Should Helium Extraction on Federal Lands be Allowed Under the Same Terms as Natural Gas and Oil Leases? (H.R. 3279)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 3279?
(Updated December 12, 2018)
This bill would amend the Mineral Leasing Act to require that land leased by the Dept. of the Interior for the extraction of helium would fall under the same lease terms as a federal oil and gas lease. Helium is a byproduct of the natural gas extraction process.
Argument in favor
Helium plays a significant role in several critical industries ranging from space and defense to medical technology. To ensure the U.S. has the helium it needs, its extraction should be allowed on the same lease terms as oil and natural gas.
Argument opposed
Even though helium is primarily extracted from natural gas, the federal government should have a different structure for helium leases than gas and oil leases to ensure better oversight of the domestic helium market.
Impact
Those who would extract helium on federal lands; and the Dept. of the Interior.
Cost of H.R. 3279
The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would have the net impact of reducing spending by $9 million over the 2018-2027.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA) introduced this bill to allow helium extraction from gas on federal lands under the same terms as gas and oil:
“Helium has become irreplaceable in our space, defense, and medical industries. Without this bill, we could become dangerously dependent on unstable foreign countries for our supply of helium. This bill encourages the development of American sources of helium and will boost both our national security and economy. I’m grateful to Chairman Rob Bishop and the Natural Resources Committee for moving this bill forward.”
The House Natural Resources Committee approved this bill by unanimous consent.
Of Note: According to the House Natural Resources Committee, the U.S. is the world’s largest supplier of helium ahead of Qatar, Algeria, and Russia. It cited political instability in Qatar and the upcoming closure of the Federal Helium Reserve in 2021 as necessitating steps to expand the U.S. helium supply. Helium serves as an essential element in technologies such as MRIs, air-to-air missile guidance systems; and semiconductors.
Media:
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Sponsoring Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA) Press Release
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House Natural Resources Committee Press Release
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CBO Cost Estimate
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The Morning Call
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Yucaipa Daily News
Summary by Eric Revell
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