[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 64 (Monday, May 22, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H3488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H3488]]
                              {time}  1430
 EXTENDING DEADLINE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION OF HYDROELECTRIC 
                      PROJECT IN STATE OF ALABAMA

  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3852) to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of 
a hydroelectric project in the State of Alabama.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3852

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE AND REINSTATEMENT OF 
                   LICENSE.

       (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 the Federal Energy Regulatory 
     Commission project numbered 7115, the Commission shall, at 
     the request of the licensee for the project, in accordance 
     with the good faith, due diligence, and public interest 
     requirements of that section and the Commission's procedures 
     under that section, extend for 3 consecutive 2-year periods, 
     the time period during which the licensee is required to 
     commence construction of the project.
       (b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall take effect on the 
     expiration of the period required for commencement of 
     construction of the project described in subsection (a).
       (c) Reinstatement of Expired License.--If the license for 
     the project described in subsection (a) has expired prior to 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
     reinstate the license effective as of the date of its 
     expiration and extend the time required for commencement of 
     construction of the project for not more than 3 consecutive 
     2-year periods, the first of which shall commence on the date 
     of expiration of the license.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). Pursuant to the 
rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Boucher) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley).


                             General Leave

  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3852 extends the construction period for a hydroelectric project 
in the State of Alabama. Under section 13 of the Federal Power Act, 
project construction must begin within 4 years of issuance of the 
license. If construction has not yet begun, FERC cannot extend the 
deadline and must terminate the license. H.R. 3852 grants the project 
developer up to 6 additional years to commence construction if it 
pursues the commencement of construction in good faith and with due 
diligence.
  These types of bills have not been controversial in the past. The 
bill does not change the license requirements in any way and does not 
change environmental standards, but merely extends the construction 
deadline.
  There is a need to act, Mr. Speaker, since the construction deadline 
for the George Andrews project expires in September. If Congress does 
not act, FERC will terminate the license, the project owner will lose 
its investment in the project, and the local community will lose jobs 
and revenues.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 3852.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BOUCHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this measure. I 
want to congratulate our colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina 
(Mr. DeMint), for his efforts on this measure. He has made an excellent 
case to the House for its approval, and I am pleased to urge its 
approval today.
  The legislation directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to 
extend the deadline for commencement of construction on the Andrews 
project, which is a 24 megawatt hydroelectric facility to be located on 
the Chattahoochee River in Houston County, Alabama and Early County, 
Georgia. The construction deadline for the project expires on September 
21 of this year, and it is the purpose of this legislation to extend 
that deadline. The legislation will extend the deadline for up to 3 
additional 2-year periods.
  Congress has enacted similar legislation in past years extending 
construction deadlines on projects of this nature, and this particular 
legislation was reported unanimously by the Subcommittee on Energy and 
Power and by the full Committee on Commerce. I know of no objection to 
this legislation, either from any of our colleagues or from any States 
that have an interest in the project; and I am, therefore, pleased to 
urge its passage by the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. OXLEY. 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 Ohio (Mr. Oxley) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3852.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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