Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act

Bill: 113-hr-678
Sponsor: Rep. Tipton, Scott  R. [R-CO-3]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities.
 
Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance.
 
Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved work. 
 
Defines: (1) &quot;reserved work&quot; as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance have been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) &quot;transferred work&quot; as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance have been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district.
 
Exempts the small conduit hydropower development authorized by this Act from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands.
 
Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities (thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC]).
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.

action_date: 2013-03-25
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities.
 
Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance.
 
Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved work. 
 
Defines: (1) reserved work as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) transferred work as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district.
 
Exempts the small conduit hydropower development authorized by this Act from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands.
 
Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities. (Thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC].)
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.

action_date: 2013-04-10
text: 
Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities.
 
Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance.
 
Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved conduit. 
 
Defines: (1) reserved conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) transferred conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer the lease of power privilege to other parties if the irrigation district or water users association elects not to accept a lease of power privilege offer.
 
Requires the Bureau to apply its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to small conduit hydropower, except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands.
 
Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities. (Thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC].)
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.

action_date: 2013-05-13
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 10, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities.
 
Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance.
 
Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved conduit. 
 
Defines: (1) reserved conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) transferred conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer the lease of power privilege to other parties if the irrigation district or water users association elects not to accept a lease of power privilege offer.
 
Requires the Bureau to apply its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to small conduit hydropower, except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands.
 
Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities. (Thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC].)
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.

action_date: 2013-08-01
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 10, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities.
 
Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance.
 
Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved conduit. 
 
Defines: (1) reserved conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) transferred conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer the lease of power privilege to other parties if the irrigation district or water users association elects not to accept a lease of power privilege offer.
 
Requires the Bureau to apply its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to small conduit hydropower, except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands.
 
Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities. (Thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC].)
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.

action_date: 2013-08-09
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 10, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities.
 
Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance.
 
Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved conduit. 
 
Defines: (1) reserved conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) transferred conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district.
 
Requires the Secretary to offer the lease of power privilege to other parties if the irrigation district or water users association elects not to accept a lease of power privilege offer.
 
Requires the Bureau to apply its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to small conduit hydropower, except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands.
 
Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities. (Thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC].)
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-08-09
text: Became Public Law No: 113-24.
action_date: 2013-08-09
text: Became Public Law No: 113-24.
action_date: 2013-08-09
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-08-09
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-08-06
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-08-06
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-08-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6257)
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6257)
action_date: 2013-06-03
text: By Senator Wyden from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 113-39.
action_date: 2013-06-03
text: By Senator Wyden from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 113-39.
action_date: 2013-05-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 72.
action_date: 2013-05-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Wyden without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2013-05-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Wyden without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2013-05-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-24.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 416 - 7 (Roll no. 96).
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 416 - 7 (Roll no. 96).
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 194 - 226 (Roll no. 95).
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H1889)
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garamendi motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a section to the bill relating to Buy America provisions. The new section would require that, when practicable, all materials used for conduit hydropower generation be manufactured in the United States.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Mr. Garamendi moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources. (consideration: CR H1888; text: CR H1888)
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H1888)
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 678.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: The Chair announced that proceedings would now resume on amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 140, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Tipton No. 2 amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Napolitano No. 1 amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Napolitano demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 140, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Napolitano No. 1 amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 140, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Tipton No. 3 amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 678.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 140 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 678 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 140. (consideration: CR H1878-1890; text of measure as reported in House: CR H1884)
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Rule H. Res. 140 passed House.
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 140 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 678 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.
action_date: 2013-03-25
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 12.
action_date: 2013-03-25
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-24.
action_date: 2013-03-25
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-24.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 12.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Subcommittee on Water and Power Discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-05
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-02-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 113-24