[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           YAKIMA PROJECT ACT

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, late Wednesday night the Senate approved 
several Bureau of Reclamation authorization measures, including the 
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Act. I would like to take time 
today to mention one provision of that act and, as the bill's author, 
discuss the intent behind it.
  The act includes language authorizing the electrification of pumps at 
the Chandler Pumping Plant near Prosser, WA. That action is intended to 
free up water to use instream for fish enhancement purposes. The bill's 
language directs the Bonneville Power Administration to provide for 
project power needed to effect the electrification of the pumps at that 
facility.
  The delivery of wholesale power to consumer-owned distribution 
systems is central to Bonneville's mission. It is not in the region's 
interest to have Bonneville compete with such systems to serve new load 
directly to end-use customers--whether public or private. Bonneville 
agrees with this and, as a matter of policy, prefers not to violate the 
service territory of preference power systems.
  Currently, the Chandler Pumping Plant is within the service territory 
and is served by the Benton Rural Electric Association. While the act 
requires Bonneville to provide for project power for the plant, nothing 
in the act precludes Bonneville from serving those pumps through Benton 
REA. At the same time, as a member of the Senate Appropriations 
Subcommittee on Energy and Water, it is my hope to minimize the costs 
associated with this project.
  In order to serve both the goals of keeping costs down and respecting 
the service territory of consumer-owned distribution systems, I would 
expect Bonneville to serve the Chandler Pumping Plant through Benton 
REA unless, in consultation with the Bureau of Reclamation, they find 
that the cost of such service is substantially more than the cost of 
service directly form BPA. I have confirmed that this is also the 
expectation of the House sponsor, Mr. Inslee.
  I thank the Chair for this opportunity to provide explanation of a 
small but important part of this bill.

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