Helium Stewardship Act of 2013
Key claim: The Interior Department would sell crude helium from the Federal Helium Reserve in phases, charge full-cost fees for storage and pipeline use, and open purchases beyond federal agencies while giving federal users priority pipeline access.
Abstract
(S783 · 113th Congress) Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Helium Act to require that all proceeds received by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) from the sale or disposition of helium on federal land from sale or auction be credited to the Helium Production Fund (established in this Act). (Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to impose a fee that accurately reflects the economic value of helium storage, withdrawal, or transportation services. Requires that such a fee be not less than the amount required to reimburse the Secretary for the full costs of providing storage, withdrawal, or transportation services, including capital investments in upgrades and maintenance at the Federal Helium System. Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish annually a standardized schedule of fees that will be charged for such services; (2) credit such fees to the Helium Production Fund; (3) allow any person or qualified bidder to which crude helium is sold or auctioned under this Act to store it in the Federal Helium Reserve (Reserve); (4) establish a transportation and delivery schedule that ensures timely delivery of helium, including those by non-allocated sales or other non-auction means, and provide priority access to the Federal Helium Pipeline for in-kind sales for federal users; and (5) consider applications for access to the Federal Helium Pipeline in a manner consistent with the schedule for phasing out commercial sales and disposition of assets under this Act. (Sec. 5) Revises requirements for the sale of crude helium, now in four phases. Directs the Secretary offer crude helium for sale in Phase A, between the enactment of this Act and October 1, 2014, as under current law, but without limitation of: (1) purchasers to the Department of Defense (DOD), the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and other federal agencies; or (2) uses to federal, medical, scientific, and commercial. Authorizes federal users to purchase refined helium with priority pipeline access from persons who have entere Latest action (2013-07-29): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 152.
Why this matters
The Federal Helium Reserve historically supplied a large share of U.S. crude helium used in MRI scanners, semiconductor fabrication, and scientific research, so Interior’s sales and pricing rules directly affect input costs for those industries. The 2013 bill’s shift to full-cost storage and pipeline fees plus broader non-federal purchasing changes how a strategic resource is priced and allocated. Federal-user priority access preserves supply for defense and research even as the reserve is drawn down.