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Mineral Resources: Meeting Federal Needs for Helium

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Oct. 30, 1992
Report No. RCED-93-1
Subject
Summary:

Federal agencies use helium in everything from space programs to superconductivity research. The Helium Act of 1960, which seeks to conserve and provide a steady supply of this inert gas for essential government activities, requires federal agencies to buy most of their helium from the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Mines. The act further provides that Interior price federal helium so that revenues from sales cover all program costs. This report discusses (1) actions that the Bureau has taken to meet the objectives of the 1960 act; (2) issues that should be considered when Congress decides how to meet current and foreseeable federal needs for helium, including whether the program debt in the Helium Fund should be cancelled or repaid; and (3) three alternatives for meeting federal needs for helium--continue the Bureau's existing program, require that all federal needs be met by the private sector, or allow federal agencies to choose to buy helium from either the Bureau or private industry.

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