I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5044

To provide for a study of the potential for increasing hydroelectric power 

production at existing Federal facilities, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2004

Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. NORWOOD) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to 

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To provide for a study of the potential for increasing hydroelectric power production at existing Federal facilities, 

and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Hydroelectric 

5 and Environmental Enhancement Act of 2004’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that—
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1 (1) Federal multi-purpose dams and reservoirs 

2 with hydroelectric generation provide necessary 

3 power to respective regions, enhance recreational 

4 pursuits and help meet various environmental needs; 

5 (2) hydroelectric generation is a renewable re6 source that plays a significant role in meeting the 

7 growing power needs of many communities through8 out the Nation; 

9 (3) Federal dams along the Savannah River 

10 generate electricity for consumers who depend on 

11 such power at peak times and provide recreational 

12 and environmental benefits to the region; 

13 (4) a number of technological advancements 

14 have been made at these and other Federal hydro15 power facilities to provide even greater protections to 

16 fish and other aquatic resources; and 

17 (5) the value of these and other Federal hydro18 power facilities can be further enhanced to optimize 

19 more hydroelectric generation and environmental 

20 protection. 

21 SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT ON INCREASING ELECTRIC 

22 POWER PRODUCTION CAPABILITY OF EXIST23 ING FEDERAL FACILITIES. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior and 

25 the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Ad-
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1 ministrator of each Federal power marketing administra2 tion, shall conduct a study of the potential for creating 

3 or increasing electric power production capability at exist4 ing facilities under their administrative jurisdiction. 

5 (b) CONTENT.—The study under this section shall in6 clude identification and description in detail of each facil7 ity that is capable, with or without modification, of pro8 ducing additional hydroelectric power, including esti9 mation of the existing potential for the facility to generate 

10 hydroelectric power. 

11 (c) REPORT.—Each Secretary shall submit to the 

12 Congress a report on the findings, conclusions, and rec13 ommendations of the study under this section by not later 

14 than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this 

15 Act. Each Secretary shall include the following in the re16 port: 

17 (1) The identifications, descriptions, and esti18 mations referred to in subsection (b). 

19 (2) A description of activities the Secretary is 

20 currently conducting or considering, or that could be 

21 considered, to produce additional hydroelectric power 

22 from each identified facility. 

23 (3) A summary of action that has already been 

24 taken by the Secretary to produce additional hydro25 electric power from each identified facility. 
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1 (4) The costs to install, upgrade, or modify 

2 equipment or take other actions to produce new or 

3 additional hydroelectric power from each identified 

4 facility and the level of Federal power customer in5 volvement in the Secretary’s determination of such 

6 costs. 

7 (5) The benefits that would be achieved by such 

8 installation, upgrade, modification, or other action, 

9 including quantified estimates of any additional en10 ergy or capacity from each facility identified under 

11 subsection (b). 

12 (6) A description of actions that are planned, 

13 underway, or might reasonably be considered to cre14 ate or increase hydroelectric power production by re15 placing turbines. 

16 (7) The impact of increased hydroelectric power 

17 production on irrigation, fish, wildlife, Indian tribes, 

18 river health, water quality, navigation, recreation, 

19 fishing, and flood control. 

20 (8) Any additional recommendations the Sec21 retary considers advisable to increase hydroelectric 

22 power production from, and reduce costs and im23 prove efficiency at, facilities under the jurisdiction of 

24 the Secretary. 
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1 SEC. 4. STUDY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INCREASED 

2 OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES IN HYDRO3 ELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior and 

5 the Secretary of the Army shall conduct a study of oper6 ational methods and water scheduling techniques at all hy7 droelectric power plants under the administrative jurisdic8 tion of each Secretary that have an electric power produc9 tion capacity greater than 50 megawatts, to—

10 (1) determine whether such power plants and 

11 associated river systems are operated so as to opti12 mize energy and capacity capabilities; and 

13 (2) identify measures that can be taken to im14 prove operational flexibility at such plants to achieve 

15 such optimization. 

16 (b) REPORT.—Each Secretary shall submit a report 

17 on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the 

18 study under this section by not later than 18 months after 

19 the date of the enactment of this Act, including a sum20 mary of the determinations and identifications under 

21 paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a). Each Secretary 

22 shall include in the report the impact of optimized hydro23 electric power production on irrigation, fish, wildlife, In24 dian tribes, river health, water quality, navigation, recre25 ation, fishing, and flood control. 
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1 (c) COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL POWER MAR2 KETING ADMINISTRATIONS.—Each Secretary shall coordi3 nate with the Administrator of each Federal power mar4 keting administration in determining how the value of 

5 electric power produced by each hydroelectric power facil6 ity that produces power marketed by the administration 

7 can be optimized.

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