (4) to identify and assess carbon capture technologies for industrial systems; and (5) to identify and assess alternative uses for raw coal and processed coal products in all phases that result in no significant emissions of carbon dioxide or other pollutants, includ- ing products derived from carbon engineering, carbon fiber, and coal conversion methods. (b) Demonstration programs for the purpose of commercialization (1) In general Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, as part of the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish a 2-year demonstration program in each of the 2 major coal-producing regions of the United States for the purpose of partnering with pri- vate institutions in coal mining regions to ac- celerate the commercial deployment of coal- carbon products. (2) Grant program (A) In general Not later than 1 year after November 15, 2021, the Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible entities to use in accordance with subparagraph (D). (B) Eligible entities To be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph, an entity shall be— (i) a State;