Deluzio, Reschenthaler Raise Alarm on Privatization of Federal Helium Reserve

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14) sent a joint letter to Tracy Stone-Manning, Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Robin Carnahan, Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), raising serious concerns about privatization efforts over the National Helium Reserve, a critical resource for American manufacturing, healthcare, and space industries—among others. 

The members write in calling for the BLM and GSA to consider postponing the process that, “The Federal Helium Reserve has been a great source of stability for helium supply in the United States. It is a critical resource for the U.S. economy in regards to semiconductor manufacturing, the operation of MRI machines, the space industry, and other economic sectors. For those reasons, we must avoid any disruptions in the reserve’s operations and ensure a smooth disposal process.” 

The Federal Helium Reserve is a unique geological structure in Amarillo, Texas—a massive underground cavern with a hard salt cap where helium can be stored without leaks. The federal government owns almost two billion cubic feet of the helium within reserve. The U.S. is one of only a few sources of this important element, with Qatar, Algeria, and Russia as the only alternatives. Geopolitical realities, however, leave the United States as the globe’s most reliable source of helium. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) currently operates the reserve, but they are in the process of privatizing and auctioning it off to a private company. With several disputes currently unresolved, ranging from pipeline inspections, to rights-of-way where private property is crossed, to the exact amount of helium in the Reserve, Representatives Deluzio and Reschenthaler are calling for a delay in the sale to secure these loose ends and ensure stability of such an important element source. 

Helium is critically important for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips and fiber optic cable, for the operation of MRI machines, and for the space launch industry. Having to rely on such other countries, including a political adversary, would be detrimental to so many industries.  

The full letter is linked here. 

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