[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3587-H3588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EXTENDING DEADLINE FOR HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT IN WASHINGTON STATE

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1217) to extend the deadline under the 
Federal Power Act for the construction of a hydroelectric project 
located in the State of Washington, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1217

       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) 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 numbered 10359, the Commission shall, at the request 
     of the project licensee, extend the time period during which 
     the licensee is required to complete construction of the 
     project to May 4, 2004.
       (b) Reports.--The licensee for the project described in 
     subsection (a) shall file with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
     Commission, on December 31 of each year until construction of 
     the project is completed, a report on the status of the 
     project.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado, Mr. Dan Schaefer, and the gentleman from Texas Mr. Hall, each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado Mr. Dan Schaefer.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
  (Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado asked and was given permission to 
revise and extend his remarks.)

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1217 would direct the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the deadline for the 
completion of construction of the Youngs Creek hydroelectric project in 
the State of Washington. The commencement of construction of this 
project was initiated in a timely manner, and the project developer 
expended about 25 percent of total project cost, which is $5.3 million. 
However, the developer has been unable to secure financing to complete 
project construction due to uncertainties in the electric industry.
  H.R. 1217 extends the deadline for the completion of construction 
until May 4, 2004. As is the case with others, the extension under the 
bill does not change or alter the environmental requirements in any 
way. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has no objection to this 
legislation. I would urge support of H.R. 1217.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. Hall of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1217, 
which, like the previous bill, was introduced by the gentleman from 
Washington [Mr. Metcalf], my good friend. This bill is exactly like the 
previous non-controversial hydroelectric project extension, but it is 
very important to the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Metcalf] and is 
important to his district and his State.
  As proven in the past, congressional extension legislation has been 
noncontroversial and without opposition from FERC. This practice holds 
true with H.R. 1217. These are easy yes votes, and I strongly urge my 
colleagues to join in supporting the gentleman from Washington [Mr. 
Metcalf] in H.R. 1217.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I would also like to congratulate the gentleman from Washington [Mr. 
Metcalf] for his excellent work on these last two bills. I know it is 
very, very important to the State of Washington, his district.
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, the project is located in Snohomish County 
and will result in no new or increased budget authority or tax 
expenditures or revenues. This facility has 25 percent of the total 
cost--$5 million--already invested in construction, and this 
legislation will extend the time to complete construction for an 
additional 6 years from May 4, 1998, to May 4, 2004. Two of those years 
will be consumed by actual construction needed to complete the project.
  This legislation will assure that the site is preserved for final 
construction. This is especially important because construction has 
already begun although a power sales agreement was not obtained. There 
is precedent for FERC to grant commencement extensions when 
construction has been delayed due to market conditions that are such 
that no power sales contract can be executed. For example, to date, 
construction has commenced although has been halted because of a lack 
of a power purchase agreement to support project construction 
financing. As a result of destabilization of the electricity industry 
and spot prices

[[Page H3588]]

and, therefore, a market condition such that no power sales contract 
can be executed.
  Again, the legislation provides for a 6-year construction extension. 
This is not an unreasonable request for a project already under 
construction. This project has received no challenges and has been 
determined environmentally sound and nonthreatening by all applicable 
local, State, and Federal agencies.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 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. Dan Schaefer, that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1217.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill H.R. 1217 was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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