42 U.S.C. § 13413 — Natural gas supply

Page 8575 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 13413 cooperation with universities and the private sector, on eastern oil shale that may have the potential to decrease United States dependence on energy imports. (2) As part of the program authorized by this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the po- tential benefits of including in that program ap- plied research carried out in cooperation with universities and other private sector entities that are, as of October 24, 1992, engaged in re- search on eastern oil shale retorting and associ- ated processes. (3) The program carried out under this sub- section shall be cost-shared with universities and the private sector to the maximum extent possible. (d) Western oil shale program As part of the program authorized by this sec- tion, the Secretary shall carry out a program on extracting oil from western oil shales that in- cludes, if appropriate, establishment and utiliza- tion of at least one field testing center for the purpose of testing, evaluating, and developing improvements in oil shale technology at the field test level. In establishing such a center, the Secretary shall consider sites with existing oil shale mining and processing infrastructure and facilities. Sixty days prior to establishing any such field testing center, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the center to be established. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section $5,250,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1994. (Pub. L. 102–486, title XX, § 2012, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3058.) § 13413. Natural gas supply (a) Program direction The Secretary shall conduct a 5-year program, in accordance with sections 13541 and 13542 of this title, to increase the recoverable natural gas resource base including, but not limited to— (1) more intensive recovery of natural gas from discovered conventional resources; (2) the extraction of natural gas from tight gas sands and devonian shales or other uncon- ventional sources; (3) surface gasification of coal; and (4) recovery of methane from biofuels includ- ing municipal solid waste. (b) Proposals Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Sec- retary shall solicit proposals for conducting ac- tivities under this section. (c) Cofiring of natural gas and coal (1) Program The Secretary shall establish and carry out a 5-year program, in accordance with sections 13541 and 13542 of this title, on cofiring natural gas with coal in utility and large industrial boilers in order to determine optimal natural gas injection levels for both environmental and operational benefits. (2) Financial assistance The Secretary shall enter into agreements with, and provide financial assistance to, ap- propriate parties for application of cofiring technologies to boilers to demonstrate this technology. (3) Report to Congress The Secretary shall, before December 31, 1995, submit to the Congress a report on the progress made in carrying out this subsection. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section and sec- tions 13414 and 13415 of this title, $29,745,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1994. (Pub. L. 102–486, title XX, § 2013, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3059.) Executive Documents EX. ORD. NO. 13605. SUPPORTING SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF UNCONVENTIONAL DOMESTIC NAT- URAL GAS RESOURCES Ex. Ord. No. 13605, Apr. 13, 2012, 77 F.R. 23107, pro- vided: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to coordinate the efforts of Fed- eral agencies responsible for overseeing the safe and re- sponsible development of unconventional domestic nat- ural gas resources and associated infrastructure and to help reduce our dependence on oil, it is hereby ordered as follows: SECTION 1. Policy. In 2011, natural gas provided 25 per- cent of the energy consumed in the United States. Its production creates jobs and provides economic benefits to the entire domestic production supply chain, as well as to chemical and other manufacturers, who benefit from lower feedstock and energy costs. By helping to power our transportation system, greater use of nat- ural gas can also reduce our dependence on oil. And with appropriate safeguards, natural gas can provide a cleaner source of energy than other fossil fuels. For these reasons, it is vital that we take full advan- tage of our natural gas resources, while giving Amer- ican families and communities confidence that natural and cultural resources, air and water quality, and pub- lic health and safety will not be compromised. While natural gas production is carried out by pri- vate firms, and States are the primary regulators of on- shore oil and gas activities, the Federal Government has an important role to play by regulating oil and gas activities on public and Indian trust lands, encouraging greater use of natural gas in transportation, supporting research and development aimed at improving the safe- ty of natural gas development and transportation ac- tivities, and setting sensible, cost-effective public health and environmental standards to implement Fed- eral law and augment State safeguards. Because efforts to promote safe, responsible, and effi- cient development of unconventional domestic natural gas resources are underway at a number of executive departments and agencies (agencies), close interagency coordination is important for effective implementation of these programs and activities. To formalize and pro- mote ongoing interagency coordination, this order es- tablishes a high-level, interagency working group that will facilitate coordinated Administration policy ef- forts to support safe and responsible unconventional domestic natural gas development. SEC. 2. Interagency Working Group to Support Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Nat- ural Gas Resources. There is established an Interagency Working Group to Support Safe and Responsible Devel- opment of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Re- sources (Working Group), to be chaired by the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, or a designated rep- resentative. Page 8576 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 13414 (a) Membership. In addition to the Chair, the Working Group shall include deputy-level representatives or equivalent officials, designated by the head of the re- spective agency or office, from: (i) the Department of Defense; (ii) the Department of the Interior; (iii) the Department of Agriculture; (iv) the Department of Commerce; (v) the Department of Health and Human Services; (vi) the Department of Transportation; (vii) the Department of Energy; (viii) the Department of Homeland Security; (ix) the Environmental Protection Agency; (x) the Council on Environmental Quality; (xi) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (xii) the Office of Management and Budget; (xiii) the National Economic Council; and (xiv) such other agencies or offices as the Chair may invite to participate. (b) Functions. Consistent with the authorities and re- sponsibilities of participating agencies and offices, the Working Group shall support the safe and responsible production of domestic unconventional natural gas by performing the following functions: (i) coordinate agency policy activities, ensuring their efficient and effective operation and facilitating co- operation among agencies, as appropriate; (ii) coordinate among agencies the sharing of sci- entific, environmental, and related technical and eco- nomic information; (iii) engage in long-term planning and ensure coordi- nation among the appropriate Federal entities with re- spect to such issues as research, natural resource as- sessment, and the development of infrastructure; (iv) promote interagency communication with stake- holders; and (v) consult with other agencies and offices as appro- priate. SEC. 3. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be im- plemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive de- partment, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Man- agement and Budget relating to budgetary, administra- tive, or legislative proposals. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforce- able at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. BARACK OBAMA. § 13414. Natural gas end-use technologies The Secretary shall carry out a 5-year pro- gram, in accordance with sections 13541 and 13542 of this title, on new and advanced natural gas utilization technologies including, but not limited to— (1) stationary source emissions control and efficiency improvements including combustion systems, industrial processes, cogeneration, and waste fuels; and (2) natural gas storage including increased deliverability from existing gas storage facili- ties and new capabilities for storage near de- mand centers, and on-site storage at major en- ergy consuming facilities. (Pub. L. 102–486, title XX, § 2014, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3060.) § 13415. Midcontinent Energy Research Center (a) Finding Congress finds that petroleum resources in the midcontinent region of the United States are very large but are being prematurely abandoned. (b) Purposes The purposes of this section are to— (1) improve the efficiency of petroleum re- covery; (2) increase ultimate petroleum recovery; and (3) delay the abandonment of resources. (c) Establishment The Secretary may establish the Midcontinent Energy Research Center (referred to in this sec- tion as the ‘‘Center’’) to— (1) conduct research in petroleum geology and engineering focused on improving the re- covery of petroleum from existing fields and established plays in the upper midcontinent region of the United States; and (2) ensure that the results of the research de- scribed in paragraph (1) are transferred to users. (d) Research (1) In general In conducting research under this section, the Center shall, to the extent practicable, co- operate with agencies of the Federal Govern- ment, the States in the midcontinent region of the United States, and the affected industry. (2) Programs Research programs conducted by the Center may include— (A) data base development and transfer of technology; (B) reservoir management; (C) reservoir characterization; (D) advanced recovery methods; and (E) development of new technology. (Pub. L. 102–486, title XX, § 2015, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3060.) PART B—OIL AND GAS DEMAND REDUCTION AND SUBSTITUTION § 13431. General transportation (a) Program direction The Secretary shall conduct a 5-year program, in accordance with sections 13541 and 13542 of this title, on cost effective technologies to re- duce the demand for oil in the transportation sector for all motor vehicles, including existing vehicles, through increased energy efficiency and the use of alternative fuels. Such program shall include a broad range of technological ap- proaches, and shall include field demonstrations of sufficient scale and number in operating envi- ronments to prove technical and economic via- bility to meet the goals stated in section 13401 of this title. Such program shall include the activi- ties required under sections 13432 through 13437 of this title, and ongoing activities of a similar nature at the Department of Energy. (b) Program plan Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Sec- retary shall prepare and submit to the Congress a 5-year program plan to guide activities under this part. In preparing the program plan, the Secretary shall consult with appropriate rep- resentatives of industry, utilities, institutions of higher education, Federal agencies, including