instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Geospatial 
Preparedness Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Homeland security and national geospatial preparedness.
Sec. 5. Security policy and guidelines for geospatial data.
Sec. 6. Office of Geospatial Management and Geospatial Information 
                            Officer.
Sec. 7. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Geospatial technologies and geospatial data can provide 
        all levels of government and the private sector with proven 
        capabilities to carry out detection, planning, preparedness, 
        mitigation, response, and recovery activities for homeland 
        security purposes that save lives and protect property.
            (2) The completion and maintenance of the National Spatial 
        Data Infrastructure with integrated applications and systems 
        will provide the level of geospatial preparedness required to 
        protect critical infrastructure, strategic assets, the economic 
        base, and persons.
            (3) Geospatial technology and information have proven to be 
        essential to enabling more informed decisionmaking, greater 
        efficiency, increased accountability, and better management in 
        all levels of government and the private sector.
            (4) Building spatial data once and then sharing it many 
        times between all levels of government and the private sector 
        increases the ability of information technology applications 
        and systems to provide better services to the public in a cost-
        effective manner.
            (5) The use of international, national, and industry 
        consensus standards to develop and deploy interoperable 
        geospatial data and geospatial technologies assists the 
        commercial geospatial industry to provide products that make it 
        easier, faster, and less expensive for all levels of government 
        and the private sector to share, integrate, and use geospatial 
        data for decisionmaking.
            (6) Establishing a new Federal Government program to 
        provide financial incentives to State, regional, local, and 
        tribal governments will greatly accelerate adoption of 
        international, national, and industry consensus standards.
            (7) Geospatial technologies and geospatial data can be 
        essential tools for virtually all functions of government and 
        business.
            (8) Geospatial preparedness in the United States is not 
        adequate due to a variety of factors including inadequate 
        geospatial data compatibility, insufficient geospatial data 
        sharing, technology interoperability barriers, institutional 
        and organizational resistance to new ways of doing business, 
        lack of financial incentives to improved use of geospatial 
        technologies, and inefficient geospatial data collection and 
        sharing.
            (9) Interoperable geospatial technology and geospatial data 
        capabilities are emerging and incentives are needed for full 
        adoption and for collaborative use to meet community and 
        national needs.
            (10) Geospatial technologies and geospatial data are 
        maintained by all levels of government and the private sector. 
        A comprehensive nationwide program is necessary to build and 
        maintain a standards-based geospatial spatial data 
        infrastructure and geographic information systems required to 
        respond to increasing demands.
            (11) State, regional, local, and tribal governments, the 
        private sector, and other non-government organizations are 
        investing in geospatial technologies and geospatial data. 
        Incentives are necessary to leverage these investments for more 
        effective use to meet community and national needs.
            (12) Establishing the Office of Geospatial Management, 
        administered by a Geospatial Information Officer, within the 
        Department of Homeland Security will ensure the most effective 
        and efficient management of programs and activities involving 
        geospatial technologies and geospatial data.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Geographic information systems software and hardware.--
        The term ``geographic information systems software and 
        hardware'' means computer software and hardware required to 
        identify, depict, visualize, analyze, maintain, or otherwise 
        utilize geospatial data.
            (2) Geospatial applications.--The term ``geospatial 
        applications'' means computer software and systems that extend 
        the capabilities of geographic information systems software and 
        hardware to identify, depict, visualize, analyze, maintain, or 
        otherwise utilize geospatial data.
            (3) Geospatial data.--The term ``geospatial data'' means 
        information that identifies, depicts, or describes the 
        geographic locations, boundaries, or characteristics of 
        inhabitants and natural or constructed features on the Earth, 
        including such information derived from, among other sources, 
        socio-demographic analysis, economic analysis, land information 
        records and land use information processing, statistical 
        analysis, survey and observational methodologies, environmental 
        analysis, critical infrastructure protection, satellites, 
        remote sensing, airborne imagery collection, mapping, 
        engineering, construction, global positioning systems, and 
        surveying technologies and activities.
            (4) Geospatial preparedness.--The term ``geospatial 
        preparedness'' means the level of overall capability and 
        capacity necessary to enable all levels of government and the 
        private sector to utilize geospatial data, geographic 
        information systems software and hardware, and geospatial 
        applications to perform essential emergency management 
        functions, including detection, planning, mitigation, response, 
        and recovery, in order to minimize loss of life and property 
        from weapons of mass destruction, terrorist threats, major man-
        made accidents, and natural disasters.
            (5) National spatial data infrastructure.--The term 
        ``National Spatial Data Infrastructure'' means the combination 
        of the geographic information systems software and hardware, 
        geospatial applications, geospatial data, standards, policies, 
        programs, and human resources necessary to acquire, process, 
        analyze, store, maintain, distribute, and otherwise utilize 
        geospatial data as a strategic asset for the Nation.
            (6) Office of geospatial management.--The term ``Office of 
        Geospatial Management'' means the administrative organization 
        responsible for designing, managing, coordinating, and 
        implementing comprehensive geospatial initiatives.
            (7) Standards.--The term ``standards'' means documented 
        international, national, or industry consensus agreements 
        containing technical specifications or other precise criteria 
        to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions to 
        ensure that materials, products, processes, or services are 
        proper for their purposes.

SEC. 4. HOMELAND SECURITY AND NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL PREPAREDNESS.

    The Secretary shall direct the Chief Information Officer to work, 
consistent with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16, 
Executive Order 12906, and section 216 of the Electronic Government 
Act, with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, 
the Federal Geographic Data Committee, the National Imagery and Mapping 
Agency, other appropriate Federal agencies, and members of the Steering 
Committee and Coordination Group of the Federal Geographic Data 
Committee, to use and enhance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure 
for homeland security purposes, by--
            (1) developing a comprehensive national enterprise 
        strategy, incorporating industry and government standards, for 
        the coordinated acquisition, building, storage, maintenance, 
        and use of Federal Government, non-Federal Government, and 
        private sector geospatial data with, when feasible and 
        appropriate, integrated and interoperable commercially-provided 
        geographic information systems software and hardware, 
        geospatial applications, geospatial data, and services in order 
        to achieve an adequate level of national geospatial 
        preparedness;
            (2) providing grants, technical assistance, and cooperative 
        agreements to State, regional, local, and tribal government as 
        well as non-profit organizations in order to increase 
        geospatial preparedness by actions such as analyzing 
        requirements, performing strategic planning, sharing geospatial 
        data, developing agreements for sharing geospatial data, 
        integrating geospatial data, developing standards, integrating 
        systems, and acquiring, when feasible and appropriate, 
        interoperable commercially-provided geographic information 
        systems software and hardware, geospatial applications, 
        geospatial data, and Global Positioning System equipment and 
        procuring services in order to achieve an adequate level of 
        national geospatial preparedness;
            (3) coordinating with, and assisting, the Federal 
        Geographic Data Committee, the Office of Management and Budget, 
        and the commercial geospatial industry to establish national 
        standards for the development, acquisition, storage, 
        maintenance, distribution, utilization, and application of 
        geospatial data;
            (4) coordinating with, and assisting, the commercial 
        geospatial industry to establish national standards for the 
        development, distribution, and utilization of geographic 
        information systems software and hardware and geospatial 
        applications; and
            (5) utilizing, when feasible and appropriate, commercially-
        provided interoperable geographic information systems software 
        and hardware, geospatial applications, geospatial data, and 
        services to carry out the responsibilities, activities, and 
        programs authorized by this section.

SEC. 5. SECURITY POLICY AND GUIDELINES FOR GEOSPATIAL DATA.

    The Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland 
Security shall establish, within 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and consistent with overall homeland security 
goals of the Department of Homeland Security, security policy and 
guidelines for the acquisition, processing, and dissemination of 
geospatial data depicting critical infrastructure and strategic assets 
located in the United States.

SEC. 6. OFFICE OF GEOSPATIAL MANAGEMENT AND GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION 
              OFFICER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish 
the Office of Geospatial Management within the Office of the Chief 
Information Officer. The Office of Geospatial Management shall be 
administered by the Geospatial Information Officer under the direction 
of the Chief Information Officer.
    (b) Geospatial Information Officer.--The Geospatial Information 
Officer--
            (1) shall be appointed by the Secretary from among 
        individuals who are skilled in geographic information 
        technology and systems management; and
            (2) shall be responsible for--
                    (A) designing, managing, coordinating, and 
                implementing comprehensive geospatial initiatives; and
                    (B) working with the Chief Information Officer to 
                carry out section 4 and section 5.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
years 2004 through 2008. Such authorization is in addition to other 
authorizations of appropriations that are available for such purpose.
answer:
Geospatial Preparedness Act - Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to direct the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Departments of the Interior and Justice, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, other appropriate Federal agencies, and members of the Federal Geographic Data Committee to use and enhance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure for homeland security purposes.

Directs the CIO to establish security and policy guidelines for the acquisition, processing, and dissemination of geospatial data depicting critical infrastructure and strategic assets in the United States.

Requires the: (1) Secretary to establish the Office of Geospatial Management within the Office of the CIO; and (2) Geospatial Manager to work with the CIO to design, manage, coordinate, and implement comprehensive geospatial initiatives.


question:
SECTION 1. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT; LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR HEALTH-
              CENTER PRACTITIONERS PROVIDING SERVICES IN EMERGENCY 
              AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Section 224(g) of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 233(g)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by striking ``subparagraph 
        (C)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (C) and paragraph (6)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following paragraph:
    ``(6)(A) Subject to subparagraph (C), paragraph (1)(B)(ii) applies 
to health services provided to individuals who are not patients of the 
entity involved if, as determined under criteria issued by the 
Secretary, the following conditions are met:
            ``(i) The services are provided by a contractor or employee 
        of the entity who is a physician or other licensed or certified 
        health care practitioner and who is otherwise deemed to be an 
        employee for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) when providing 
        services with respect to the entity.
            ``(ii) The services are provided in an emergency area (as 
        defined in subparagraph (D)).
            ``(iii) The services of the contractor or employee 
        (referred to in this paragraph as the `out-of-area 
        practitioner') are provided under an arrangement with--
                    ``(I) an entity that is deemed to be an employee 
                for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) and that serves the 
                emergency area involved (referred to in this paragraph 
                as an `emergency-area entity)'; or
                    ``(II) a Federal agency that has responsibilities 
                regarding the provision of health services in such area 
                during the emergency.
            ``(iv) The purposes of the arrangement are--
                    ``(I) to coordinate, to the extent practicable, the 
                provision of health services in the emergency area by 
                the out-of-area practitioner with the provision of 
                services by the emergency-area entity, or by the 
                Federal agency, as the case may be;
                    ``(II) to identify a location in the emergency area 
                to which such practitioner should report for purposes 
                of providing health services, and to identify an 
                individual or individuals in the area to whom the 
                practitioner should report for such purposes; and
                    ``(III) to verify the identity of the practitioner 
                and that the practitioner is licensed or certified by 
                one or more of the States.
            ``(v) With respect to the licensure or certification of 
        health care practitioners, the provision of services by the 
        out-of-area practitioner in the emergency area is not a 
        violation of the law of the State in which the area is located.
    ``(B) In issuing criteria under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
shall take into account the need to rapidly enter into arrangements 
under such subparagraph in order to provide health services in 
emergency areas promptly after the emergency begins.
    ``(C) Subparagraph (A) applies with respect to an act or omission 
of an out-of-area practitioner only to the extent that the practitioner 
is not immune from liability for such act or omission under the 
Volunteer Protection Act of 1997.
    ``(D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `emergency area' 
means a geographic area for which--
            ``(i) the Secretary has made a determination under section 
        319 that a public health emergency exists; or
            ``(ii) a presidential declaration of major disaster has 
        been issued under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--With respect to paragraph (6) of section 
224(g) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subsection (a) of 
this section:
            (1) Except as provided in this subsection, an arrangement 
        under subparagraph (A)(iii) of such paragraph (6) is deemed to 
        be in effect for any health professional who, within the 
        meaning of such paragraph--
                    (A) is an employee or contractor of a health center 
                under section 330 of such Act; and
                    (B) served or is serving as an out-of-area 
                practitioner in any emergency area declared as a result 
                of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita.
            (2) Such paragraph (6) is deemed to have taken effect on 
        August 27, 2005, for purposes of paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection. Such paragraph (6) otherwise takes effect on the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
            (3) Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies until the 
        expiration of the 48-hour period beginning on the date on which 
        the Secretary of Health and Human Services publishes in the 
        Federal Register a notice that the applicability of such 
        paragraph is being terminated.
answer:
Amends the Public Health Service Act to deem certain physicians or other licensed or certified health care practitioners to be employees of the Public Health Service for purposes of any civil action that may arise due to services provided in an emergency area by a contractor or an employee of a qualified health center. Provides that such services must be provided under an arrangement with a qualified health center or with a federal agency with responsibility for providing health services in the emergency area.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hydroelectric Licensing Process 
Improvement Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) hydroelectric power is an irreplaceable source of 
        clean, economic, renewable energy with the unique capability of 
        supporting reliable electric service while maintaining 
        environmental quality;
            (2) hydroelectric power is the leading renewable energy 
        resource of the United States;
            (3) hydroelectric power projects provide multiple benefits 
        to the United States, including recreation, irrigation, flood 
        control, water supply, and fish and wildlife benefits;
            (4) in the next 15 years, the bulk of all non-Federal 
        hydroelectric power capacity in the United States is due to be 
        relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
            (5) the process of licensing hydroelectric projects by the 
        Commission--
                    (A) does not produce optimal decisions, because the 
                agencies that participate in the process are not 
                required to consider the full effects of their 
                mandatory and recommended conditions on a license;
                    (B) is inefficient, in part because agencies do not 
                always submit their mandatory and recommended 
                conditions by a time certain;
                    (C) is burdened by uncoordinated environmental 
                reviews and duplicative permitting authority; and
                    (D) is burdensome for all participants and too 
                often results in litigation; and
            (6) while the alternative licensing procedures available to 
        applicants for hydroelectric project licenses provide important 
        opportunities for the collaborative resolution of many of the 
        issues in hydroelectric project licensing, those procedures are 
        not appropriate in every case and cannot substitute for 
        statutory reforms of the hydroelectric licensing process.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to achieve the objective of relicensing 
hydroelectric power projects to maintain high environmental standards 
while preserving low cost power by--
            (1) requiring agencies to consider the full effects of 
        their mandatory and recommended conditions on a hydroelectric 
        power license and to document the consideration of a broad 
        range of factors;
            (2) requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to 
        impose deadlines by which Federal agencies must submit proposed 
        mandatory and recommended conditions to a license; and
            (3) making other improvements in the licensing process.

SEC. 4. PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION BY FEDERAL AGENCIES OF CONDITIONS TO 
              LICENSES.

    (a) In General.--Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 32. PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION BY FEDERAL AGENCIES OF CONDITIONS 
              TO LICENSES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Condition.--The term `condition' means--
                    ``(A) a condition to a license for a project on a 
                Federal reservation determined by a consulting agency 
                for the purpose of the first proviso of section 4(e); 
                and
                    ``(B) a prescription relating to the construction, 
                maintenance, or operation of a fishway determined by a 
                consulting agency for the purpose of the first sentence 
                of section 18.
            ``(2) Consulting agency.--The term `consulting agency' 
        means--
                    ``(A) in relation to a condition described in 
                paragraph (1)(A), the Federal agency with 
                responsibility for supervising the reservation; and
                    ``(B) in relation to a condition described in 
                paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary of the Interior or the 
                Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate.
    ``(b) Factors To Be Considered.--
            ``(1) In general.--In determining a condition, a consulting 
        agency shall take into consideration--
                    ``(A) the impacts of the condition on--
                            ``(i) economic and power values;
                            ``(ii) electric generation capacity and 
                        system reliability;
                            ``(iii) air quality (including 
                        consideration of the impacts on greenhouse gas 
                        emissions); and
                            ``(iv) drinking, flood control, irrigation, 
                        navigation, or recreation water supply;
                    ``(B) compatibility with other conditions to be 
                included in the license, including mandatory conditions 
                of other agencies, when available; and
                    ``(C) means to ensure that the condition addresses 
                only direct project environmental impacts, and does so 
                at the lowest project cost.
            ``(2) Documentation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the course of the 
                consideration of factors under paragraph (1) and before 
                any review under subsection (e), a consulting agency 
                shall create written documentation detailing, among 
                other pertinent matters, all proposals made, comments 
                received, facts considered, and analyses made regarding 
                each of those factors sufficient to demonstrate that 
                each of the factors was given full consideration in 
                determining the condition to be submitted to the 
                Commission.
                    ``(B) Submission to the commission.--A consulting 
                agency shall include the documentation under 
                subparagraph (A) in its submission of a condition to 
                the Commission.
    ``(c) Scientific Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each condition determined by a 
        consulting agency shall be subjected to appropriately 
        substantiated scientific review.
            ``(2) Data.--For the purpose of paragraph (1), a condition 
        shall be considered to have been subjected to appropriately 
        substantiated scientific review if the review--
                    ``(A) was based on current empirical data or field-
                tested data; and
                    ``(B) was subjected to peer review.
    ``(d) Relationship to Impacts on Federal Reservation.--In the case 
of a condition for the purpose of the first proviso of section 4(e), 
each condition determined by a consulting agency shall be directly and 
reasonably related to the impacts of the project within the Federal 
reservation.
    ``(e) Administrative Review.--
            ``(1) Opportunity for review.--Before submitting to the 
        Commission a proposed condition, and at least 90 days before a 
        license applicant is required to file a license application 
        with the Commission, a consulting agency shall provide the 
        proposed condition to the license applicant and offer the 
        license applicant an opportunity to obtain expedited review 
        before an administrative law judge or other independent 
        reviewing body of--
                    ``(A) the reasonableness of the proposed condition 
                in light of the effect that implementation of the 
                condition will have on the energy and economic values 
                of a project; and
                    ``(B) compliance by the consulting agency with the 
                requirements of this section, including the requirement 
                to consider the factors described in subsection (b)(1).
            ``(2) Completion of review.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A review under paragraph (1) 
                shall be completed not more than 180 days after the 
                license applicant notifies the consulting agency of the 
                request for review.
                    ``(B) Failure to make timely completion of 
                review.--If review of a proposed condition is not 
                completed within the time specified by subparagraph 
                (A), the Commission may treat a condition submitted by 
                the consulting agency as a recommendation is treated 
                under section 10(j).
            ``(3) Remand.--If the administrative law judge or reviewing 
        body finds that a proposed condition is unreasonable or that 
        the consulting agency failed to comply with any of the 
        requirements of this section, the administrative law judge or 
        reviewing body shall--
                    ``(A) render a decision that--
                            ``(i) explains the reasons for a finding 
                        that the condition is unreasonable and may make 
                        recommendations that the administrative law 
                        judge or reviewing body may have for the 
                        formulation of a condition that would not be 
                        found unreasonable; or
                            ``(ii) explains the reasons for a finding 
                        that a requirement was not met and may describe 
                        any action that the consulting agency should 
                        take to meet the requirement; and
                    ``(B) remand the matter to the consulting agency 
                for further action.
            ``(4) Submission to the commission.--Following 
        administrative review under this subsection, a consulting 
        agency shall--
                    ``(A) take such action as is necessary to--
                            ``(i) withdraw the condition;
                            ``(ii) formulate a condition that follows 
                        the recommendation of the administrative law 
                        judge or reviewing body; or
                            ``(iii) otherwise comply with this section; 
                        and
                    ``(B) include with its submission to the Commission 
                of a proposed condition--
                            ``(i) the record on administrative review; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) documentation of any action taken 
                        following administrative review.
    ``(f) Submission of Final Condition.--
            ``(1) In general.--After an applicant files with the 
        Commission an application for a license, the Commission shall 
        set a date by which a consulting agency shall submit to the 
        Commission a final condition.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the 
        date for submission of a final condition shall be not later 
        than 1 year after the date on which the Commission gives the 
        consulting agency notice that a license application is ready 
        for environmental review.
            ``(3) Default.--If a consulting agency does not submit a 
        final condition to a license by the date set under paragraph 
        (1)--
                    ``(A) the consulting agency shall not thereafter 
                have authority to recommend or establish a condition to 
                the license; and
                    ``(B) the Commission may, but shall not be required 
                to, recommend or establish an appropriate condition to 
                the license that--
                            ``(i) furthers the interest sought to be 
                        protected by the provision of law that 
                        authorizes the consulting agency to propose or 
                        establish a condition to the license; and
                            ``(ii) conforms to the requirements of this 
                        Act.
            ``(4) Extension.--The Commission may make 1 extension, of 
        not more than 30 days, of a deadline set under paragraph (1).
    ``(g) Analysis by the Commission.--
            ``(1) Economic analysis.--The Commission shall conduct an 
        economic analysis of each condition submitted by a consulting 
        agency to determine whether the condition would render the 
        project uneconomic.
            ``(2) Consistency with this section.--In exercising 
        authority under section 10(j)(2), the Commission shall consider 
        whether any recommendation submitted under section 10(j)(1) is 
        consistent with the purposes and requirements of subsections 
        (b) and (c) of this section.
    ``(h) Commission Determination on Effect of Conditions.--When 
requested by a license applicant in a request for rehearing, the 
Commission shall make a written determination on whether a condition 
submitted by a consulting agency--
            ``(1) is in the public interest, as measured by the impact 
        of the condition on the factors described in subsection (b)(1);
            ``(2) was subjected to scientific review in accordance with 
        subsection (c);
            ``(3) relates to direct project impacts within the 
        reservation, in the case of a condition for the first proviso 
        of section 4(e);
            ``(4) is reasonable;
            ``(5) is supported by substantial evidence; and
            ``(6) is consistent with this Act and other terms and 
        conditions to be included in the license.''.
    (b) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--
            (1) Section 4.--Section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 
        U.S.C. 797(e)) is amended--
                    (A) in the first proviso of the first sentence by 
                inserting after ``conditions'' the following: ``, 
                determined in accordance with section 32,''; and
                    (B) in the last sentence, by striking the period 
                and inserting ``(including consideration of the impacts 
                on greenhouse gas emissions)''.
            (2) Section 18.--Section 18 of the Federal Power Act (16 
        U.S.C. 811) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
        ``prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting 
        ``prescribed, in accordance with section 32, by the Secretary 
        of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate''.

SEC. 5. COORDINATED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.

    Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) (as 
amended by section 3) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 33. COORDINATED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.

    ``(a) Lead Agency Responsibility.--The Commission, as the lead 
agency for environmental reviews under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for projects licensed under 
this part, shall conduct a single consolidated environmental review--
            ``(1) for each such project; or
            ``(2) if appropriate, for multiple projects located in the 
        same area.
    ``(b) Consulting Agencies.--In connection with the formulation of a 
condition in accordance with section 32, a consulting agency shall not 
perform any environmnental review in addition to any environmental 
review performed by the Commission in connection with the action to 
which the condition relates.
    ``(c) Deadlines.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall set a deadline for 
        the submission of comments by Federal, State, and local 
        government agencies in connection with the preparation of any 
        environmental impact statement or environmental assessment 
        required for a project.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In setting a deadline under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall take into consideration--
                    ``(A) the need of the license applicant for a 
                prompt and reasonable decision;
                    ``(B) the resources of interested Federal, State, 
                and local government agencies; and
                    ``(C) applicable statutory requirements.''.

SEC. 6. STUDY OF SMALL HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
and the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives a study 
of the feasibility of establishing a separate licensing procedure for 
small hydroelectric projects.
    (b) Definition of Small Hydroelectric Project.--The Commission may 
by regulation define the term ``small hydroelectric project'' for the 
purpose of subsection (a), except that the term shall include at a 
minimum a hydroelectric project that has a generating capacity of 5 
megawatts or less.
answer:

Prescribes implementation guidelines, including scientific and administrative review, and coordinated environmental review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the designated lead agency.
 Directs FERC to submit a feasibility study to certain congressional committees congressional committees regarding the establishment of a special licensing procedure for small hydroelectric projects (projects with a generating capacity of five megawatts or less).