[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S258-S259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2963. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2953 proposed by Ms. Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to 
provide for the modernization of the energy policy of the United 
States, and for other purposes; as follows:

       Strike section 4301 and insert the following:

     SEC. 4301. BULK-POWER SYSTEM RELIABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.

       Section 215 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(l) Reliability Impact Statement.--
       ``(1) Solicitation by commission.--Not later than 15 days 
     after the date on which the head of a Federal agency proposes 
     a major rule (as defined in section 804 of title 5, United 
     States Code) that may significantly affect the reliable 
     operation of the bulk-power system, the Commission shall 
     solicit from the ERO, who shall coordinate with regional 
     entities affected by the proposed rule, a reliability impact 
     statement with respect to the proposed rule.

[[Page S259]]

       ``(2) Requirements.--A reliability impact statement under 
     paragraph (1) shall include a detailed statement on--
       ``(A) the impact of the proposed rule on the reliable 
     operation of the bulk-power system;
       ``(B) any adverse effects on the reliable operation of the 
     bulk-power system if the proposed rule was implemented; and
       ``(C) alternatives to cure the identified adverse 
     reliability impacts, including a no-action alternative.
       ``(3) Submission to commission and congress.--On completion 
     of a reliability impact statement under paragraph (1), the 
     ERO shall submit to the Commission and Congress the 
     reliability impact statement.
       ``(4) Transmittal to head of federal agency.--On receipt of 
     a reliability impact statement submitted to the Commission 
     under paragraph (3), the Commission shall transmit to the 
     head of the applicable Federal agency the reliability impact 
     statement prepared under this subsection for inclusion in the 
     public record.
       ``(5) Inclusion of detailed response in final rule.--With 
     respect to a final major rule subject to a reliability impact 
     statement prepared under paragraph (1), the head of the 
     Federal agency shall--
       ``(A) consider the reliability impact statement;
       ``(B) give due weight to the technical expertise of the ERO 
     with respect to matters that are the subject of the 
     reliability impact statement; and
       ``(C) include in the final rule a detailed response to the 
     reliability impact statement that reasonably addresses the 
     detailed statements required under paragraph (2).''.
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