[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H441-H442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLLINSVILLE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROMOTION ACT
Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 316) 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. 316
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 one 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 New Mexico (Mr. Ben Ray
Lujan) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 316 would provide the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with
limited authority to reinstate two terminated hydroelectric licenses
and transfer 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 1 megawatt
each. This is important legislation that will certainly benefit the
people in that area.
I want to thank Mr. Lujan and others for working with us on this
important piece of legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Whitfield and all of the
members of the majority as well for working with the minority on this
important piece of legislation.
I encourage my colleagues to support the Collinsville hydropower
legislation introduced by Congresswoman Esty of Connecticut. The bill
would authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reinstate
licenses for two hydroelectric power plants on the Farmington River and
to transfer these licenses to the Town of Canton, Connecticut. This
noncontroversial legislation has passed the House by voice vote in both
the 111th and 112th Congresses.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut
(Ms. Esty), the sponsor of the bill.
Ms. ESTY. Thank you, Congressman Lujan. And I'd like to thank
Chairman Whitfield for his leadership on this important issue and for
bringing this bill to the floor so quickly this year.
I rise as the proud sponsor of the Collinsville Renewable Energy
Promotion Act. This bill, as the chairman so aptly described, would
provide FERC limited authority to license the Town of Canton, in my
district, to operate two small and dormant dams for hydroelectric
power.
The Upper and Lower Collinsville dams on the Farmington River were
first built in the 18th and 19th centuries to power an ax manufacturer.
While this business closed in the 1960s, the dams have remained and are
a lasting symbol of the Farmington Valley's very proud manufacturing
history.
And just as our communities have been reinvented over the years, we
now have the opportunity to reinvent a dormant dam into a dam producing
local, clean energy. If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, under
the authority of this bill, permits both dams to generate hydropower,
the dams could produce nearly 2 megawatts of power, enough to power
more than 1,500 homes, which I'll note, parenthetically, with 3 feet of
snow in the last week, were much in demand, that additional power.
Licenses for this purpose had previously been issued, and this bill
would allow the reinstatement of the inactive FERC licenses.
Now, as with any dam on any river, there are legitimate concerns
about the river and the ecosystem's health. The Upper and Lower
Collinsville dams already exist, and our legislation addresses many
concerns to fully protect the river's health by requiring FERC to
complete an updated analysis of the environmental impact of the
projects and seek additional public comment before taking action.
Now, this project started long before I was elected to Congress, and
I'm proud to continue the work on this bill. Just a few months ago,
this body passed the exact same language offered by then-Congressman
Chris Murphy, Connecticut's new Senator. He's been a longtime champion
on this issue, and I'm grateful for his and First Selectman of Canton
Richard Barlow's work spearheading these efforts back home.
{time} 1430
I would also like to mention another longtime supporter of this
project, Art Fournier. Sadly, Art passed away this past July. But
during one of the occasions I had the opportunity to discuss issues
with him and gain from his lifetime of experiences, he brought up this
[[Page H442]]
bill to enforce upon me how important it was. He was committed to
public service and to ensuring that the world was a better place for
the next generation. His commitment to public service was evident from
his service on many boards and commissions in the town of Canton,
including on the Hydro Power Advisory Commission.
Another strong advocate for this project also, sadly, died this
summer, Mark Quattro. Mark, too, made us aware of the importance of
this project for the little town of Canton, and he was deeply committed
to the community and served on many town organizations, including the
chamber of commerce. It would be a fitting tribute to honor these two
fine citizens of Canton, Art Fournier and Mark Quattro, by passing this
bill today.
I'd like to thank, again, Chairman Whitfield, as well as Chairman
Upton and Ranking Members Waxman and Rush and their staffs for bringing
the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act to the floor today for
a vote. This project has a long history of bipartisan support at the
local level, and I'm proud to be working with my colleagues across the
aisle to empower local communities to utilize existing resources to
create locally produced clean, renewable power. I respectfully urge my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would just urge my
colleagues to adopt this legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WHITFIELD. I want to thank Mr. Lujan, members of the committee,
and certainly Ms. Esty for her involvement in this legislation and
would urge all the Members to support this legislation.
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. 316.
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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