[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 26, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3985-H3986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLLINSVILLE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROMOTION ACT
Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 5625) to reinstate and transfer certain hydroelectric
licenses and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of
certain hydroelectric projects.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5625
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Collinsville Renewable
Energy Promotion Act''.
SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT OF EXPIRED LICENSES AND EXTENSION OF
TIME TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTS.
Subject to section 4 of this Act and notwithstanding the
time period under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16
U.S.C. 806) that would otherwise apply to Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission projects numbered 10822 and 10823, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (referred to in this Act
as the ``Commission'') may--
(1) reinstate the license for either or each of those
projects; and
(2) extend for 2 years after the date on which either or
each project is reinstated under paragraph (1) the time
period during which the licensee is required to commence the
construction of such projects.
Prior to reaching any final decision under this section, the
Commission shall provide an opportunity for submission of
comments by interested persons, municipalities, and States
and shall consider any such comment that is timely submitted.
SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF LICENSES TO THE TOWN OF CANTON,
CONNECTICUT.
Notwithstanding section 8 of the Federal Power Act (16
U.S.C. 801) or any other provision thereof, if the Commission
reinstates the license for, and extends the time period
during which the licensee is required to commence the
construction of, a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
project under section 2, the Commission shall transfer such
license to the town of Canton, Connecticut.
SEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
(a) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term
``environmental assessment'' shall have the same meaning as
is given such term in regulations prescribed by the Council
on Environmental Quality that implement the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(b) Environmental Assessment.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall
complete an environmental assessment for Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission projects numbered 10822 and 10823,
updating, to the extent necessary, the environmental analysis
performed during the process of licensing such projects.
(c) Comment Period.--Upon issuance of the environmental
assessment required under subsection (b), the Commission
shall--
(1) initiate a 30-day public comment period; and
(2) before taking any action under section 2 or 3--
(A) consider any comments received during such 30-day
period; and
(B) incorporate in the license for the projects involved,
such terms and conditions as the Commission determines to be
necessary, based on the environmental assessment performed
and comments received under this section.
SEC. 5. DEADLINE.
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Commission shall--
(1) make a final decision pursuant to paragraph (1) of
section 2; and
(2) if the Commission decides to reinstate 1 or both of the
licenses under such paragraph and extend the corresponding
deadline for commencement of construction under paragraph (2)
of such section, complete the action required under section
3.
SEC. 6. PROTECTION OF EXISTING RIGHTS.
Nothing in this Act shall affect any valid license issued
by the Commission under section 4 of the Federal Power Act
(16 U.S.C. 797) on or before the date of enactment of this
Act or diminish or extinguish any existing rights under any
such license.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Murphy) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 5625, which was introduced by
Representative Murphy of Connecticut. This legislation would provide
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with limited authority to
reinstate two terminated hydroelectric licenses and transfer
[[Page H3986]]
them to a new owner, the town of Canton, Connecticut.
The licenses are associated with the Upper and Lower Collinsville
dams on the Farmington River in Connecticut. Both projects are under
one megawatt each, and I urge all Members to support this legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume, and I would like to thank the chairman for his
assistance and leadership in bringing this bill forward today.
This legislation before us, as Chairman Whitfield stated, is pretty
simple. It will allow FERC the permissive authority to allow several
communities in my district to operate two very small hydroelectric dams
as municipal power sources. The Upper and Lower Collinsville dams have
been dormant along Connecticut's Farmington River since the 1960s. The
licenses that were fairly recently previously issued by FERC to operate
both small dams are currently inactive. This legislation would allow
FERC the opportunity to reinstate them and transfer them to the town of
Canton, Connecticut, for operation.
These two small dams are already a beloved and long-standing symbol
of the Farmington Valley's rich history. Today, however, we can help
make them a symbol of the valley's future as well--retrofitting them to
provide clean energy to power thousands of homes and businesses.
This legislation was the product of a sustained and collaborative
process with State and local stakeholders, FERC, and river protection
organizations. The bill provides for an additional comment period on
any FERC licensing action, as well as on the licenses' environmental
provisions--ensuring that public input is respected and the river's
health is protected.
While we work to enact policies that will accelerate our transition
to energy independence, we shouldn't neglect these smaller projects
that can begin that process right here and now, and this bill
represents that kind of opportunity.
This isn't the first time we've considered this bill in this Chamber.
Identical legislation passed the House by voice vote on June 16, 2010.
However, the Senate didn't take up the bill that year. As such, I'm
hopeful we can muster the same bipartisan spirit today and again pass
this noncontroversial energy legislation.
Again, I'd like to thank Chairman Whitfield, as well as Chairman
Upton and Ranking Members Waxman and Rush and their staffs, for helping
bring this legislation to the floor today. We do this institution
credit with this kind of bipartisan legislation. Again to the chairman,
I appreciate it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, so at this
time I would just thank the gentleman from Connecticut for bringing
this legislation to our attention. I appreciate his patience. It took
us a little while to get it to the floor, but I do urge its passage,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5625.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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