Chapter 355. To amend the Act entitled “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, 1927.[[H
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CHAP. 355.— An Act To amend the Act entitled “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, 1927.[[H. R. 15344](/us/bill/69/hr/15344).][[Public, No. 758](/us/pl/69/758).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Con press assembled*,Helium gas.Vol. 43, p. 1110, amended.
That the Act entitled “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,” approved March 3, 1925, he, and it is hereby, amended to read as follows: "“Section 1. That for the purpose of producing helium with whichAcquiring lands, constructing plants, etc., for production of, by Secretary of Commerce, authorized. to supply the needs of the Army and Navy and other branches of the Federal Government, the Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized to acquire land or interest in hind 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*Proviso*.Reservation of known helium-bearing lands, not covered by leases, etc.
Vol. 41, p. 437. known helium-gas bearing land 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.
“Sec. 2. That the Bureau of Mines, acting under the direction ofPlants for helium production, etc., to be operated by Mines Bureau. the Secretary of Commerce, 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 experimentationExperimental research, etc. and research for the purpose of discovering helium supplies and improving processes and methods of helium production, repurification, storage, and utilization.
“Sec. 3. That all Government plants operated by the GovernmentAll Government plants placed under jurisdiction of Bureau. or under lease or contract with it, for the production of helium shall be under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Mines: *Provided*, That*Proviso*.Requisitions from Army, Navy, etc., for helium.*Ante*, p. 1219. the Army and Navy and other branches of the Federal service requiring Helium may requisition it from the said bureau and make payment therefor from any applicable appropriation at actual cost of said helium to the United States, including all expenses connected therewith: *Provided further*, That any surplus heliumSurplus may be leased to Americans. produced may, until needed for Government use, be leased to American citizens or American corporations under regulations approved by the President: *Provided further*, That even though no surplus exists,Leases to aid scientific development. helium in an amount not to exceed five thousand cubic feet in any one year may be leased or sold to aid scientific and commercial development upon approval of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of Commerce, and under regulations approved by the President: *And provided further*, That all moneysProduction account credited with receipts. received from the sale or leasing of helium shall be credited to a helium-production account and shall be and remain available for the purposes of this section; and that any gas belonging to theReceipts from sales of by products.
United States, after the extraction of helium or any by-product not needed for Government use, shall be sold; and the proceeds of such 1388 sales in excess of the cost of said gas or by-product shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts. “Sec. 4.Exporting helium gas without permission of the President, for bidden. That hereafter no helium gas shall be exported from the United States, or from its possessions, until after application for such exportation has been made to the Secretary of Commerce 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 Commerce.
Punishment for violations.That any person violating any of the provisions 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.Representatives from Army and Navy to cooperate. The Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy may each designate representatives to cooperate with the Department of Commerce in carrying out the purposes of this Act, and shall have complete right of access to plants, data, and accounts.”" Approved, March 3, 1927.