[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 22 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H761-H762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SWAN LAKE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT BOUNDARY CORRECTION ACT
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 219) to correct the Swan Lake hydroelectric project
survey boundary and to provide for the conveyance of the remaining
tract of land within the corrected survey boundary to the State of
Alaska.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 219
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 ``Swan Lake Hydroelectric
Project Boundary Correction Act''.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LAND WITHIN THE SWAN LAKE
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT BOUNDARY.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, after consultation
with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall--
(1) survey the exterior boundaries of the tract of Federal
land within the project boundary of the Swan Lake
Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2911) as generally depicted
and labeled ``Lost Creek'' on the map entitled ``Swan Lake
Project Boundary--Lot 2'' and dated February 1, 2016; and
(2) issue a patent to the State of Alaska for the tract
described in paragraph (1) in accordance with--
(A) the survey authorized under paragraph (1);
(B) section 6(a) of the Act of July 7, 1958 (commonly known
as the ``Alaska Statehood Act'') (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21;
Public Law 85-508); and
(C) section 24 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 818).
[[Page H762]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.
General Leave
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days 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 Alaska?
There was no objection.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank my good friend from Hawaii (Ms.
Hanabusa) for coming over here to help manage the bill. I know it was
an imposition, but I thank her. It means a great deal to me.
Mr. Speaker, the Swan Lake hydroelectric project is a remote facility
in southeast Alaska that provides electric power to nearly 20,000 of my
constituents in the cities of Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan, and the
surrounding areas.
In 1994, the project's operator began work to raise the dam height by
15 feet, working with the State of Alaska to secure 1,500 acres of land
from the Federal Government inside the reservoir's new coverage area.
The land was surveyed by the Federal Government and transferred to the
State of Alaska in 1997.
In 2012, the project operator discovered an error in the Federal
Government's survey and determined an additional 25.8 acres of Federal
land would be inundated if the water level were raised. There is no
disagreement among the Federal and State agencies concerned that an
error occurred. H.R. 219 will fix the error by requiring the Secretary
of the Interior to correct the survey and transfer the remaining
acreage to the State of Alaska.
This is a commonsense bill that promotes green energy development at
zero cost to the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of
the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is always an honor to share the floor with my good
friend from Alaska.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 219 instructs the Secretary of the Interior, after
consulting with the Forest Service, to resurvey the Lost Creek section
and other additional lands by the Swan Lake hydroelectric facility so
the Interior Department can modify the boundary and convey land
necessary for the facility's expansion.
The Swan Lake hydroelectric facility is a tall concrete arch dam at
the head of the Carroll Inlet. The project was authorized by FERC, and
operation began in 1984. It is currently operated by a not-for-profit
Alaskan Joint Action Agency called the Southeast Alaska Power Agency.
These utilities provide an estimated 62 percent of the power consumed
by the communities they serve.
The survey that was used to convey land for the expansion project
contained a mistake and omitted the Lost Creek section and other
additional areas.
{time} 1800
More land, however, needs to be conveyed to the State of Alaska to
utilize the additional reservoir storage from the recently finished
expansion project. Because this bill corrects that mistake, conveys
needed land for the facility expansion, and was supported by the U.S.
Forest Service, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that, given the nature of this bill--and we
all know that when it comes to Alaska, no one is a better advocate and
the strongest proponent of what is right and for the State of Alaska
than my good friend, the Representative from Alaska. This is a bill
that corrects that mistake, it conveys the needed land for the facility
expansion, and it is supported by all the necessary Federal agencies.
For that reason, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I wish my good friend from Hawaii
good luck in the upcoming election. I know it is against the rules, but
I am going to say it anyway. The gentlewoman will make a fine Governor
as she made a fine Congresswoman; believe me.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 219.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum
is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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