HELIUM
The Helium Program, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), New Mexico State Office, ensures that the Federal Government receives proper payment for helium extracted from Federal mineral acreage.
The Division of Helium Resources negotiates and administers helium royalty contracts; researches, adjudicates, collects, and audits monies for helium extracted from Federal lands; analyzes natural gas samples to locate and evaluate sources of helium.
Helium is an odorless, nontoxic, colorless, tasteless gas; it has a very low chemical reactivity and it is lighter than air. These characteristics are why helium plays a prominent role in space exploration, national defense, scientific research, medical technology, high-tech manufacturing and energy programs. Helium exists as a gas except under extreme conditions. At temperatures near absolute zero, helium is a liquid.
The Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 (HSA) seeks to mitigate a helium shortage by enabling the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the BLM to continue to sell crude helium from the Federal Helium Reserve.
