PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary, through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, must finish several helium studies within 2 years after October 2, 2013. Working with state geologists, they must make a national inventory showing how much helium (including helium‑3) is in each reservoir, what other gases are present, and provide modern seismic and log data for the Bush Dome Reservoir. Working with international agencies, they must make a global inventory of helium (including helium‑3). With the Energy Department’s EIA, they must study global demand trends, give a 10‑year U.S. demand forecast across science, medical, commercial, manufacturing, space, cryogenics, and defense, and make an inventory of U.S. uses (including federal uses) showing amounts, recycling options, and possible substitutes. They must report the results to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Up to $1,000,000 may be appropriated to carry out this work.

Title 50, §167n

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

Not later than 2 years after October 2, 2013, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall—

(1)in coordination with appropriate heads of State geological surveys—

(A)complete a national helium gas assessment that identifies and quantifies the quantity of helium, including the isotope helium-3, in each reservoir, including assessments of the constituent gases found in each helium resource, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and natural gas; and

(B)make available the modern seismic and geophysical log data for characterization of the Bush Dome Reservoir;

(2)in coordination with appropriate international agencies and the global geology community, complete a global helium gas assessment that identifies and quantifies the quantity of the helium, including the isotope helium-3, in each reservoir;

(3)in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, complete—

(A)an assessment of trends in global demand for helium, including the isotope helium-3;

(B)a 10-year forecast of domestic demand for helium across all sectors, including scientific and medical research, commercial, manufacturing, space technologies, cryogenics, and national defense; and

(C)an inventory of medical, scientific, industrial, commercial, and other uses of helium in the United States, including Federal uses, that identifies the nature of the helium use, the amounts required, the technical and commercial viability of helium recapture and recycling in that use, and the availability of material substitutes wherever possible; and

(4)submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the assessments required under this paragraph.

(b)Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 167n, act Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 426, § 16, as added Pub. L. 86–777, § 2, Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 923, directed the Secretary of the Interior to make annual reports to Congress, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–362, title IX, § 901(q), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3291.

§167n Helium Gas Resource Assessment

Summary

Title 50, §167n

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Citations & Metadata