[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 89 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S6864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THOMPSON (for himself and Mr. Frist):
  S. 1097. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue 
right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines within the boundary of 
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1097

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

     SECTION 1. NATURAL GAS PIPELINES WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE 
                   GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.

       (a) Permit for Natural Gas Pipelines.--
       (1) Authorization.--The Secretary of the Interior may issue 
     right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines that are--
       (A) within the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains 
     National Park (as of the date of enactment of this Act);
       (B) not otherwise authorized by Federal law; and
       (C) not subject to valid rights of property ownership.
       (2) Conditions.--A permit issued under paragraph (1) shall 
     be subject to any terms and conditions that the Secretary 
     determines necessary.
       (b) Permit for Proposed Natural Gas Pipelines.--
       (1) Authorization.--The Secretary may issue right-of-way 
     permits for natural gas pipelines within the boundary of the 
     Great Smoky Mountains National Park that are proposed for 
     construction in--
       (A) the Foothills Parkway;
       (B) the Foothills Parkway Spur between Pigeon Forge and 
     Gatlinburg; and
       (C) the Gatlinburg Bypass.
       (2) Conditions.--A permit issued under paragraph (1) shall 
     be subject to any terms and conditions that the Secretary 
     determines necessary, including--
       (A) provisions for the protection and restoration of 
     resources that are disturbed by pipeline construction; and
       (B) assurances that construction and operation of the 
     pipeline will be compatible with the purposes of the Park.

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