30 U.S.C. § 2001 — Findings

Page 385 TITLE 30—MINERAL LANDS AND MINING § 2001 1 So in original. The semicolon probably should be a colon. United States, 1 center shall concentrate pri- marily on research in deep seabed and near- shore environments of islands, and 1 center shall concentrate primarily on research in arctic and cold water regions. (c) Criteria In designating a center under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to a university that— (1) administers a federally funded center for marine minerals research; (2) matriculates students for advanced de- grees in marine geological sciences, nonenergy natural resources, and related fields of science and engineering; (3) is a United States university with estab- lished programs and facilities that primarily focus on marine mineral resources; (4) has engaged in collaboration and coopera- tion with industry, governmental agencies, and other universities in the field of marine mineral resources; (5) has demonstrated significant engineer- ing, development, and design experience in two or more of the following areas; 1 (A) seabed exploration systems; (B) marine mining systems; and (C) marine mineral processing systems; and (6) has been designated by the Secretary as a State Mining and Mineral Resources Re- search Institute. (d) Center activities A center shall— (1) provide technical assistance to the Sec- retary concerning marine mineral resources; (2) advise the Secretary on pertinent inter- national activities in marine mineral re- sources development; (3) engage in research, training, and edu- cation transfer associated with the character- ization and utilization of marine mineral re- sources; and (4) promote the efficient identification, as- sessment, exploration, and management of marine mineral resources in an environ- mentally sound manner. (e) Allocation of funds In distributing funds to the centers designated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, allocate an equal amount to each center. (f) Limitations (1) Administrative expenses Not more than 5 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section during a fis- cal year may be used by the Secretary for ex- penses associated with administration of the program authorized by this section. (2) Construction costs None of the funds made available under 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 architect fees). (Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3998.) § 1905. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this chapter. (Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 205, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3999.) CHAPTER 32—METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Sec. 2001. Findings. 2002. Definitions. 2003. Methane hydrate research and development program. 2004. National Research Council study. 2005. Reports and studies for Congress. 2006. Authorization of appropriations. Editorial Notes CODIFICATION This chapter is comprised of Pub. L. 106–193, as amended generally by Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 968(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 894, known as the Methane Hy- drate Research and Development Act of 2000, which was formerly set out as a note under section 1902 of this title. § 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 Con- gress by the National Research Council enti- tled ‘‘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 ‘‘End- ing the Energy Stalemate—A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Chal- lenge’’, 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 Ad- ministration, 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 nat- ural gas supply. (Pub. L. 106–193, § 2, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 968(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 894.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 2 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. 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;