Chapter 426. Authorizing the conservation, production, and exploitation of helium gas, a mineral resource pertaining to the national defense, and to the development of commercial aeronautics, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 426.— An Act Authorizing the conservation, production, and exploitation of helium gas, a mineral resource pertaining to the national defense, and to the development of commercial aeronautics, and for other purposes. March 3, 1925.[[H. R. 5722](/us/bill/68/hr/5722).][[Public, No. 544](/us/pl/68/544).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * Helium gas.Acquiring lands, constructing plants, etc., for production of, authorized.
That for the purpose of producing helium with which to supply the needs of the Army and Navy and other branches of the Federal Government, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to acquire land or interest in land by purchase, lease, or condemnation, where necessary, when helium can not be purchased from private parties at less cost, to explore for, procure, or conserve helium-bearing gas; to drill or otherwise test such lands; and to construct plants, pipe lines, facilities, and accessories for the production, storage, and repurification of helium: *Provided*, That any known helium gas-*Proviso.*Reservation of helium gas bearing lands, not covered by leases, etc.Vol. 41, p. 437.bearing lands on the public domain not covered at the time by leases or permits under the Act of February 25, 1920. entitled “An Act to promote the mining of coal, phosphate, oil, oil shale, gas, and sodium on the public domain,” may be reserved for the purposes of this Act, and that the United States reserves the ownership and the right to extract, under such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, helium from all gas produced from lands so permitted, leased, or otherwise granted for development. 1111 Sec. 2.
That the Bureau of Mines, acting under the direction of the Bureau of Mines, to operate plants for helium productions, etc.Secretary of the Interior, is authorized to maintain and operate helium production and repurification plants, together with facilities and accessories thereto; to store and care for helium; to conduct exploration for and production of helium on and from the lands acquired or set aside under this Act; to conduct experimentation and research for the purpose of discovering helium supplies and improving processes and methods of helium production, repurification, storage, and utilization.
Sec. 3. That on or before June 30, 1925, all existing Government All Government plants transferred to the Bureau.plants operated by the Government or under lease or contract with it, for the production of helium shall be transferred to the jurisdiction of the *Provisos*.Requisitions from Army, Navy, etc., for helium.Bureau of Mines: *Provided*, That thereafter the Army and Navy and other branches of the Federal service requiring helium may requisition it from the said bureau and make payment therefor by transfer of funds on the books of the Treasury from any applicable appropriation at actual cost of said helium to the United States, including all expenses connected therewith: *Provided Surplus may be sold to Americans.further*, That any surplus helium produced may, until needed for Government use, be leased to American citizens or American corporations under regulations approved by the President: *And provided further*, That all moneys received from the sale or leasing of helium Receipts to be credited to production account.shall be credited to a helium production account and shall be and remain available for the purposes of this section; and that any Receipts from sales of other products.gas belonging to the United States after the extraction of helium, or other by-product not needed for Government use shall be sold and the proceeds of such sales shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts.
Sec. 4. That hereafter no helium gas shall be exported Exporting helium gas without permission of the President, forbidden.from the United States, or from its possessions, until after application for such exportation has been made to the Secretary of the Interior and permission for said exportation has been obtained from the President of the United States, on the joint recommendation of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Interior. That any person violating any of the provisions Punishment for violation.of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and the Federal courts of the United States are hereby granted jurisdiction to try and determine all questions arising under this section.
Sec. 5. The Army and Navy may each designate an officer to Army and Navy officer to cooperate.cooperate with the department of the Interior in carrying out the purposes of this Act, and shall have complete right of access to plants, data, and accounts. Approved, March 3, 1925.