[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 19870-19871]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    EXTENDING DEADLINE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN 
                 HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS IN CONNECTICUT

  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 971) to extend the deadline for commencement of construction 
of certain hydroelectric projects in Connecticut, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 971

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY 
                   COMMISSION PROJECT NUMBERED 11547.

       (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 11547, the Commission shall, upon 
     enactment of this Act, extend the time period during which 
     the licensee is required to commence the construction of the 
     project to and including May 30, 2007. Thereafter the 
     Commission shall, 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 that section and the Commission's procedures under that 
     section, extend the time period during which the licensee is 
     required to commence the construction of the project for 2 
     consecutive 2-year periods.
       (b) Reinstatement of Expired License.--The Commission shall 
     reinstate the license for Federal Energy Regulatory 
     Commission project numbered 11547 effective as of the date of 
     its expiration, and the first extension authorized under 
     subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of such 
     expiration.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY 
                   COMMISSION PROJECTS NUMBERED 10822 AND 10823.

       (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 projects numbered 10822 and 10823, the Commission 
     shall, upon enactment of this Act, extend the time period 
     during which the licensee is required to commence the 
     construction of each such project to and including May 30, 
     2007. Thereafter the Commission shall, at the request of the 
     licensee for each such project and after reasonable notice, 
     in accordance with the good faith, due diligence, and public 
     interest requirements of that section and the Commission's 
     procedures under that section, extend the time period during 
     which the licensee is required to commence the construction 
     of the project for 2 consecutive 2-year periods.
       (b) Reinstatement of Expired License.--The Commission shall 
     reinstate the licenses for Federal Energy Regulatory 
     Commission projects numbered 10822 and 10823 effective as of 
     the date of their expiration, and the first extension 
     authorized under subsection (a) shall take effect on the date 
     of such expiration.

  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 on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Idaho?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 971, a bill to provide 
license extensions of time to begin construction of three hydroelectric 
projects in Connecticut: the 440 kilowatt Hale project, the 373 
kilowatt Collinsville Upper and the 1.1 megawatt Collinsville Lower 
projects. The bill extends the start time period for construction until 
May 30, 2007, for all three projects, and also authorizes the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time and the start date by 
two additional 2-year periods.
  These renewable hydroelectric projects will provide a boost to the 
local economy, remove river debris and enhance fishery resources by 
constructing fish ladders. They also provide a valuable new resource of 
hydroelectric energy in the New England area.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation which would 
authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the 
commencement of construction deadline for three hydroelectric projects 
in the State of Connecticut. The legislation would enable the 
Commission to extend until May of 2007 the deadline, with the ability 
to issue two additional 2-year extensions, for commencing construction 
on the proposed Hale hydroelectric project. In addition, the bill would 
require the FERC to extend the commencement of construction deadlines 
for the Collinsville Upper hydroelectric project and the Collinsville 
Lower hydroelectric project.
  This measure is noncontroversial and was approved by voice vote of 
the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It is my pleasure to urge its 
approval by the House.
  Madam Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from Idaho, I have no 
additional requests for time, and seeing that he has one, we will yield 
back the balance of our time. I am sure these will be friendly 
comments.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
consideration.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons).
  Mr. SIMMONS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
971, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of certain 
hydroelectric plants in my State of Connecticut. I thank the gentleman 
for yielding time; and I also thank the chairman of the full committee, 
Chairman Barton, for his leadership and work on this important 
legislation.

[[Page 19871]]

  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved licenses for 
three hydroelectric plants in Connecticut. Unfortunately, due to 
reasons beyond their control, Summit Hydroelectric has been unable to 
begin construction on these approved projects. The delays have been 
caused by regulatory changes and lease negotiations with the State of 
Connecticut.
  We know that section 13 of the Federal Power Act requires that the 
construction of a licensed project begin with 2 years from the date the 
license is issued. FERC is authorized under the law to extend this 
deadline upon a finding that such extension is ``not incompatible with 
the public interest.'' FERC did provide a one-time extension, but more 
time is needed, and that is why we have this legislation before us here 
tonight, to enable these projects to go forward.
  Like two other operational hydroelectric facilities located in my 
district in eastern Connecticut, these facilities will benefit local 
communities by adding historical value, because many of the dams are of 
historic nature, increasing property tax revenues to the town and 
providing for economic stimulation.
  In addition, the facilities would significantly reduce trash and 
pollution in the rivers. For example, one such facility is estimated to 
remove about three tons of trash each year from the rivers through the 
screening process. Each of these facilities will remove 36 tons a year 
of sulfur dioxide pollution, 15 tons per year of nitrogen oxide 
pollution, and 5,000 tons a year of carbon dioxide pollution. So these 
facilities are not only important to generate electricity, they are 
also important to clean up the rivers and to clean up the air. In 
addition, they will all include fish ladders that are beneficial to our 
native salmon migration.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, we know that increasing renewable energy 
sources has never been more important. Hydropower serves to help lessen 
our dependence on imported oil, which is paramount to increasing our 
Nation's security and reducing pollution.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for the 
information that he has given us; and I appreciate his personal 
perspective on the continuation of the licenses for these dams and the 
construction.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge the 
immediate passage of H.R. 971.
  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. 971.
  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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