
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC6374d]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                     CHAPTER 77--ENERGY CONSERVATION
 
               SUBCHAPTER III--IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
 
              Part H--Encouraging Use of Alternative Fuels
 
Sec. 6374d. Studies and reports


(a) Methanol study

    (1) The Secretary shall study methanol plants, including the costs 
and practicability of such plants, that are--
        (A) capable of utilizing current domestic supplies of unutilized 
    natural gas;
        (B) relocatable; or
        (C) suitable for natural gas to methanol conversion by natural 
    gas distribution companies.

    (2) For purposes of this subsection, the term ``unutilized natural 
gas'' means gas that is available in small remote fields and cannot be 
economically transported to natural gas pipelines, or gas the quality of 
which is so poor that extensive and uneconomic pretreatment is required 
prior to its introduction into the natural gas distribution system.
    (3) The Secretary shall submit a report under this subsection to the 
Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives, no later than September 30, 1990.

(b) Independent environmental study

    (1) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall 
submit to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives, in December of 1990, and once 
every two years thereafter, a report which includes--
        (A) a comprehensive analysis of the air quality, global climate 
    change, and other positive and negative environmental impacts, if 
    any, including fuel displacement effects, associated with the 
    production, storage, distribution, and use of all alternative motor 
    vehicle fuels under this part, as compared to gasoline and diesel 
    fuels; and
        (B) an extended reasonable forecast of the change, if any, in 
    air quality, global climate change, and other environmental effects 
    of producing, storing, distributing, and using alternative motor 
    vehicle fuels, utilizing such reasonable energy security, policy, 
    economic, and other scenarios as may be appropriate.

    (2) In carrying out the study under this subsection, the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall consult with 
the Secretaries of Energy and Transportation. Nothing in this paragraph 
shall be construed to require such Administrator to obtain the approval 
of the Secretary of Energy or the Secretary of Transportation for any 
actions taken under this subsection.
    (3) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 
purposes of this subsection $500,000.

(c) Public participation

    Adequate opportunity shall be provided for public comment on the 
reports required by this section before they are submitted to the 
Congress, and a summary of such comments shall be attached to such 
reports.

(Pub. L. 94-163, title III, Sec. 400EE, as added Pub. L. 100-494, 
Sec. 4(a), Oct. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 2447.)

                       References in Text

    This part, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(A), was in the original 
``the Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988'', Pub. L. 100-494, Oct. 14, 
1988, 102 Stat. 2441, which is classified principally to this part. For 
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1988 
Amendment note set out under section 6201 of this title and Tables.

                         Change of Name

    Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives treated 
as referring to Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives by 
section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104-14, set out as a note preceding section 21 
of Title 2, The Congress.
