BUREAU OF MINES

BUREAU OF MINES conservation and development of mineral resources For expenses necessary for promoting the conservation, exploration, development, production, and utilization of mineral resources, including fuels, in the United States, its Territories, and possessions; developing synthetics and substitutes; producing and distributing helium; and controlling fires in inactive coal deposits on public lands, and on private lands, with the consent of the owner; $16,858,603. of which not to exceed $10,446,575 shall be available for personal services: Provided, That the Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to make suitable arrangements with owners of private property or with a State or its subdivisions for payment of a sum equal to not less than one-half the amount of expenditure to be made for control or extinguishment of fires in inactive coal deposits from funds provided under the authorization of this Act except that expenditure of Federal funds for this purpose in any privately owned operating coal mine shall be limited to investigation and supervision. health and safety For expenses necessary for promotion of health and safety in mines and in the minerals industries, as authorized by law, $3,790,000. construction For construction and improvement of facilities under the jurisdition of the Bureau of Mines, to remain available until expended. $1,587,412, of which not to exceed $113,287 shall be available for personal services. general administrative expenses For expenses necessary for general administration of the Bureau of Mines, including such expenses in the regional offices, $1,176,841, of which not to exceed $1,018,434 shall be available for personal services. administrative provisions Appropriations and funds available to the Bureau of Mines may be expended for purchase of not to exceed one hundred and thirty passenger motor vehicles for replacement only; providing transportation services in isolated areas for employees, student dependents of employees, and other pupils, and such activities may be financed under cooperative arrangements; temporary and emergency contracts for personal services and employment of persons without regard to civil-service regulations as required in the conduct of programs for 65 Stat. 260 the control of fires in inactive coal deposits and flood prevention in anthracite mines; purchase and bestowal of certificates and trophies in connection with mine rescue and first-aid work: Provided, That the Secretary is authorized to accept lands, buildings, equipment and other contributions from public and private sources and to prosecute projects in cooperation with other agencies, Federal, State, or private: Provided further, That power produced in the operation of the power plant of the Bureau of Mines at Louisiana, Missouri, in excess of the Bureau’s needs may be sold to non-Federal purchasers, but the expenses of the Bureau in the production and sale of such excess power shall not exceed the total amount of such sales, and expenditures for the production of excess power shall not be deemed a charge against the total appropriations authorized by the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act, as amended: Provided further, That the sums made available for the current fiscal year to the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force for the acquisition of helium from the Bureau of Mines shall be transferred to the Bureau of Mines on July 1 of said fiscal year: Provided further, That the Bureau of Mines is authorized, during the current fiscal year, to sell directly or through any Government agency, including corporations, any metal or mineral product that may be manufactured in pilot plants operated by the Bureau of Mines, and the proceeds of such sales shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.