A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.

Bill: 115-s-724
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2017-03-27
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Alternative and renewable resources

Dams and canals

Electric power generation and transmission

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Licensing and registrations
Latest action: action_date: 2018-07-03
text: Held at the desk.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a preliminary permit to a hydropower construction license applicant for up to four years, instead of three.</p> <p>FERC may extend a preliminary permit once for no more than four years and may issue a new permit after the end of an extension if it determines there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of an additional permit.</p> <p>Additionally, FERC may extend the time a licensee has to commence construction on a project for up to eight years.Under current law, FERC may extend the license for no more than two years.</p>

action_date: 2017-05-24
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p>(Sec.1)This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a preliminary permit to a hydropower construction license applicant for up to four years, instead of three.</p> <p>FERC may extend a preliminary permit once for no more than four years and may issue a new permit after the end of an extension if it determines there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of an additional permit.</p> <p>Additionally, FERC may extend the time a licensee has to commence construction on a project for up to eight years.Under current law, FERC may extend the license for no more than two years.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 724 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 27, 2017 Ms. Murkowski introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.

1. Modernizing authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals (a) Preliminary permits Section 5 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 798 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking three and inserting 4 ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking Commission may extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 2 additional years beyond the 3 years and inserting the following: Commission may— (1) extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 4 additional years beyond the 4 years ; (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) after the end of an extension period granted under paragraph (1), issue an additional permit to the permittee if the Commission determines that there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of the additional permit. . (b) Time limit for construction of project works Section 13 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 806 ) is amended in the second sentence by striking once but not longer than two additional years and inserting for not more than 8 additional years, .

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 100 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 724 [Report No. 115–81] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 27, 2017 Ms. Murkowski introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources May 24, 2017 Reported by Ms. Murkowski , without amendment A BILL To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.

1. Modernizing authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals (a) Preliminary permits Section 5 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 798 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking three and inserting 4 ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking Commission may extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 2 additional years beyond the 3 years and inserting the following: Commission may— (1) extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 4 additional years beyond the 4 years ; (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) after the end of an extension period granted under paragraph (1), issue an additional permit to the permittee if the Commission determines that there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of the additional permit. . (b) Time limit for construction of project works Section 13 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 806 ) is amended in the second sentence by striking once but not longer than two additional years and inserting for not more than 8 additional years, .

May 24, 2017 Reported without amendment

tv_txt: 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 724 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.

1. Modernizing authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals (a) Preliminary permits Section 5 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 798 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking three and inserting 4 ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking Commission may extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 2 additional years beyond the 3 years and inserting the following: Commission may— (1) extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 4 additional years beyond the 4 years ; (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) after the end of an extension period granted under paragraph (1), issue an additional permit to the permittee if the Commission determines that there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of the additional permit. . (b) Time limit for construction of project works Section 13 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 806 ) is amended in the second sentence by striking once but not longer than two additional years and inserting for not more than 8 additional years, . (c) Obligation for Payment of Annual Charges Any obligation of a licensee or exemptee for the payment of annual charges under section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 803(e) ) for a project that has not commenced construction as of the date of enactment of this Act shall commence not earlier than the latest of— (1) the date by which the licensee or exemptee is required to commence construction; or (2) the date of any extension of the deadline under paragraph (1).

Passed the Senate June 28, 2018. Secretary