In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Center for Excellence in 
Research and Development Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Due to the end of the Cold War, the United States has 
        not recently conducted underground nuclear testing at the 
        Department of Energy facility known as the Nevada Test Site, 
        Nevada, and the United States does not plan to conduct such 
        testing in the foreseeable future.
            (2) Because the world political situation is ever-changing 
        and dangerous, it is imperative that the United States remain 
        strong militarily and continue to be a nuclear superpower.
            (3) It is imperative that portions of the Nevada Test Site 
        be maintained in a full state of readiness to ensure the 
        capability of the nuclear arsenal of the United States.
            (4) The Nevada Test Site is in a beneficial location for 
        activities suitable for research and development of emerging 
        technologies that will be important to the United States in the 
        21st century.
            (5) Technology development carried out at the Nevada Test 
        Site should include both private-sector and military projects.
            (6) The Nevada Test Site can support the stewardship of the 
        Nation's nuclear weapons stockpile, the nonproliferation of 
        nuclear weapons, and the technological competitiveness of the 
        United States by providing the environment for nuclear and non-
        nuclear test and demonstration experiments and projects for 
        government, industry, and academia.
            (7) The Nevada Test Site can provide the infrastructure to 
        support industrial and civilian tests of environmentally 
        demanding projects and programs in addition to maintaining its 
        readiness capability in support of the nuclear arsenal.
            (8) The Nevada Test Site can support the testing and 
        demonstration of environmental clean-up technologies by 
        government and industry.
            (9) The Nevada Test Site can support the testing of 
        alternative and renewable energy sources for environmentally 
        clean and economically competitive replacements for traditional 
        fossil energy sources and uses in many parts of Nevada and in 
        the United States as a whole.
            (10) The Nevada Test Site can provide support for 
        disarmament activities such as the demonstration of rocket 
        motor destruction technology and conventional munitions 
        destruction technology.
            (11) The Nevada Test Site can support non-proliferation 
        experiments in disablement, nuclear forensics, sensors, and 
        verification and monitoring.
            (12) The Nevada Test Site can support treaty-compliant 
        experiments for stockpile stewardship purposes.
            (13) The size and remoteness of the Nevada Test Site make 
        the Nevada Test Site well-suited for a multitude of activities 
        associated with the restructuring of the United States 
        military.
            (14) The Nevada Test Site can also support non-
        proliferation, counter-proliferation, and counter-terrorism 
        activities.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to ensure full operational readiness of the underground 
        nuclear testing facilities and infrastructure of the Nevada 
        Test Site;
            (2) to ensure an appropriate level of funds for such 
        readiness to be maintained;
            (3) to create a National Test and Demonstration Center of 
        Excellence at the Nevada Test Site for the promotion of 
        disarmament, demilitarization, alternative and renewable energy 
        sources, the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, counter-
        proliferation of nuclear weapons, sensor development, and 
        environmentally sensitive technologies; and
            (4) to ensure the availability of the Nevada Test Site, 
        within appropriate restrictions, for use by private-sector 
        industries seeking to make use of the inherent qualities that 
        make the Nevada Test Site the greatest outdoor laboratory in 
        the world.

SEC. 4. MAINTENANCE OF READINESS CAPABILITY OF NEVADA TEST SITE.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--The amount referred to in paragraph (2) is 
        hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy 
        for fiscal year 1995 and each fiscal year thereafter to 
        maintain the operational readiness of the underground nuclear 
        testing facilities and infrastructure of the Nevada Test Site.
            (2) Authorized amount.--The amount referred to in paragraph 
        (1) is not less than the amount appropriated to the Secretary 
        of Energy for fiscal year 1992 to maintain the operational 
        readiness of the underground nuclear testing facilities and 
        infrastructure of the Nevada Test Site.
    (b) Staffing Levels.--The Secretary of Energy shall maintain a 
staffing level at the Nevada Test Site that the Secretary considers 
sufficient to carry out activities under this Act in addition to any 
other activities conducted by the Department of Energy at the Nevada 
Test Site.
    (c) Infrastructure Assessments and Activities.--The Secretary of 
Energy, through the Nevada Test Site Operations Office, shall carry out 
any infrastructure assessments and activities necessary to accommodate 
new projects and initiatives at the Nevada Test Site.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL TEST AND DEMONSTRATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the 
Department of Energy a National Test and Demonstration Center of 
Excellence (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Center''), to be 
located at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada.
    (b) Purpose.--It shall be the purpose of the Center to promote 
disarmament, demilitarization, alternative and renewable energy 
sources, the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, counter-proliferation 
of nuclear weapons, sensor development, and environmentally sensitive 
technologies.
    (c) Activities Related to Alternative and Renewable Energy 
Sources.--The Center shall carry out the following testing and 
demonstration activities that are related to alternative and renewable 
energy sources:
            (1) The characterization of solar and geothermal resources 
        at the Nevada Test Site.
            (2) The development of alternative and renewable energy 
        sources, including, as a goal of the Center, the development 
        and completion of two 100-megawatt solar power plants by the 
        year 2000.
            (3) The conduct of a National Alternative-Fueled Vehicles 
        Program, the objective of which shall be to demonstrate the 
        regional use of natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen as 
        vehicle fuels.
    (d) Activities Related to Disarmament and Demilitarization.--The 
Center shall carry out testing and demonstration activities that are 
related to changes occurring in United States military as a result of 
the end of the Cold War, including activities--
            (1) that involve the demilitarization of large rocket motor 
        and conventional ordnance;
            (2) that assist in disarmament and demilitarization, 
        generally; and
            (3) that test and demonstrate the nonmilitary application 
        of technologies and resources the military application of which 
        has decreased or otherwise changed due to disarmament and 
        demilitarization.
    (e) Activities Related to Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship.--The 
Center shall carry out testing and demonstration activities related to 
the stewardship of the nuclear stockpile of the United States. Such 
activities shall include--
            (1) the conduct of experiments that assist in monitoring 
        compliance with international agreements on the 
        nonproliferation of nuclear weapons;
            (2) the provision of support to the Department of Energy 
        nuclear weapons complex;
            (3) the conduct of programs for the Department of Energy 
        and the Department of Defense to develop simulator technologies 
        for nuclear weapons design and effects, including advanced 
        hydrodynamic simulators, inertial confinement fusion test 
        facilities, and nuclear weapons effects simulators; and
            (4) the conduct of the stockpile stewardship program 
        established pursuant to section 3138 of the National Defense 
        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (107 Stat. 1946; Public 
        Law 103-160).
    (f) Activities Related to Nonproliferation.--The Center shall carry 
out experiments related to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, 
including experiments with respect to disablement, nuclear forensics, 
sensors, and verification and monitoring.
    (g) Activities Related to Counter-Proliferation.--The Center shall 
carry out experiments related to the counter-proliferation of nuclear 
weapons.
    (h) Activities Related to Environmental Technologies.--The Center 
shall carry out testing and demonstration activities related to the 
development of environmental technologies, including--
            (1) the demonstration of technologies concerning the 
        remediation of toxic and hazardous chemicals; and
            (2) the conduct of training activities pertaining to 
        emergency response to hazardous and toxic accidents and 
        emergencies.
    (i) Other Activities.--The Center may carry out the testing and 
demonstration of any other technology which, in the determination of 
the Secretary of Energy, is appropriate for testing and demonstration 
at the Nevada Test Site.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Except as provided in section 4, there is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for fiscal year 1997 such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

Output: National Center for Excellence in Research and Development Act of 1996 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Energy for FY 1995 and beyond to maintain the operational readiness of the underground nuclear testing facilities and infrastructure of the Nevada Test Site. 
Establishes within the Department of Energy a national Test and Demonstration Center of Excellence at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada, to implement testing and demonstration activities related to:  (1) certain alternative and renewable energy sources, including solar and geothermal energy, as well as natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen as components of a National Alternative-Fueled Vehicles Program; (2) certain changes in the U.S. military as a result of the end of the Cold War, including demilitarization and disarmament activities and the nonmilitary application of military technologies and resources; (3) stewardship of the Federal nuclear stockpile; (4) non-proliferation and counter-proliferation of nuclear weapons; and (5) development of certain environmental technologies, including technologies for remediation of toxic and hazardous chemicals, and activities pertaining to emergency response to hazardous and toxic accidents.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Hydropower Act''.

SEC. 2. CLOSED-LOOP PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.

    Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 34. CLOSED-LOOP PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.

    ``(a) Expedited Licensing Process for Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--As provided in this section, the 
        Commission may issue and amend licenses and preliminary 
        permits, as appropriate, for closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects.
            ``(2) Rule.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue a rule 
        establishing an expedited process for issuing and amending 
        licenses and preliminary permits for closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects under this section.
            ``(3) Interagency task force.--In establishing the 
        expedited process under this section, the Commission shall 
        convene an interagency task force, with appropriate Federal and 
        State agencies and Indian tribes represented, to coordinate the 
        regulatory processes associated with the authorizations 
        required to construct and operate closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects.
            ``(4) Length of process.--The Commission shall ensure that 
        the expedited process under this section will result in final 
        decision on an application for a license by not later than 2 
        years after receipt of a completed application for such 
        license.
    ``(b) Dam Safety.--Before issuing any license for a closed-loop 
pumped storage project, the Commission shall assess the safety of 
existing dams and other structures related to the project (including 
possible consequences associated with failure of such structures).
    ``(c) Exemptions From Other Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In issuing or amending a license or 
        preliminary permit pursuant to the expedited process 
        established under this section, the Commission may grant an 
        exemption from any other requirement of this part with respect 
        to any part of the closed-loop pumped storage project (not 
        including any dam or other impoundment).
            ``(2) Consultation.--In granting an exemption under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall consult with the United 
        States Fish and Wildlife Service and the State agency 
        exercising administration over the fish and wildlife resources 
        of the State in which the closed-loop pumped storage project is 
        or will be located, in the manner provided by the Fish and 
        Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
            ``(3) Terms and conditions.--In granting an exemption under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall include in any such 
        exemption--
                    ``(A) such terms and conditions as the Fish and 
                Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
                and the State agency described in paragraph (2) each 
                determine are appropriate to prevent loss of, or damage 
                to, fish and wildlife resources and to otherwise carry 
                out the purposes of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
                Act; and
                    ``(B) such terms and conditions as the Commission 
                deems appropriate to ensure that such closed-loop 
                pumped storage project continues to comply with the 
                provisions of this section and terms and conditions 
                included in any such exemption.
            ``(4) Fees.--The Commission, in addition to the 
        requirements of section 10(e), shall establish fees which shall 
        be paid by an applicant for a license for a closed-loop pumped 
        storage project that is required to meet terms and conditions 
        set by fish and wildlife agencies under paragraph (3). Such 
        fees shall be adequate to reimburse the fish and wildlife 
        agencies referred to in paragraph (3) for any reasonable costs 
        incurred in connection with any studies or other reviews 
        carried out by such agencies for purposes of compliance with 
        this section. The fees shall, subject to annual appropriations 
        Acts, be transferred to such agencies by the Commission for use 
        solely for purposes of carrying out such studies and shall 
        remain available until expended.
    ``(d) Transfers.--Notwithstanding section 5, and regardless of 
whether the holder of a preliminary permit for a closed-loop pumped 
storage project claimed municipal preference under section 7(a) when 
obtaining the permit, the Commission may, to facilitate development of 
a closed-loop pumped storage project--
            ``(1) add entities as joint permittees following issuance 
        of a preliminary permit; and
            ``(2) transfer a license in part to one or more 
        nonmunicipal entities as co-licensees with a municipality, if 
        the municipality retains majority ownership of the project for 
        which the license was issued.
    ``(e) Interagency Communications.--Interagency cooperation in the 
preparation of environmental documents under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to an 
application for a license for a closed-loop pumped storage project 
submitted pursuant to this section, and interagency communications 
relating to licensing process coordination pursuant to this section, 
shall not--
            ``(1) be considered to be ex parte communications under 
        Commission rules; or
            ``(2) preclude an agency from participating in a licensing 
        proceeding under this part.
    ``(f) Developing Abandoned Mines for Pumped Storage.--
            ``(1) Workshop.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall hold a workshop 
        to explore potential opportunities for development of closed-
        loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites.
            ``(2) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue guidance 
        to assist applicants for licenses or preliminary permits for 
        closed-loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites.
    ``(g) Qualifying Criteria for Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall establish criteria 
        that a pumped storage project shall meet in order to qualify as 
        a closed-loop pumped storage project eligible for the expedited 
        process established under this section.
            ``(2) Inclusions.--In establishing the criteria under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall include criteria requiring 
        that the pumped storage project--
                    ``(A) cause little to no change to existing surface 
                and groundwater flows and uses; and
                    ``(B) is unlikely to adversely affect species 
                listed as a threatened species or endangered species 
                under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.''.

SEC. 3. OBLIGATION FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL CHARGES.

    Section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803(e)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(5) Any obligation of a licensee for payment of annual charges 
under this subsection shall commence when the construction of the 
applicable facility commences.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 12, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act (Sec.2)This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish an expedited licensing process for issuing and amending licenses and preliminary permits for closed-loop pumped storage projects (in which the upper and lower reservoirs do not impound or directly withdraw water from navigable waters, or that are not continuously connected to a naturally flowing water feature). In establishing the expedited process, FERC shall convene an interagency task force with appropriate federal and state agencies and Indian tribes to coordinate the regulatory process associated with the authorizations required to construct and operate closed-loop pumped storage projects. FERC must assess the safety of existing dams and other structures related to the project before issuing any license for a closed-loop storage project. FERC must hold a workshop to explore potential opportunities for development of storage projects at abandoned mine sites. FERC must also establish criteria that a project shall meet to qualify as a closed-loop pumped storage under this bill, including requiring that the project cause little to no change to existing surface and groundwater flows and uses and that the project is unlikely to adversely affect species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. (Sec.3)Licensees are not required to pay an annual charge for administrative expenses until construction commences.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fern Lake Conservation and 
Recreation Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Fern Lake and its surrounding watershed in Bell County, 
        Kentucky, and Claiborne County, Tennessee, is within the 
        potential boundaries of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park 
        as originally authorized by the Act of June 11, 1940 (54 Stat. 
        262; 16 U.S.C. 261 et seq.).
            (2) The acquisition of Fern Lake and its surrounding 
        watershed and its inclusion in Cumberland Gap National 
        Historical Park would protect the vista from Pinnacle Overlook, 
        which is one of the park's most valuable scenic resources and 
        most popular attractions, and enhance recreational 
        opportunities at the park.
            (3) Fern Lake is the water supply source for the city of 
        Middlesboro, Kentucky, and environs.
            (4) The 4500-acre Fern Lake watershed is privately owned, 
        and the 150-acre lake and part of the watershed are currently 
        for sale, but the Secretary of the Interior is precluded by the 
        first section of the Act of June 11, 1940 (16 U.S.C. 261), from 
        using appropriated funds to acquire the lands.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Act are--
            (1) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to use 
        appropriated funds if necessary, in addition to other 
        acquisition methods, to acquire from willing sellers Fern Lake 
        and its surrounding watershed, in order to protect scenic and 
        natural resources and enhance recreational opportunities at 
        Cumberland Gap National Historical Park; and
            (2) to allow the continued supply of water from Fern Lake 
        to the city of Middlesboro, Kentucky, and environs.

SEC. 3. LAND ACQUISITION, FERN LAKE, CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL HISTORICAL 
              PARK.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Fern lake.--The term ``Fern Lake'' means Fern Lake 
        located in Bell County, Kentucky, and Claiborne County, 
        Tennessee.
            (2) Land.--The term ``land'' means land, water, interests 
        in land, and any improvements on the land.
            (3) Park.--The term ``park'' means Cumberland Gap National 
        Historical Park, as authorized and established by the Act of 
        June 11, 1940 (54 Stat. 262; 16 U.S.C. 261 et seq.).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
        Park Service.
    (b) Acquisition Authorized.--The Secretary may acquire for addition 
to the park lands consisting of approximately 4,500 acres and 
containing Fern Lake and its surrounding watershed, as generally 
depicted on the map entitled ``Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, 
Fern Lake Watershed'', numbered 380/80,004, and dated May 2001. The map 
shall be on file in the appropriate offices of the National Park 
Service.
    (c) Authorized Acquisition Methods.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding the Act of June 11, 1940 
        (16 U.S.C. 261 et seq.), the Secretary may acquire lands 
        described in subsection (b) by donation, purchase with donated 
        or appropriated funds, or exchange. However, the lands may be 
        acquired only with the consent of the owner.
            (2) Easements.--At the discretion of the Secretary, the 
        Secretary may acquire land described in subsection (b) that is 
        subject to an easement for water supply facilities and 
        equipment associated with the withdrawal and delivery of water 
        by a utility from Fern Lake to the city of Middlesboro, 
        Kentucky, and environs.
    (d) Boundary Adjustment and Administration.--Upon the acquisition 
of land under this section, the Secretary shall revise the boundaries 
of the park to include the land in the park. Subject to subsection (e), 
the Secretary shall administer the acquired lands as part of the park 
in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to the park.
    (e) Special Issues Related to Fern Lake.--
            (1) Protection of water supply.--The Secretary shall manage 
        public recreational use of Fern Lake, if acquired by the 
        Secretary, in a manner that is consistent with the protection 
        of the lake as a source of untreated water for the city of 
        Middlesboro, Kentucky, and environs.
            (2) Sale of water.--
                    (A) Contract with utility.--Upon the Secretary's 
                acquisition of land that includes Fern Lake, the 
                Secretary shall enter into a contract to sell untreated 
                water from the lake to a utility that delivers and 
                distributes water to the city of Middlesboro, Kentucky, 
                and environs. The Secretary shall ensure that the terms 
                and conditions of the contract are equitable, ensuring 
                a balance between the protection of park resources and 
                the delivery and distribution of sufficient water to 
                continue meeting the water demands of the city of 
                Middlesboro, Kentucky, and environs.
                    (B) Proceeds from water.--The Secretary shall 
                negotiate a reasonable return to the United States for 
                the sale of the water, which the Secretary may receive 
                in the form of reduced charges for water service. 
                Proceeds from the sale of the water, reduced by any 
                offsets for water service to the park, shall be 
                available for expenditure by the Secretary at the park 
                without further appropriation.
    (f) Consultation Requirements.--In order to better manage Fern Lake 
and its surrounding watershed, if acquired by the Secretary, in a 
manner that will facilitate the provision of water for municipal needs 
as well as the establishment and promotion of new recreational 
opportunities made possible by the addition of Fern Lake to the park, 
the Secretary shall consult with--
            (1) appropriate officials in the States of Kentucky, 
        Tennessee, and Virginia, and political subdivisions of these 
        States;
            (2) organizations involved in promoting tourism in these 
        States; and
            (3) other interested parties.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 5, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.


Output: Fern Lake Conservation and Recreation Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to acquire by donation, purchase, or exchange (but only from a willing seller), specified lands which contain Fern Lake and its surrounding watershed located in Bell County, Kentucky, and Claiborne County, Tennessee. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire any such land subject to an easement for water supply facilities and equipment associated with the withdrawal and delivery of water by a utility from Fern Lake to Middlesboro, Kentucky, and environs.Directs the Secretary to: (1) revise the boundaries of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park to include such acquired land; (2) protect the lake as a source of untreated water; (3) contract to sell the untreated water to a utility that delivers water to Middlesboro, Kentucky, and environs; and (4) use water sale proceeds (after reductions for park water service offsets) for expenditure at the park, without further appropriation. Requires the utility contract to ensure an equitable balance between protecting the park and providing sufficient water.Requires the Secretary to consult with the appropriate State (Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia) officials and tourism organizations.