
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-469 Section 103(4)]
[CITE: 42USC6231]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                     CHAPTER 77--ENERGY CONSERVATION
 
               SUBCHAPTER I--DOMESTIC SUPPLY AVAILABILITY
 
                   Part B--Strategic Petroleum Reserve
 
Sec. 6231. Congressional finding and declaration of policy

    (a) The Congress finds that the storage of substantial quantities of 
petroleum products will diminish the vulnerability of the United States 
to the effects of a severe energy supply interruption, and provide 
limited protection from the short-term consequences of interruptions in 
supplies of petroleum products.
    (b) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to 
provide for the creation of a Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the 
storage of up to 1 billion barrels of petroleum products, but not less 
than 150 million barrels of petroleum products by the end of the 3-year 
period which begins on December 22, 1975, for the purpose of reducing 
the impact of disruptions in supplies of petroleum products or to carry 
out obligations of the United States under the international energy 
program. It is further declared to be the policy of the United States to 
provide for the creation of an Early Storage Reserve, as part of the 
Reserve, for the purpose of providing limited protection from the impact 
of near-term disruptions in supplies of petroleum products or to carry 
out obligations of the United States under the international energy 
program.

(Pub. L. 94-163, title I, Sec. 151, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 881.)


                  Study of a Strategic Ethanol Reserve

    Pub. L. 99-198, title XVII, Sec. 1778, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1659, 
provided that:
    ``(a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study of the cost 
effectiveness, the economic benefits, and the feasibility of 
establishing, maintaining, and utilizing a Strategic Ethanol Reserve 
relative to the existing Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
    ``(b) The study shall be completed within one year after the 
enactment of this section [Dec. 23, 1985] and shall include, among other 
considerations--
        ``(1) the benefits and losses related to the U.S. economy, farm 
    income, employment, government commodity programs, and the trade 
    deficit of utilizing a Strategic Ethanol Reserve, as opposed to the 
    Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and
        ``(2) the savings from storing ethanol as opposed to storing the 
    amount of CCC-held grain necessary to produce the ethanol.
    ``(c) If the study shows that the Strategic Ethanol Reserve is cost 
effective, beneficial to the U.S. economy, and feasible in comparison 
with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Secretary of Agriculture may 
establish, maintain, and utilize a Strategic Ethanol Reserve.''


                    Additional Congressional Findings

    Pub. L. 97-35, title X, Sec. 1032, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 618, 
provided that: ``The Congress finds that--
        ``(1) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve should be considered a 
    national security asset; and
        ``(2) enlarging the capacity and filling of the Strategic 
    Petroleum Reserve should be accelerated (to the extent technically 
    and economically practicable) to take advantage of any increased 
    availability of crude oil in the world market from time to time.''
