[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 119 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H6226-H6227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REINSTATING AND EXTENDING DEADLINE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF HYDROELECTRIC 
                      PROJECT INVOLVING GIBSON DAM

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 490) to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Gibson Dam.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 490

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

     SECTION 1. REINSTATEMENT AND EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FEDERAL 
                   ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION PROJECT INVOLVING 
                   GIBSON DAM.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the time period specified 
     in section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) that 
     would otherwise apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory 
     Commission project numbered 12478-003, the Federal Energy 
     Regulatory Commission (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Commission'') may, at the request of the licensee for the 
     project, and after reasonable notice, in accordance with the 
     good faith, due diligence, and public interest requirements 
     of, and the procedures of the Commission under, that section, 
     extend the time period during which the licensee is required 
     to commence construction of the project for not more than 3 
     consecutive 2-year periods from the date of the expiration of 
     the extension originally issued by the Commission.
       (b) Reinstatement of Expired License.--
       (1) In general.--If the period required for the 
     commencement of construction of the project described in 
     subsection (a) has expired prior to the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Commission may reinstate the license effective 
     as of that date of expiration.
       (2) Extension.--If the Commission reinstates the license 
     under paragraph (1), the first extension authorized under 
     subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of that 
     expiration.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. UPTON. 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 material in the Record on the bill.

[[Page H6227]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill, S. 490, authorizes the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, FERC, upon request, to extend by 6 years the 
time period during which construction must commence on a hydroelectric 
project involving the Gibson Dam, which is located on the Sun River in 
Montana. Additionally, FERC may reinstate the construction license if 
it is expired.
  This bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent back on June 28, and 
I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation so 
that we can send it to the President's desk.
  I would also note that when the Senate passed this bill, they also 
passed five other House bills extending construction licenses for hydro 
projects in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia. 
These now have become law. So this is the last one.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 490. This bipartisan 
legislation, sponsored by Senators Steve Daines, Jon Tester, and Jim 
Risch, would reinstate and extend the deadline for the construction of 
a hydroelectric project on the Gibson Dam in Augusta, Montana. 
Congressman Gianforte of Montana introduced companion legislation last 
year.
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensed the project in 
2014, but the developer was unable to commence construction before the 
statutory deadlines passed.
  S. 490 is substantially similar to legislation that, during the 
previous Congress, was reported unanimously by the Energy and Commerce 
Committee and passed the House with 410 votes. I know of no objections 
to the bill on this side of the aisle, and I ask my colleagues to join 
me in voting in support of S. 490.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Montana (Mr. Gianforte). I would note that he was the sponsor of the 
House companion bill. This is a Senate bill that we are taking up, but, 
obviously, he has great interest in it.
  I would note that we passed it with strong bipartisan support through 
the Energy Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
  Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, the Bureau of Reclamation built the 
original Gibson Dam on the Sun River between 1926 and 1929. The dam has 
served to capture spring snowmelt for irrigation and to prevent 
flooding in the region. This bill would extend the FERC license to 
build a 15-megawatt turbine at the base of the existing Gibson Dam.
  The ability to produce clean energy off Gibson Dam will benefit the 
county and the State by creating a new source of revenue. Furthermore, 
the construction of the powerhouse will bring jobs to Montana. Finally, 
the turbine will be built in such a way that helps the environment and 
enhances fish and wildlife opportunities. By granting an extension of 
this permit, we are giving a community in Montana a chance to create 
jobs and a benefit to the environment.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct the record. We were going to 
take this up and pass it like that, but the Senate acted first, which 
is why we are taking up the Senate bill. It does have bipartisan 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for it, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 490.
  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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