Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-4273
Sponsor: Rep. Olson, Pete [R-TX-22]
Introduced: 2012-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Electric power generation and transmission
Emergency planning and evacuation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Pollution liability
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: 
Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Power Act to provide that: (1) an emergency order issued under such Act should require generation, delivery, interchange, or transmission of electric energy only during times necessary to meet such emergency and serve the public interest, should, to the extent reasonable, be consistent with any other applicable federal law, including any environmental law or regulation, and should endeavor to minimize any adverse environmental impacts; and (2) any omission or action taken by a party to comply with such an order that results in noncompliance with any federal, state, or local environmental law or regulation shall not be considered a violation of, or subject such party to any civil or criminal liability under, such law or regulation.

action_date: 2012-08-01
text: 
Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that any emergency order issued under such Act for the interconnection of facilities for the generation, transmission, and sale of electric energy, that may result in a conflict with a requirement of any environmental law, shall: (1) require generation, delivery, interchange, or transmission of electric energy only during hours necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest; and (2) to the maximum extent practical, be consistent with any other applicable environmental law and minimize any adverse environmental impacts. 
 
Provides that any omission or action taken by a party to comply with such an order that results in noncompliance with any environmental law shall not: (1) be considered a violation of such law; or (2) subject such party to any requirement of, or any civil or criminal liability under, such law.
 
Requires such an order that may result in a conflict with environmental law to expire within 90 days after it is issued. Authorizes FERC to renew or reissue such order for subsequent periods, not to exceed 90 days each, as necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest. 
 
Requires FERC, in renewing or reissuing such order, to: (1) consult with the primary federal agency with expertise in the environmental interest protected by such law and include in any such order conditions determined to be necessary to minimize any adverse environmental impacts, and (2) make such conditions available to the public. Authorizes FERC to exclude such a condition from the order if such condition would prevent the order from adequately addressing the emergency.
 
Authorizes, during an emergency, a municipality engaged in the transmission or sale of electric energy and not otherwise subject to FERC's jurisdiction to make temporary connections with public utilities subject to FERC's jurisdiction and construct temporary facilities for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce as may be necessary or appropriate to meet such emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5602-5603)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5602-5603)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4273.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5602-5604)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Mr. Olson moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-07-09
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 425.
action_date: 2012-07-09
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 112-586.
action_date: 2012-07-09
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 112-586.
action_date: 2012-06-20
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
action_date: 2012-06-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2012-05-09
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2012-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: Introduced in House