[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3416-H3417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENSION OF FEDERAL POWER ACT DEADLINE FOR PROJECTS IN PENNSYLVANIA

  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2695) to extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act 
applicable to the construction of certain hydroelectric projects in the 
State of Pennsylvania, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2695

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE.

       (a) Extension.--Notwithstanding the time limitations of 
     section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806), upon the 
     request of the licensee for the project concerned, and after 
     reasonable notice, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
     shall, in accordance with the good faith, due diligence, and 
     public interest requirements of such section 13 and the 
     Commission's procedures under such section, extend the time 
     required for commencement of construction of each of the 
     following projects until September 26, 1999:
       (1) FERC Project No. 4474.
       (2) FERC Project No. 7041.
       (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect for the 
     project upon the expiration of the extension (issued by the 
     Commission under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 
     U.S.C. 806)) of the period required for commencement of 
     construction of the project concerned.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado [Mr. Schaefer] and the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] 
will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Schaefer].


                             general leave

  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

[[Page H3417]]

may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 2695, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2695, as amended, directs the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission to extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of two hydro projects in Pennsylvania. These projects 
would be constructed at existing Army Corps of Engineer dams on the 
Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, and would have capacities of 12 and 20 
megawatts. There is a need to act on this legislation, since the 
construction deadline for both projects expired on April 15, 1995. 
According to the project sponsors, construction has not commenced for 
lack of a power purchase agreement. H.R. 2695 was introduced by our 
colleague, Representative Ron Klink of Pennsylvania.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2695.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to thank the gentleman for moving H.R. 
2695, which deals with the two hydroelectric projects in the State of 
Pennsylvania. This bill is sponsored by the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
[Mr. Klink] who is a member of our committee. It passed unanimously, 
and I would urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Schaefer] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2695, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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