[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2457 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2457


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 2017

   Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To extend the deadline for commencement of construction of certain 
                        hydroelectric projects.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``J. Bennett Johnston Waterway 
Hydropower Extension Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the time period specified in 
section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) that would 
otherwise apply to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project numbers 
12756, 12757, and 12758, the Commission may, at the request of the 
licensee for the applicable project, and after reasonable notice, in 
accordance with the good faith, due diligence, and public interest 
requirements of that section and the Commission's procedures under that 
section, extend the time period during which such licensee is required 
to commence the construction of its applicable project for up to 3 
consecutive 2-year periods from the date of the expiration of any 
extension issued by the Commission under that section for such project.
    (b) Obligation for Payment of Annual Charges.--Any obligation of a 
licensee for a project described in subsection (a) for the payment of 
annual charges under section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
803(e)) shall commence when the construction of the project commences.
    (c) Reinstatement of License; Effective Date for Extension.--
            (1) Reinstatement.--If the time period required for 
        commencement of construction of a project described in 
        subsection (a) has expired prior to the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, the Commission may reinstate the license for such 
        project, effective as of the date of the expiration of the 
        license.
            (2) Effective date for extension.--If the Commission 
        reinstates a license under paragraph (1) for a project, the 
        first extension authorized under subsection (a) with respect to 
        such project shall take effect on the effective date of such 
        reinstatement under paragraph (1).

            Passed the House of Representatives June 12, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.