2017 US Code
Title 42 - The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter 77 - Energy Conservation
Subchapter I - Domestic Supply Availability
Part B - Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Sec. 6231 - Congressional finding and declaration of policy

Download PDF
Citation 42 U.S.C. § 6231 (2017)
Section Name §6231. Congressional finding and declaration of policy
Section Text

(a) The Congress finds that the storage of substantial quantities of petroleum products will diminish the vulnerability of the United States to the effects of a severe energy supply interruption, and provide limited protection from the short-term consequences of interruptions in supplies of petroleum products.

(b) It is the policy of the United States to provide for the creation of a Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the storage of up to 1 billion barrels of petroleum products to reduce the impact of disruptions in supplies of petroleum products, to carry out obligations of the United States under the international energy program, and for other purposes as provided for in this chapter.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title I, §151, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 881; Pub. L. 106–469, title I, §103(4), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2029.)

Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 94–163, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 871, as amended, known as the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6201 of this title and Tables.

AMENDMENTS

2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–469 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to provide for the creation of a Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the storage of up to 1 billion barrels of petroleum products, but not less than 150 million barrels of petroleum products by the end of the 3-year period which begins on December 22, 1975, for the purpose of reducing the impact of disruptions in supplies of petroleum products or to carry out obligations of the United States under the international energy program. It is further declared to be the policy of the United States to provide for the creation of an Early Storage Reserve, as part of the Reserve, for the purpose of providing limited protection from the impact of near-term disruptions in supplies of petroleum products or to carry out obligations of the United States under the international energy program."

STUDY OF A STRATEGIC ETHANOL RESERVE

Pub. L. 99–198, title XVII, §1778, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1659, provided that:

"(a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study of the cost effectiveness, the economic benefits, and the feasibility of establishing, maintaining, and utilizing a Strategic Ethanol Reserve relative to the existing Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

"(b) The study shall be completed within one year after the enactment of this section [Dec. 23, 1985] and shall include, among other considerations—

"(1) the benefits and losses related to the U.S. economy, farm income, employment, government commodity programs, and the trade deficit of utilizing a Strategic Ethanol Reserve, as opposed to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and

"(2) the savings from storing ethanol as opposed to storing the amount of CCC-held grain necessary to produce the ethanol.

"(c) If the study shows that the Strategic Ethanol Reserve is cost effective, beneficial to the U.S. economy, and feasible in comparison with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Secretary of Agriculture may establish, maintain, and utilize a Strategic Ethanol Reserve."

ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS

Pub. L. 97–35, title X, §1032, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 618, provided that: "The Congress finds that—

"(1) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve should be considered a national security asset; and

"(2) enlarging the capacity and filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve should be accelerated (to the extent technically and economically practicable) to take advantage of any increased availability of crude oil in the world market from time to time."

Publication Title United States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 5, Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 77 - ENERGY CONSERVATION
SUBCHAPTER I - DOMESTIC SUPPLY AVAILABILITY
Part B - Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Sec. 6231 - Congressional finding and declaration of policy
Contains section 6231
Date 2017
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 12, 2018
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 89 Stat. 881, 871
95 Stat. 618
99 Stat. 1659
114 Stat. 2029
Public Law References Public Law 94-163, Public Law 97-35, Public Law 99-198, Public Law 106-469
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. United States may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.