[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 100 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5940-H5941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING CONTINUED USE OF CERTAIN LANDS WITHIN SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3932) to amend Public Law 99-338 to authorize the continued 
use of certain lands within the Sequoia National Park by portions of an 
existing hydroelectric project, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3932

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO REISSUE PERMIT.

       The first section of Public Law 99-338 is amended by 
     striking ``one renewal'' and inserting ``3 renewals''.

     SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

       Section 3 of Public Law 99-338 is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``Sec. 3. The permit shall contain the following 
     provisions:
       ``(1) A prohibition on expansion of the Kaweah Project in 
     Sequoia National Park.
       ``(2) A requirement that an independent safety assessment 
     of the Kaweah Project be conducted, and that any deficiencies 
     identified as a result of the assessment would be corrected.
       ``(3) A requirement that the Secretary prepare and submit 
     to Congress an update of the July 1983 report on the impact 
     of the operations of the Kaweah No. 3 facility on Sequoia 
     National Park.
       ``(4) Any other reasonable terms and conditions that the 
     Secretary of the Interior deems necessary and proper for the 
     management and care of Sequoia National Park and the purposes 
     for which it was established.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3932, introduced by the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Nunes) and amended by the Committee on Resources, would amend 
Public Law 99-338 to authorize the continued use of certain lands 
within the Sequoia National Park by portions of an existing 
hydroelectric project.

                              {time}  1515

  The legislation would provide the authority necessary for Southern 
California Edison Company to continue operating the Kaweah 
hydroelectric project partly located in the park until the year 2016, 
with an option to extend until 2026. The bill also requires the company 
to pay the park compensation, which shall be determined in consultation 
with the Secretary.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3932, as amended, is supported by the majority and 
the minority of the Committee on Resources and by the administration. I 
urge adoption of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the 
purpose of H.R. 3932. While it is unusual to have a hydroelectric 
facility in a national park, this is a nearly 100-year-old use that has 
been and will continue to be held to a very high standard to ensure 
that there is no degradation of park resources.
  The National Park Service supports this legislation, as amended, and 
we appreciate the willingness of the majority to work with us to see 
that high standards for the use of national parks

[[Page H5941]]

are maintained and that the park is adequately compensated for this use 
of park resources.
  We support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes), the author of this important 
legislation.
  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by expressing my thanks to the 
Committee on Resources, the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo) 
and their staff for their hard work on this legislation, H.R. 3932.
  This bill is a simple maintenance of the law which has to be 
accomplished every 20 years to renew the Secretary of the Interior's 
authority to issue permits for the operation of a hydroelectric power 
facility in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. This facility was 
built over 100 years ago and continues to generate power today. If this 
authority is not renewed, power generation would be halted. This bill 
is critical, and I urge quick passage.
  Again, I offer thanks to the Committee on Resources for moving this 
bill quickly to the floor.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3932, 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.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend Public Law 99-
338 to authorize the continued use of certain lands within the Sequoia 
National Park by portions of an existing hydroelectric project, and for 
other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________