1. U.S. Code
  2. title 42
  3. chapter 134
  4. subchapter VI
  5. part A
  6. § 13336

Collapse to view only § 13336. Coalbed methane recovery

§ 13331. Coal research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs
(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall, in accordance with section 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “sections”.
13541 and 13542 of this title, conduct programs for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application on coal-based technologies. Such research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs shall include the programs established under this part, and shall have the goals and objectives of—
(1) ensuring a reliable electricity supply;
(2) complying with applicable environmental requirements;
(3) achieving the control of sulfur oxides, oxides of nitrogen, air toxics, solid and liquid wastes, greenhouse gases, or other emissions resulting from coal use or conversion at levels of proficiency greater than or equal to applicable currently available commercial technology;
(4) achieving the cost competitive conversion of coal into energy forms usable in the transportation sector;
(5) demonstrating the conversion of coal to synthetic gaseous, liquid, and solid fuels;
(6) demonstrating, in cooperation with other Federal and State agencies, the use of coal-derived fuels in mobile equipment, with opportunities for industrial cost sharing participation;
(7) ensuring the timely commercial application of cost-effective technologies or energy production processes or systems utilizing coal which achieve—
(A) greater efficiency in the conversion of coal to useful energy when compared to currently available commercial technology for the use of coal; and
(B) the control of emissions from the utilization of coal; and
(8) ensuring the availability for commercial use of such technologies by the year 2010.
(b) Demonstration and commercial application programs
(1) In selecting either a demonstration project or a commercial application project for financial assistance under this part, the Secretary shall seek to ensure that, relative to otherwise comparable commercially available technologies or products, the selected project will meet one or more of the following criteria:
(A) It will reduce environmental emissions to an extent greater than required by applicable provisions of law.
(B) It will increase the overall efficiency of the utilization of coal, including energy conversion efficiency and, where applicable, production of products derived from coal.
(C) It will be a more cost-effective technological alternative, based on life cycle capital and operating costs per unit of energy produced and, where applicable, costs per unit of product produced.
Priority in selection shall be given to those projects which, in the judgment of the Secretary, best meet one or more of these criteria.
(2) In administering demonstration and commercial application programs authorized by this part, the Secretary shall establish accounting and project management controls that will be adequate to control costs.
(3)
(A) Not later than 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall establish procedures and criteria for the recoupment of the Federal share of each cost shared demonstration and commercial application project authorized pursuant to this part. Such recoupment shall occur within a reasonable period of time following the date of completion of such project, but not later than 20 years following such date, taking into account the effect of recoupment on—
(i) the commercial competitiveness of the entity carrying out the project;
(ii) the profitability of the project; and
(iii) the commercial viability of the coal-based technology utilized.
(B) The Secretary may at any time waive or defer all or some portion of the recoupment requirement as necessary for the commercial viability of the project.
(4) Projects selected by the Secretary under this part for demonstration or commercial application of a technology shall, in the judgment of the Secretary, be capable of enhancing the state of the art for such technology.
(c) ReportWithin 240 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report which shall include each of the following:
(1) A detailed description of ongoing research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities regarding coal-based technologies undertaken by the Department of Energy, other Federal or State government departments or agencies and, to the extent such information is publicly available, other public or private organizations in the United States and other countries.
(2) A listing and analysis of current Federal and State government regulatory and financial incentives that could further the goals of the programs established under this part.
(3) Recommendations regarding the manner in which any ongoing coal-based demonstration and commercial application program might be modified and extended in order to ensure the timely demonstrations of advanced coal-based technologies so as to ensure that the goals established under this section are achieved and that such demonstrated technologies are available for commercial use by the year 2010.
(4) Recommendations, if any, regarding the manner in which the cost sharing demonstrations conducted pursuant to the Clean Coal Program established by Public Law 98–473 might be modified and extended in order to ensure the timely demonstration of advanced coal-based technologies.
(5) A detailed plan for conducting the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs to achieve the goals and objectives of subsection (a) of this section, which plan shall include a description of—
(A) the program elements and management structure to be utilized;
(B) the technical milestones to be achieved with respect to each of the advanced coal-based technologies included in the plan; and
(C) the dates at which further deadlines for additional cost sharing demonstrations shall be established.
(d) Status reports
(e) Consultation
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1301, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2970.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13331

§ 13332. Coal-fired diesel engines
The Secretary shall conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for utilizing coal-derived liquid or gaseous fuels, including ultra-clean coal-water slurries, in diesel engines. The program shall address—
(1) required engine retrofit technology;
(2) coal-fuel production technology;
(3) emission control requirements;
(4) the testing of low-Btu highly reactive fuels;
(5) fuel delivery and storage systems requirements; and
(6) other infrastructure required to support commercial deployment.
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1302, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2972.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13332

§ 13333. Clean coal, waste-to-energy
The Secretary shall establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application with respect to the use of solid waste combined with coal as a fuel source for clean coal combustion technologies. The program shall address—
(1) the feasibility of cofiring coal and used vehicle tires in fluidized bed combustion units;
(2) the combined gasification of coal and municipal sludge using integrated gasification combined cycle technology;
(3) the creation of fuel pellets combining coal and material reclaimed from solid waste;
(4) the feasibility of cofiring, in fluidized bed combustion units, waste methane from coal mines, including ventilation air, together with coal or coal wastes; and
(5) other sources of waste and coal mixtures in other applications that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1303, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2972.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13333

§ 13334. Nonfuel use of coal
(a) Program
The Secretary shall prepare a plan for and carry out a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application with respect to technologies for the nonfuel use of coal, including—
(1) production of coke and other carbon products derived from coal;
(2) production of coal-derived, carbon-based chemical intermediates that are precursors of value-added chemicals and polymers;
(3) production of chemicals from coal-derived synthesis gas;
(4) coal treatment processes, including methodologies such as solvent-extraction techniques that produce low ash, low sulfur, coal-based chemical feedstocks; and
(5) waste utilization, including recovery, processing, and marketing of products derived from sulfur, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and ash from coal.
(b) Plan contents
The plan described in subsection (a) shall address and evaluate—
(1) the known and potential processes for using coal in the creation of products in the chemical, utility, fuel, and carbon-based materials industries;
(2) the costs, benefits, and economic feasibility of using coal products in the chemical and materials industries, including value-added chemicals, carbon-based products, coke, and waste derived from coal;
(3) the economics of coproduction of products from coal in conjunction with the production of electric power, thermal energy, and fuel;
(4) the economics of the refining of coal and coal byproducts to produce nonfuel products;
(5) the economics of coal utilization in comparison with other feedstocks that might be used for the same purposes;
(6) the steps that can be taken by the public and private sectors to bring about commercialization of technologies developed under the program recommended; and
(7) the past development, current status, and future potential of coal products and processes associated with nonfuel uses of coal.
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1304, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2973.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13334

§ 13335. Coal refinery program
(a) Program
(b) Objectives
The program shall include technologies for refining high sulfur coals, low sulfur coals, sub-bituminous coals, and lignites to produce clean-burning transportation fuels, compliance boiler fuels, fuel additives, lubricants, chemical feedstocks, and carbon-based manufactured products, either alone or in conjunction with the generation of electricity or process heat, or the manufacture of a variety of products from coal. The objectives of such program shall be to achieve—
(1) the timely commercial application of technologies, including mild gasification, hydrocracking and other hydropyrolysis processes, and other energy production processes or systems to produce coal-derived fuels and coproducts, which achieve greater efficiency and economy in the conversion of coal to electrical energy and coproducts than currently available technology;
(2) the production of energy, fuels, and products which, on a complete energy system basis, will result in environmental emissions no greater than those produced by existing comparable energy systems utilized for the same purpose;
(3) the capability to produce a range of coal-derived transportation fuels, including oxygenated hydrocarbons, boiler fuels, turbine fuels, and coproducts, which can reduce dependence on imported oil by displacing conventional petroleum in the transportation sector and other sectors of the economy;
(4) reduction in the cost of producing such coal-derived fuels and coproducts;
(5) the control of emissions from the combustion of coal-derived fuels; and
(6) the availability for commercial use of such technologies by the year 2000.
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1305, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2973.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13335

§ 13336. Coalbed methane recovery
(a) Study of barriers and environmental and safety aspects
The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Interior, shall conduct a study of—
(1) technical, economic, financial, legal, regulatory, institutional, or other barriers to coalbed methane recovery, and of policy options for eliminating such barriers; and
(2) the environmental and safety aspects of flaring coalbed methane liberated from coal mines.
Within two years after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress detailing the results of such study.
(b) Information dissemination
(c) Demonstration and commercial application program
The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish a coalbed methane recovery demonstration and commercial application program, which shall emphasize gas enrichment technology. Such program shall address—
(1) gas enrichment technologies for enriching medium-quality methane recovered from coal mines to pipeline quality;
(2) technologies to use mine ventilation air in nearby power generation facilities, including gas turbines, internal combustion engines, or other coal fired powerplants;
(3) technologies for cofiring methane recovered from mines, including methane from ventilation systems and degasification systems, together with coal in conventional or clean coal technology boilers; and
(4) other technologies for producing and using methane from coal mines that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1306, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2974.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13336

§ 13337. Metallurgical coal development
(a) The Secretary shall establish a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program on metallurgical coal utilization for the purpose of developing techniques that will lead to the greater and more efficient utilization of the Nation’s metallurgical coal resources.
(b) The program referred to in subsection (a) shall include the use of metallurgical coal—
(1) as a boiler fuel for the purpose of generating steam to produce electricity, including blending metallurgical coal with other coals in order to enhance its efficient application as a boiler fuel;
(2) as an ingredient in the manufacturing of steel; and
(3) as a source of pipeline quality coalbed methane.
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1307, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2975.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13337

§ 13338. Utilization of coal wastes
(a) Coal waste utilization program
(b) Use as boiler fuel
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1308, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2975.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13338

§ 13339. Underground coal gasification
(a) Program
(b) Demonstration projects
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1309, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2975.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13339

§ 13340. Low-rank coal research and development
The Secretary shall pursue a program of research and development with respect to the technologies needed to expand the use of low-rank coals which take into account the unique properties of lignites and sub-bituminous coals, including, but not limited to, the following areas—
(1) high value-added carbon products;
(2) fuel cell applications;
(3) emissions control and combustion efficiencies;
(4) coal water fuels and underground coal gasification;
(5) distillates; and
(6) any other technologies which will assist in the development of niche markets for lignites and sub-bituminous coals.
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1310, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2975.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13340

§ 13341. Magnetohydrodynamics
(a) Program
(b) Solicitation of proposals
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1311, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2976.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13341

§ 13342. Oil substitution through coal liquefaction
(a) Program direction
(b) Program goals
The goals of the program established under subsection (a) shall include—
(1) improved resource selection and product quality;
(2) the development of technologies to increase net yield of liquid fuel product per ton of coal;
(3) an increase in overall thermal efficiency; and
(4) a reduction in capital and operating costs through technology improvements.
(c) Proposals
(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1312, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2976.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13342

§ 13343. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this part $278,139,000 for fiscal year 1993 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1994 through 1997.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1313, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2976.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13343

§ 13344. Rare earth elements
(a) Research program
(1) In general
The Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), shall conduct a program of research and development—
(A) to develop and assess advanced separation technologies for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and other critical materials from coal and coal byproducts; and
(B) to determine if there are, and mitigate, any potential environmental or public health impacts that could arise from the recovery of rare earth elements from coal-based resources.
(2) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program described in paragraph (1)—
(A) $23,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022;
(B) $24,200,000 for fiscal year 2023;
(C) $25,400,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(D) $26,600,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
(E) $27,800,000 for fiscal year 2026.
(b) Report
(c) Rare earth demonstration facility
(1) Establishment
(2) Facility activities
The facility established under paragraph (1) shall—
(A) provide environmental benefits through use of feedstock derived from acid mine drainage, mine waste, or other deleterious material;
(B) separate mixed rare earth oxides into pure oxides of each rare earth element;
(C) refine rare earth oxides into rare earth metals; and
(D) provide for separation of rare earth oxides and refining into rare earth metals at a single site.
(3) Authorization of appropriations
(d) Critical material
(Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title VII, § 7001, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2561; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title II, § 40205, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 960.)

CITE AS: 42 USC 13344