
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: 50USC167a]

 
                   TITLE 50--WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
                         CHAPTER 10--HELIUM GAS
 
Sec. 167a. Authority of Secretary


(a) Extraction and disposal of helium on Federal lands

                           (1) In general

        The Secretary may enter into agreements with private parties for 
    the recovery and disposal of helium on Federal lands upon such terms 
    and conditions as the Secretary deems fair, reasonable, and 
    necessary.

                        (2) Leasehold rights

        The Secretary may grant leasehold rights to any such helium.

                           (3) Limitation

        The Secretary may not enter into any agreement by which the 
    Secretary sells such helium other than to a private party with whom 
    the Secretary has an agreement for recovery and disposal of helium.

                           (4) Regulations

        Agreements under paragraph (1) may be subject to such 
    regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary.

                         (5) Existing rights

        An agreement under paragraph (1) shall be subject to any rights 
    of any affected Federal oil and gas lessee that may be in existence 
    prior to the date of the agreement.

                      (6) Terms and conditions

        An agreement under paragraph (1) (and any extension or renewal 
    of an agreement) shall contain such terms and conditions as the 
    Secretary may consider appropriate.

                        (7) Prior agreements

        This subsection shall not in any manner affect or diminish the 
    rights and obligations of the Secretary and private parties under 
    agreements to dispose of helium produced from Federal lands in 
    existence on October 9, 1996, except to the extent that such 
    agreements are renewed or extended after October 9, 1996.

(b) Storage, transportation, and sale

    The Secretary may store, transport, and sell helium only in 
accordance with this chapter.

(Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 426, Sec. 3, as added Pub. L. 86-777, Sec. 2, Sept. 
13, 1960, 74 Stat. 918; amended Pub. L. 104-273, Sec. 3, Oct. 9, 1996, 
110 Stat. 3315.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 3 of act Mar. 3, 1925, related to disposal of helium 
by sale, use of funds so obtained, and reports to Congress on such uses 
and was classified to section 164 of this title, prior to the general 
amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 86-777.


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-273 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, 
section enumerated various aspects of Secretary's authority, including 
provisions in subsec. (a) relating to conserving, producing, buying, and 
selling helium, in subsec. (b) relating to helium on public domain, and 
in subsec. (c) relating to contract price for helium.
