[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 19868-19869]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TYGART DAM PROJECT HYDROELECTRIC LICENSE EXTENSION BILL

  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4417) to provide for the reinstatement of a license for a 
certain Federal Energy Regulatory project.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4417

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

     SECTION 1. REINSTATEMENT OF LICENSE FOR FEDERAL ENERGY 
                   REGULATORY COMMISSION PROJECT.

       (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 project numbered 7307 of the Federal 
     Energy Regulatory Commission, the Commission shall, upon the 
     request of the licensee for the project, in accordance with 
     that section (including the good faith, due diligence, and 
     public interest requirements of that section and the 
     procedures established under that section), extend the time 
     required for commencement of construction of the project 
     until December 31, 2007.
       (b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall apply to the 
     project upon the expiration of any extension, issued by the 
     Commission under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 
     U.S.C. 806), of the time required for commencement of 
     construction of the project.
       (c) Reinstatement of Expired License.--If a license of the 
     Commission for the project expires before the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Commission shall--
       (1) reinstate the license effective as of the date of the 
     expiration of the license; and
       (2) extend the time required for commencement of 
     construction of the project until December 31, 2007.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Otter) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho.


                             General Leave

  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to insert extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Idaho?

[[Page 19869]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 4417, the Tygart Dam Project Hydroelectric 
License Extension Bill, extends the time in the hydroelectric license 
to start construction on the project until December 31, 2007. This is 
another project that has experienced delays. In this case, unfavorable 
market conditions delayed the start of the project. Today, those 
conditions have been resolved and the project is ready to begin. The 
project will be built at an existing dam, thus minimizing impacts. It 
is anticipated that the project will provide a substantial economic 
boost to the city of Grafton, West Virginia, as well as valuable 
hydroelectric power, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4417, legislation which would require the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend, upon the licensee's 
request and subject to compliance with commission procedures, the 
deadline for the commencement of construction of the proposed Tygart 
Dam Hydroelectric Project in West Virginia. That extension in this bill 
would be for a period of 1 year.
  The project was originally licensed in 1989, but has not begun 
construction due to a lack of utility contracts in order to make the 
project financially viable. Those dynamics have now changed and the 
contractor is actively negotiating for the purchase of electricity to 
be produced by the facility.
  The project enjoys strong local support in the community in West 
Virginia in which it will be located. The bill was also approved by the 
Energy and Commerce Committee by voice vote and is noncontroversial, 
and I urge approval of the legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my time, 
and I urge the immediate passage of H.R. 4417.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4417.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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