19–006 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 112–373 

NEW YORK CITY NATURAL GAS SUPPLY 

ENHANCEMENT ACT 

JANUARY 23, 2012.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, from the Committee on Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2606] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 2606) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow 

the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in 

the Gateway National Recreation Area, and for other purposes, 

having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an 

amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement 

Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means an entity holding a permit issued under 

this Act. 

(2) LEASE.—The term ‘‘lease’’ means an agreement that authorizes the occupancy and use of certain designated premises for facilities associated with the 

project, particularly a meter and regulating station. 

(3) NATURAL GAS PIPELINE FACILITIES.—The term ‘‘natural gas pipeline facilities’’ means pipeline and related equipment necessary for the transmission and 

distribution of natural gas, such as meters and heating and pressure-regulating 

devices used in the transportation of natural gas. 

(4) PERMIT.—The term ‘‘permit’’ means any permits, rights-of-way, or any 

other authorizations necessary for the Secretary to authorize the construction, 

operation, and maintenance of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area. 

(5) PROJECT.—The term ‘‘project’’ means the natural gas pipeline facilities 

within Gateway National Recreation Area, including the meter and regulating 

station to be located at Floyd Bennett Field, that are part of the Rockaway DeVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:19 Jan 24, 2012 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\HR373.XXX HR373

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livery Lateral/Brooklyn Queens Interconnect Project, as further described in 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Docket No. PF09-8, and including authorized revisions to the project. 

(6) RENT.—The term ‘‘rent’’ means any payment to the Secretary pursuant to 

a lease for occupancy and use of designated premises to be made in such a manner and at such intervals as determined by the Secretary. 

(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior, 

acting through the Director of the National Park Service. 

SEC. 3. PERMITTING INSTRUMENTS FOR NATURAL GAS PIPELINE FACILITIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may issue permits to authorize the construction, 

operation, and maintenance of natural gas pipeline facilities, as provided by the 

project, within Gateway National Recreation Area. 

(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 

(1) Any rights-of-way or other permits issued for the natural gas pipeline facilities under this section shall be consistent with the laws and regulations generally applicable to utility rights-of-way within units of the National Park System. 

(2) Any permits issued under this section for the natural gas pipeline facilities 

shall be subject to such terms and conditions the Secretary deems appropriate. 

(3) The Secretary shall charge a fee for any permits issued under this section. 

The fees shall be based on fair market value and shall also include costs incurred by the National Park Service in processing a request for a permit; 

issuing a permit, if appropriate; and monitoring the permitted activities. 

(4) Any permits issued under this section shall be for a term of 10 years, subject to renewal with any changes to its terms and conditions mutually agreed 

upon. 

(c) ENFORCEMENT.—Failure to comply with, or a violation of, any term or condition of a permit may result in a citation, or fine, or the suspension or revocation 

of authorization to conduct the permitted activity. 

SEC. 4. LEASE OF BUILDINGS. 

The Secretary may enter into a non-competitive lease with any entity to allow the 

occupancy and use of buildings and associated properties on Floyd Bennett Field to 

house facilities associated with the project, particularly a meter and regulating station. Such lease shall— 

(1) otherwise be subject to National Park Service leasing regulations; 

(2) provide for the restoration and maintenance of the buildings and associated properties in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Treatment 

Standards for Historic Property (36 CFR Part 68), Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800), and any programmatic agreements; 

(3) provide for appropriate rent for occupancy and use of the property representing, at minimum but not limited to, fair market value; and 

(4) provide for monetary penalties for violations of the lease. 

SEC. 5. FEES. 

Any fees and rent collected pursuant to this Act shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 2606, as ordered reported, is to authorize 

the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National 

Recreation Area. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Due to increased demand for natural gas in New York City, New 

York, additional pipeline capacity is needed. To remedy this problem, New York City is working to place a pipeline through Gateway 

National Recreation Area. H.R. 2606 provides the National Park 

Service (NPS) with the authority to approve a pipeline through its 

jurisdiction. As part of an agreement reached with NPS, in exchange for permitting the pipeline, the Williams Company will restore and maintain abandoned aircraft hangers in Floyd Bennett 

Field which is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. One 


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hanger will house the pipeline meter station and the others will be 

for park purposes. 

During markup, the Natural Resources Committee adopted an 

amendment offered by Congressman Rob Bishop (R–UT) to make 

technical corrections to the bill. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 2606 was introduced on July 21, 2011, by Congressman Michael G. Grimm (R–NY). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 

on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. On September 15, 

2011, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On November 

17, 2011, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the 

bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public 

Lands was discharged by unanimous consent. Congressman Rob 

Bishop (R–UT) offered amendment designated .989 to the bill; the 

amendment was adopted by unanimous consent. The bill, as 

amended, was then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 2606—New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act 

H.R. 2606 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue 

permits to construct a natural gas pipeline in Gateway National 

Recreation Area of New York. The bill also would authorize the 

Secretary to collect rent from leases of any National Park Service 

(NPS) land or buildings associated with the pipeline. Any amounts 

collected would be deposited in the U.S. Treasury as offsetting receipts (a credit against direct spending); therefore, pay-as-you-go 

procedures apply. Enacting H.R. 2606 would not affect revenues. 

Based on information provided by the agency regarding proceeds 

from similar activities, CBO estimates that any offsetting receipts 

from leasing NPS land or buildings associated with a pipeline in 

the Gateway National Area would total less than $150,000 a year. 


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H.R. 2606 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required by 

clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, 

this bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or 

tax expenditures. Based on information provided by the agency regarding proceeds from similar activities, CBO estimates that any 

offsetting receipts from leasing National Park Service land or 

buildings associated with a pipeline in the Gateway National 

Recreation Area would total less than $150,000 a year. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill, as ordered reported, is to authorize the Secretary of the 

Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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