§ 167p. Helium-3 separation

• (a) The Secretary shall cooperate with the Secretary of Energy, or a designee, on any assessment or research relating to the extraction and refining of the isotope helium-3 from crude helium and other potential sources, including—
  • (1) gas analysis; and
  • (2) infrastructure studies.
• (b) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, or a designee, may carry out a study to assess the feasibility of—
  • (1) establishing a facility to separate the isotope helium-3 from crude helium; and
  • (2) exploring other potential sources of the isotope helium-3.
• (c) Not later than 1 year after October 2, 2013 , the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that contains a description of the results of the assessments conducted under this section.
• (d) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000.