[Senate Report 104-313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 488
104th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     104-313
_______________________________________________________________________


           AUTHORIZING EXTENTION OF TIME LIMITATION FOR 
 
               A FERC-ISSUED HYDROELECTRIC LICENSE

                                _______
                                

                 June 28, 1996.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1014]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the Act (H.R. 1014) to authorize extension of time 
limitation for a FERC-issued hydroelectric license, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the Act do pass.

                         purpose of the measure

    The purpose of H.R. 1014 is to extend the deadline 
contained in the Federal Power Act for the commencement of 
construction of a FERC-licensed hydroelectric project located 
in the State of Washington.

                          background and need

    Section 13 of the Federal Power Act requires a licensee to 
commence the construction of a hydroelectric project within two 
years of the date of the issuance of the license. That deadline 
can be extended by the FERC one time for as much as two 
additional years. If construction has not commenced at the end 
of the time period, the license is terminated by the FERC 
pursuant to Section 13 of the Federal Power Act. Thus, in the 
absence of this legislation, the FERC would terminate the 
license at the end of the time period authorized under the 
Federal Power Act for commencement of construction.
    H.R. 1014 would extend the time required to begin 
construction of hydroelectric project numbered 3701 for an 
additional three consecutive two-year periods. It also 
authorizes and directs the FERC to reinstate the license if it 
is terminated prior to the enactment of this legislation.

                          legislative history

    H.R. 1014 passed the House of Representatives on November 
13, 1995.
    A companion measure, S. 461, was reported by the Committee 
on April 27, 1995. Report No. 104-73, Senate Calendar No. 96.

            committee recommendation and tabulation of votes

    The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 
open business session on June 19, 1996, by a unanimous voice 
vote with a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass the 
bill as described herein.

                   cost and budgetary considerations

    The following estimate of costs of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, June 26, 1996.
Hon. Frank H. Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed H.R. 1014, an act to authorize extension of time 
limitation for a FERC-issued hydroelectric license, as ordered 
reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources on June 19, 1996. CBO estimates that enacting this 
legislation would have no net effect on the federal budget. The 
act contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in Public Law 104-4, and would impose no direct costs 
on state, local, or tribal governments.
    The act would extend the deadline for construction of a 
hydroelectric project currently subject to licensing by the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This provision may 
have a minor impact of FERC's workload. Because FERC recovers 
100 percent of its costs through user fees, any change in its 
administrative costs would be offset by an equal change in the 
fees that the commission charges. Hence, the act's provisions 
would have no net budgetary impact.
    Because FERC's administrative costs are limited in annual 
appropriations, enactment of this legislation would not affect 
direct spending or receipts. Therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures would not apply to H.R. 1014.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Kim Cawley.
            Sincerely,
                                         June E. O'Neill, Director.

                      regulatory impact evaluation

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out this measure.
    The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of 
imposing Government-established standards or significant 
economic responsibilities on private individuals and 
businesses.
    No personal information would be collected in administering 
the provisions of the bill. Therefore, there would be no impact 
on personal privacy.
    Little, if any additional paperwork would result from the 
enactment of this measure.

                        changes in existing law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no 
changes in existing law are made by H.R. 1014, as ordered 
reported.

                                
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