30 U.S.C. § 2003 — Methane hydrate research and develop-

Page 386 TITLE 30—MINERAL LANDS AND MINING § 2002 Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 106–193, § 1, as added by Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 968(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 894, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000’.’’ RECLASSIFICATION Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 968(b), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 898, provided that: ‘‘The Law Revision Counsel shall re- classify the Methane Hydrate Research and Develop- ment Act of 2000 (30 U.S.C. 1902 note; Public Law 106–193) to a new chapter at the end of title 30, United States Code.’’ § 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 Sec- retary 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 Sec- retary 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. (Pub. L. 106–193, § 3, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 968(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 895.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 3 of Pub. L. 106–193 was set out in a note under section 1902 of this title prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 106–193 by Pub. L. 109–58. Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS The Minerals Management Service was abolished and functions divided among the Office of Natural Re- sources Revenue, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Manage- ment, and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental En- forcement. See Secretary of the Interior Orders No. 3299 of May 19, 2010, and No. 3302 of June 18, 2010, and chap- ters II, V, and XII of title 30, Code of Federal Regula- tions, as revised by final rules of the Department of the Interior at 75 F.R. 61051 and 76 F.R. 64432. § 2003. Methane hydrate research and develop- ment program (a) In general (1) Commencement of program Not later than 90 days after August 8, 2005, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec- retary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Direc- tor, shall commence a program of methane hy- drate 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 indi- viduals to carry out this section. (3) Coordination The individual designated by the Secretary shall coordinate all activities within the De- partment of Energy relating to methane hy- drate research and development. (4) Meetings The individuals designated under paragraph (2) shall meet not later than 180 days after Au- gust 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 pro- gram. (b) Grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, interagency funds transfer agreements, and field work proposals (1) Assistance and coordination In carrying out the program of methane hy- drate research and development authorized by this section, the Secretary may award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, institutions of higher edu- cation, oceanographic institutions, and indus- trial enterprises to— (A) conduct basic and applied research to identify, explore, assess, and develop meth- ane hydrate as a commercially viable source of energy; (B) identify methane hydrate resources through remote sensing; Page 387 TITLE 30—MINERAL LANDS AND MINING § 2004 (C) acquire and reprocess seismic data suitable for characterizing methane hydrate accumulations; (D) assist in developing technologies re- quired for efficient and environmentally sound development of methane hydrate re- sources; (E) promote education and training in methane hydrate resource research and re- source development through fellowships or other means for graduate education and training; (F) conduct basic and applied research to assess and mitigate the environmental im- pact 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 test- ing, 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. (c) Methane hydrates advisory panel (1) In general The Secretary shall establish an advisory panel (including the hiring of appropriate staff) consisting of representatives of indus- trial enterprises, institutions of higher edu- cation, 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 as- sessing progress toward program goals, eval- uating program balance, and providing rec- ommendations 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 Sec- retary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the appointment of the mem- ber does not pose a conflict of interest with re- spect to the duties of the member under this chapter. (3) Meetings The advisory panel shall— (A) hold the initial meeting of the advi- sory 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 activi- ties of the advisory panel with program man- agers of the Department of Energy at appro- priate 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, re- modeling, or alteration of an existing building (including site grading and improvement and ar- chitect fees). (e) Responsibilities of the Secretary In carrying out subsection (b)(1), the Sec- retary 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 in- formation necessary for promoting long-term interest in methane hydrate resources as an energy source; (3) ensure that the data and information de- veloped through the program are accessible and widely disseminated as needed and appro- priate; (4) promote cooperation among agencies that are developing technologies that may hold promise for methane hydrate resource de- velopment; (5) report annually to Congress on the re- sults of actions taken to carry out this chap- ter; and (6) ensure, to the maximum extent prac- ticable, greater participation by the Depart- ment of Energy in international cooperative efforts. (Pub. L. 106–193, § 4, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 968(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 895.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 4 of Pub. L. 106–193 was set out in a note under section 1902 of this title prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 106–193 by Pub. L. 109–58. § 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 de- velopment program implemented under this chapter; and (2) make recommendations for future meth- ane hydrate research and development needs. (b) Report Not later than September 30, 2009, the Sec- retary shall submit to Congress a report con-