FrontMatter -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Summary -- 1 Methane Hydrate Research in the United States -- 2 State of the Science: Recent Advances and Current Challenges in Methane Hydrate Research -- 3 Review of Central Research Efforts Within the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program -- 4 Coordinating Process for the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program -- 5 Conclusions and Recommendations -- Appendixes -- Appendix A: Legislative Authorization Language H.R. 6 - Energy Policy Act of 2005 Section 968. Methane Hydrate Research -- Appendix B: Committee and Staff Biographical Sketches -- Appendix C: Presentations to the Committee -- Appendix D: Comparison of Units of Measurement of Amounts of Methane by Volume and Weight -- Appendix E: Program Authorizations and Appropriations FY 2000-2010 -- Appendix F: Project Summary Table.