American Geological Institute

Government Affairs Program

Legislative History and Digest of S. 738

SPONSOR: Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY)

Introduced 5/1/95

SHORT TITLE AS PASSED SENATE: Helium Act of 1995

OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:

A bill to amend the Helium Act to prohibit the Bureau of Mines from refining helium and selling refined helium, to dispose of the United States helium reserve, and for other purposes.

STATUS: Detailed Legislative History

Senate Action(s)

May 1, 95:

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

May 2, 95:

Referred to Subcommittee on Forests and Public Lands.

Jul 25, 95:

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Senate Subcommittee on Forests and Public Lands. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-276.

COMMITTEES OF REFERRAL: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

SUBCOMMITTEES: Ssc Forests and Public Lands

8 COSPONSORS:

Sen Murkowski - 05/01/95
Sen Helms - 05/01/95
Sen Lautenberg - 05/01/95
Sen Grams - 05/01/95
Sen Craig - 05/01/95
Sen Warner - 05/09/95
Sen Nickles - 05/19/95
Sen Burns - 06/06/95

COMPLETE BILL TEXT:
The complete bill text is available on Thomas: The Library of Congress Web Site. In Thomas, click on Full Text of Legislation, then 104th Congress Bills, then Search by Bill Number, type in s 738 , hit RUN QUERY, and choose the most recent version.

DIGEST: (AS INTRODUCED)

Helium Act of 1995 - Amends the Helium Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) enter into agreements with private parties for the recovery and disposal of helium on Federal lands; (2) grant leasehold rights to such helium; (3) store and transport crude helium; and (4) maintain and operate existing crude helium storage at the Bureau of Mines Cliffside Field.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) cease producing, refining, and marketing refined helium; and (2) dispose of all facilities, equipment, and Federal property interests relating to refined helium activities.

Requires the Secretary to impose fees for helium storage, withdrawal, or transportation services.

(Sec. 4) Prescribes guidelines for: (1) the purchase of helium by Federal agencies from certain private persons; and (2) the sale of crude helium by the Secretary. States that such sales shall be in amounts as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the helium industry, to cause minimum market disruption. Mandates that proceeds from helium sales be paid to the Treasury.

(Sec. 5) Instructs the Secretary to: (1) review annually known domestic helium reserves; and (2) eliminate helium stockpiles by a prescribed deadline.

(Sec. 6) Repeals the Secretary's authority to borrow under the Helium Act.

Last updated December 26, 1996 by David Applegate, AGI Government Affairs

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