[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15145-S15146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL OILHEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                      MURKOWSKI AMENDMENT NO. 2802

  Mr. LOTT (for Mr. Murkowski) proposed an amendment to the bill (S. 
348) to authorize and facilitate a program to enhance training, 
research and development, energy conservation and efficiency, and 
consumer education in the oilheat industry for the benefit of oilheat 
consumers and the public, and for other purposes; as follows:

       On page 2, after line 2, insert the following:

      ``TITLE I--NATIONAL OIL HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE ACT OF 1999''

       On page 6, after line 18, insert the following:
       ``(15) State.--The term ``State'' means the several states, 
     except the State of Alaska.''.
       On page 30, after line 11, insert the following:

           ``TITLE II--SMALL HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS IN ALASKA

     ``SEC. 201. ALASKA STATE JURISDICTION OVER SMALL 
                   HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS.

       ``Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     `` ``SEC. 32. ALASKA STATE JURISDICTION OVER SMALL 
                   HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS.

       `` `(a) Discontinuance of Regulation by the Commission.--
       Notwithstanding sections 4(e) and 23(b), the Commission 
     shall discontinue exercising licensing and regulatory 
     authority under this Part over qualifying project works in 
     the State of Alaska, effective on the date on which the 
     commission certifies that the State of Alaska has in place a 
     regulatory program for water-power development that--
       `` `(1) protects the public interest, the purposes listed 
     in paragraph (2), and the environment to the same extent 
     provided by licensing and regulation by the Commission

[[Page S15146]]

     under this Part and other applicable Federal laws, including 
     the endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the 
     fish and wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.);
       `` `(2) gives equal consideration to the purposes of--
       `` `(A) energy conservation;
       `` `(B) the protection, mitigation of damage to, and 
     enhancement of, fish and wildlife (including related spawning 
     grounds and habitat);
       `` `(C) the protection of recreational opportunities,
       `` `(D) the preservation of other aspects of environmental 
     quality,
       `` `(E) the interests of Alaska Natives, and
       `` `(F) other beneficial public uses, including irrigation, 
     flood control, water supply, and navigation; and
       `` `(3) requires, as a license for any project works--
       `` `(A) the construction, maintenance, and operation by a 
     licensee at its own expense of such lights and signals as may 
     be directed by the Secretary of the Department in which the 
     Coast Guard is operating, and such fishways as may be 
     prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary 
     of Commerce, as appropriate;
       `` `(B) the operation of any navigation facilities which 
     may be constructed as part of any project to be controlled at 
     all times by such reasonable rules and regulations as may be 
     made by the Secretary of the Army; and
       `` `(C) conditions for the protection, mitigation, and 
     enhancement of fish and wildlife based on recommendations 
     received pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) from the National Marine Fisheries 
     Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and 
     State fish and wildlife agencies.
       `` `(b) Definition of ``Qualifying Project Works.''--For 
     purposes of this section, the term ``qualifying project 
     works'' means project works--
       `` `(1) that are not part of a project licensed under this 
     Part or exempted from licensing under this Part or section 
     405 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 
     prior to the date of enactment of this section;
       `` `(2) for which a preliminary permit, a license 
     application, or an application for an exemption from 
     licensing has not been accepted for filing by the Commission 
     prior to the date of enactment of subsection (c) (unless such 
     application is withdrawn at the election of the applicant);
       `` `(3) that are part of a project that has a power 
     production capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or less;
       `` `(4) that are located entirely within the boundaries of 
     the State of Alaska; and
       `` `(5) that are not located in whole or in part on any 
     Indian reservation, a conservation system unit (as defined in 
     section 102(4) of the Alaska National Interest Lands 
     Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3102(4))), or segment of a river 
     designated for study for addition to the Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers System.
       `` `(c) Election of State Licensing.--In the case of 
     nonqualifying project works that would be a qualifying 
     project works but for the fact that the project has been 
     licensed (or exempted from licensing) by the Commission prior 
     to the enactment of this section, the licensee of such 
     project may in its discretion elect to make the project 
     subject to licensing and regulation by the State of Alaska 
     under this section.
       `` `(d) Project Works on Federal Lands.--With respect to 
     projects located in whole or in part on a reservation, a 
     conservation system unit, or the public lands, a State 
     license or exemption from licensing shall be subject to--
       `` `(1) the approval of the Secretary having jurisdiction 
     over such lands; and
       `` `(2) such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.
       `` `(e) Consultation With Affected Agencies.--The 
     Commission shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior, 
     the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce 
     before certifying the State of Alaska's regulatory program.
       `` `(f) Application of Federal Laws.--Nothing in this 
     section shall preempt the application of Federal 
     environmental, natural resources, or cultural resources 
     protection laws according to their terms.
       `` `(g) Oversight by the Commission.--The State of Alaska 
     shall notify the Commission not later than 30 days after 
     making any significant modification to its regulatory 
     program. The Commission shall periodically review the State's 
     program to ensure compliance with the provisions of this 
     section.
       `` `(h) Resumption of Commission Authority.--
     Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Commission shall reassert 
     its licensing and regulatory authority under this part if the 
     Commission finds that the State of Alaska has not complied 
     with one or more of the requirements of this section.
       `` `(i) Determination by the Commission.--
       `` `(1) Upon application by the Governor of the State of 
     Alaska, the Commission shall within 30 days commence a review 
     of the State of Alaska's regulatory program for water-power 
     development to determine whether it complies with the 
     requirements of subsection (a).
       `` `(2) The Commission's review required by paragraph (1) 
     shall be completed within one year of initiation, and the 
     Commission shall within 30 days thereafter issue a final 
     order determining whether or not the State of Alaska's 
     regulatory program for water-power development complies with 
     the requirements of subsection (a).
       `` `(3) If the Commission fails to issue a final order in 
     accordance with paragraph (2), the State of Alaska's 
     regulatory program for water-power development shall be 
     deemed to be in compliance with subsection (a).

            `` `TITLE III--HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS IN HAWAII

     `` `SEC. 301. PROJECTS ON FRESH WATERS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

       `` `Section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
     797(e)) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
     ``several States, or upon'' and inserting ``several States 
     (except fresh waters in the State of Hawaii, unless a license 
     would be required under section 23), or upon''.''.

           `` `TITLE IV--ARROWROCK DAM HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

     `` `SEC. 501. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY 
                   COMMISSION PROJECT.

       `` `Notwithstanding the time period specified in section 13 
     of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) that would otherwise 
     apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project 
     numbered 4656, the Commission may, at the request of the 
     licensee for the 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 until March 26, 2005, 
     the time period during which the licensee is required to 
     commence construction of the project.''

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