[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3035-H3036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENDING TIME REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2841) to extend the time required for the 
construction of a hydroelectric project, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2841

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF PERIOD TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the time period specified 
     in section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 805) that 
     would otherwise apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory 
     Commission Project numbered 10395, the Commission shall, at 
     the request of the licensee for the project and after 
     reasonable notice, in accordance with the good faith, due 
     deference, and public interest requirements of that section 
     and the Commission's procedures under that section, extend 
     the time period during which the licensee is required to 
     commence the construction of the project, under the extension 
     described in subsection (b), not more than 3 consecutive 2-
     year periods.
       (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date of the expiration of the extension of the period 
     required for commencement of construction of the project 
     described in subsection (a) that the Commission issued, prior 
     to the date of enactment of this Act, under section 13 of the 
     Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806).

  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).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2841, 
as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  (Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado asked and was given permission to 
revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is very 
similar to the bill we just went through, so that my description is 
going to be very brief. Then I will yield to my good friend, the 
gentleman from Kentucky.
  Under section 13 of the Federal Power Act, project construction must 
begin within 4 years of the issuance of a license. We know that. If 
construction is not begun by that time, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, again, cannot issue and cannot extend the deadline and must 
terminate the license.
  H.R. 2841 provides for extension of the construction deadline of the 
Melhahl project, a 35 megawatt hydroelectric project in the State of 
Kentucky, if the sponsor pursues the commencement of construction in 
good faith and with due diligence. According to the City of Augusta, 
the project sponsor, construction has not commenced because of 
challenges from various competing applicants for this particular 
license. H.R. 2841 provides for up to three different consecutive 2-
year extensions.
  I think that this is something that we have to proceed with, in 
conferring with my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall). I 
have to apologize for my voice. I have a little bit of laryngitis here 
today.
  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, H.R. 2841 would simply extend the 
deadline for commencement of construction of a 35-megawatt 
hydroelectric project in Bracken County, Kentucky, for up to three 
additional 2-year periods. According to the bill's sponsor, the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Bunning), construction has not commenced 
because of the lack of a power purchase agreement. The deadline for 
commencement of construction on this project expires on July 31, 1999.
  H.R. 2841 does not ease the hydroelectric licensing requirement, but 
merely extends the period for commencement of project construction. The 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, the honorable 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Dan Schaefer), has brought to the floor 
with this bill a manager's amendment which corrects a typographical 
error in section 1(b) of the legislation. I support this technical 
correction.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation is not controversial, I urge my 
colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Bunning).
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and manager, the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Dan Schaefer), and also my friend, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), and I rise in strong support of H.R. 
2841, legislation I introduced to extend the construction deadline for 
a proposed hydroelectric plant in my district.

[[Page H3036]]

  Late last year I learned that the Augusta hydroelectric power project 
was running into some difficulties in securing private investors 
because of an impending construction deadline set by the Federal 
Emergency Regulatory Commission.
  This is an extremely important project to my constituents in the 
northern part of Kentucky, and without congressional actions to extend 
this deadline, thousands of residents in my State could miss out on a 
tremendous source of inexpensive electricity.

                              {time}  1445

  The bill simply extends the present deadline set by the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission for 6 more years, which will provide the 
necessary time for the city of Augusta Kentucky to seek and obtain new 
investors for this important project. However, without our assistance 
today, this project will not meet its current construction deadline and 
be terminated.
  By passing this legislation, we can help make sure that that does not 
happen. I appreciate the Committee on Commerce's quick action in 
bringing this important bill to the floor and look forward to working 
with them in the future to make sure this project is completed. I urge 
all of my colleagues to support this meaningful legislation.
  I thank the chairman for yielding time to me.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bereuter). 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. 2841, 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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