To extend certain hydro-electric licenses in the State of Alaska.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Power Act authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue licenses for the construction of new hydroelectric power projects. Section 13 of the act establishes time limits for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project once FERC has issued a license. The licensee must begin construction not more that 2 years from the date the license is issued unless FERC extends the initial deadline.

Section 13 permits FERC to grant only one extension of that deadline for not longer than 2 additional years when not incompatible with the public interest. Accordingly, FERC lacks the authority to extend the deadline beyond a maximum of 2 years from the original deadline for commencement of construction. Therefore, a license is subject to termination if a licensee fails to begin construction within 4 years of the date of issuance. There are many reasons why construction of a project may not begin within the statutory 4-year period, including lack of a power sales contract or, in the case of the bill before us, the absence of a completed transmission line to carry power from the project to areas where it is needed.

The purpose of the bill before us, H.R. 337, is to direct FERC upon the request of the licensee to issue an order staying a license of a hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska, pending the construction of an associated transmission line. Once the line is completed, the bill directs FERC to lift the stay and extend the deadline to commence construction for one additional 2-year period. The legislation also directs FERC to extend the deadline to commence construction of the project for one additional 2-year period.

On January 22, 1998, FERC issued a license to the City of Saxman, Alaska, to construct and operate and maintain the 96-megawatt Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project. The project is located on Upper Mahoney Lake and Upper Mahoney Creek near Ketchikan in

southeast Alaska. The project is not projected to be economically viable until the completion of the associated Swan-Tyee transmission line. The Cape Fox Corporation, which oversees the construction and the operation and the maintenance of the project, stands to lose a substantial investment in the project if the license expires prior to completion of the transmission line.

Last year, S. 1843, a similar bill, was amended and passed the House by unanimous consent. While that bill was amended by the House, the official papers that were delivered to the Senate did not contain the amendment that passed the House. As a result, the version subsequently passed by the Senate did not contain the House amendment, and the Speaker properly did not sign the bill to clear it for the White House since the official papers did not accurately reflect the vote or the will of the House. This was the right thing for the Speaker to do. It is important that the author and supporters of this bill not be penalized unnecessarily for the clerical error that occurred in the House. I am pleased we are able to move this bill quickly to fulfill our commitment to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and to his constituents. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 337) to extend certain hydro-electric licenses in the State of Alaska.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 337 and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 337, which was introduced by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). The bill before us today directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, known as FERC, upon request of a license to issue a stay of a license for a hydroelectric project in Alaska pending the construction of an associated transmission line. In addition, the bill also directs FERC to extend the construction deadline for this project for not more than a 2-year time period once the stay is lifted.

This bill is identical to Senate bill S. 1843 as passed by the House during the final days of the 107th Congress and unfortunately was prevented from being signed into law due to a clerical error. Today we rectify that incident and once again let the will of the House be known concerning the license for the construction of a 96-megawatt hydroelectric power project at Mahoney Lake near Ketchikan in southeast Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.