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 con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To provide for a study of the potential for increasing hydro-
electric power production at existing Federal facilities, 
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Hydroelectric 
and Environmental Enhancement Act of 2004’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that—
(1) Federal multi-purpose dams and reservoirs 
with hydroelectric generation provide necessary 
power to respective regions, enhance recreational 
pursuits and help meet various environmental needs; 
(2) hydroelectric generation is a renewable re-
source that plays a significant role in meeting the 
growing power needs of many communities through-
out the Nation; 
(3) Federal dams along the Savannah River 
generate electricity for consumers who depend on 
such power at peak times and provide recreational 
and environmental benefits to the region; 
(4) a number of technological advancements 
have been made at these and other Federal hydro-
power facilities to provide even greater protections to 
fish and other aquatic resources; and 
(5) the value of these and other Federal hydro-
power facilities can be further enhanced to optimize 
more hydroelectric generation and environmental 
protection. 
SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT ON INCREASING ELECTRIC 
POWER PRODUCTION CAPABILITY OF EXIST-
ING FEDERAL FACILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior and 
the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Ad-
ministrator of each Federal power marketing administra-
tion, shall conduct a study of the potential for creating 
or increasing electric power production capability at exist-
ing facilities under their administrative jurisdiction. 
(b) CONTENT.—The study under this section shall in-
clude identification and description in detail of each facil-
ity that is capable, with or without modification, of pro-
ducing additional hydroelectric power, including esti-
mation of the existing potential for the facility to generate 
hydroelectric power. 
(c) REPORT.—Each Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress a report on the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the study under this section by not later 
than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. Each Secretary shall include the following in the re-
port: 
(1) The identifications, descriptions, and esti-
mations referred to in subsection (b). 
(2) A description of activities the Secretary is 
currently conducting or considering, or that could be 
considered, to produce additional hydroelectric power 
from each identified facility. 
(3) A summary of action that has already been 
taken by the Secretary to produce additional hydro-
electric power from each identified facility.
(4) The costs to install, upgrade, or modify 
equipment or take other actions to produce new or 
additional hydroelectric power from each identified 
facility and the level of Federal power customer in-
volvement in the Secretary’s determination of such 
costs. 
(5) The benefits that would be achieved by such 
installation, upgrade, modification, or other action, 
including quantified estimates of any additional en-
ergy or capacity from each facility identified under 
subsection (b). 
(6) A description of actions that are planned, 
underway, or might reasonably be considered to cre-
ate or increase hydroelectric power production by re-
placing turbines. 
(7) The impact of increased hydroelectric power 
production on irrigation, fish, wildlife, Indian tribes, 
river health, water quality, navigation, recreation, 
fishing, and flood control. 
(8) Any additional recommendations the Sec-
retary considers advisable to increase hydroelectric 
power production from, and reduce costs and im-
prove efficiency at, facilities under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INCREASED 
OPERATIONAL 
EFFICIENCIES 
IN 
HYDRO-
ELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior and 
the Secretary of the Army shall conduct a study of oper-
ational methods and water scheduling techniques at all hy-
droelectric power plants under the administrative jurisdic-
tion of each Secretary that have an electric power produc-
tion capacity greater than 50 megawatts, to—
(1) determine whether such power plants and 
associated river systems are operated so as to opti-
mize energy and capacity capabilities; and 
(2) identify measures that can be taken to im-
prove operational flexibility at such plants to achieve 
such optimization. 
(b) REPORT.—Each Secretary shall submit a report 
on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the 
study under this section by not later than 18 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, including a sum-
mary of the determinations and identifications under 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a). Each Secretary 
shall include in the report the impact of optimized hydro-
electric power production on irrigation, fish, wildlife, In-
dian tribes, river health, water quality, navigation, recre-
ation, fishing, and flood control.
(c) COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL POWER MAR-
KETING ADMINISTRATIONS.—Each Secretary shall coordi-
nate with the Administrator of each Federal power mar-
keting administration in determining how the value of 
electric power produced by each hydroelectric power facil-
ity that produces power marketed by the administration 
can be optimized.
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