---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 2003"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "2003"
heading: "Methane hydrate research and development program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/2003"
units:
  - "Chapter 32 — Methane Hydrate Research and Development"
---

# §2003. Methane hydrate research and development program

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Commencement of program—** Not later than 90 days after August 8, 2005, the [Secretary](/usc/30/2002.md?p=7), in consultation with the [Secretary of Commerce](/usc/30/2002.md?p=8), the [Secretary of Defense](/usc/30/2002.md?p=9), the [Secretary of the Interior](/usc/30/2002.md?p=10), and the [Director](/usc/30/2002.md?p=3), shall commence a program of methane hydrate [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and development in accordance with this section.
  - (2) **Designations—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/2002.md?p=7), the [Secretary of Commerce](/usc/30/2002.md?p=8), the [Secretary of Defense](/usc/30/2002.md?p=9), the [Secretary of the Interior](/usc/30/2002.md?p=10), and the [Director](/usc/30/2002.md?p=3) shall designate individuals to carry out this section.
  - (3) **Coordination—** The individual designated by the [Secretary](/usc/30/2002.md?p=7) shall coordinate all activities within the Department of Energy relating to methane hydrate [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and development.
  - (4) **Meetings—** The individuals designated under [paragraph (2)](#a-2) shall meet not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, and not less frequently than every 180 days thereafter to—
    - (A) review the progress of the program under [paragraph (1)](#a-1); and
    - (B) coordinate interagency [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and partnership efforts in carrying out the program.
- (b) **Grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, interagency funds transfer agreements, and field work proposals—**
  - (1) **Assistance and coordination—** In carrying out the program of methane hydrate [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and development authorized by this section, the [Secretary](/usc/30/2002.md?p=7) may award [grants](/usc/30/2002.md?p=4) to, or enter into [contracts](/usc/30/2002.md?p=1) or [cooperative agreements](/usc/30/2002.md?p=2) with, institutions of higher education, oceanographic institutions, and [industrial enterprises](/usc/30/2002.md?p=5) to—
    - (A) conduct basic and applied [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) to identify, explore, assess, and develop methane hydrate as a commercially viable source of energy;
    - (B) identify methane hydrate resources through remote sensing;
    - (C) acquire and reprocess seismic data suitable for characterizing methane hydrate accumulations;
    - (D) assist in developing technologies required for efficient and environmentally sound development of methane hydrate resources;
    - (E) promote education and training in methane hydrate resource [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and resource development through fellowships or other means for graduate education and training;
    - (F) conduct basic and applied [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) to assess and mitigate the environmental impact 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 testing, 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)](#b-1) shall be made available based on a competitive process using external scientific peer review of proposed [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1).
- (c) **Methane hydrates advisory panel—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/2002.md?p=7) shall establish an advisory panel (including the hiring of appropriate staff) consisting of representatives of [industrial enterprises](/usc/30/2002.md?p=5), institutions of higher education, 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](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and development program carried out under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1);
    - (B) provide scientific oversight for the methane hydrates program, including assessing progress toward program goals, evaluating program balance, and providing recommendations 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](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) program; and
      - (ii) an assessment of the 5-year [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) plan of the Department of Energy.
  - (2) **Conflicts of interest—** In appointing each member of the advisory panel established under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Secretary](/usc/30/2002.md?p=7) shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the appointment of the member does not pose a conflict of interest with respect to the duties of the member under this chapter.
  - (3) **Meetings—** The advisory panel shall—
    - (A) hold the initial meeting of the advisory 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 activities of the advisory panel with program managers of the Department of Energy at appropriate 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, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building (including site grading and improvement and architect fees).
- (e) **Responsibilities of the Secretary—** In carrying out [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/30/2002.md?p=7) shall—
  - (1) facilitate and develop partnerships among government, [industrial enterprises](/usc/30/2002.md?p=5), and institutions of higher education to [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1), identify, assess, and explore methane hydrate resources;
  - (2) undertake programs to develop basic information necessary for promoting long-term interest in methane hydrate resources as an energy source;
  - (3) ensure that the data and information developed through the program are accessible and widely disseminated as needed and appropriate;
  - (4) promote cooperation among agencies that are developing technologies that may hold promise for methane hydrate resource development;
  - (5) report annually to Congress on the results of actions taken to carry out this chapter; and
  - (6) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, greater participation by the Department of Energy in international cooperative efforts.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–193, § 4, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 968(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 895.)

## Notes

### 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.