National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Clarification Act

Bill: 110-hr-829
Sponsor: Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10]
Introduced: 2007-02-05 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Arts, Culture, Religion
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commemorations
Cultural property
Department of Energy
Electric power transmission
Eminent domain
Energy demand
Engineering
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Historic sites
History
Independent regulatory commissions
Infrastructure
Landscape protection
Law
Licenses
Military parks
National parks
Nature conservation
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Right-of-way
Science, Technology, Communications
State laws
State parks
Technological innovations
Transportation and Public Works
Underground construction

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: 
National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Clarification Act - Amends the Federal Power Act to revise the factors the Secretary of Energy may consider in determining whether to designate a national interest electric transmission corridor.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to consider whether the designation would have potential impacts on natural values and special places considered to be in the national interest. Repeals authority to consider whether designation would serve U.S. energy independence.
 
Directs the Secretary, before a corridor designation, to analyze all alternatives measures that could address energy transmission constraints or congestion.
 
Prohibits a corridor designation from encompassing, within one mile of their respective boundaries, lands on which development is prohibited or limited to protect scenic, natural, cultural, or historic resources.
 
Revises conditions for issuance of permits by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for construction or modification of electric transmission facilities in such a corridor. Requires that a state commission or other state entity with authority to approve facility siting has: (1) disapproved the siting in a decision that FERC considers an abuse of discretion; or (2) unreasonably withheld or delayed making a decision for at least a year.
 
Requires each permit application to include an engineering study of the feasibility of placing the line underground.
 
Requires treatment as a taking for which just compensation is due of a diminution of 10% or more in any property value resulting from acquisition of a right-of-way and the construction of a facility on it.
 
Requires each agency to issue its own record of decision in order to ensure that its environmental review complies with statutory mandates and regulatory requirements.
 
Repeals any right to appeal to the President an agency denial or failure to act regarding federal authorization for a transmission facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E256-257)
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Introduced in House