[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1448 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1448
To provide for the construction of the Yupik Alaskan/Central Kuskokwim
Energy Project, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 23 (legislative day, July 21), 2003
Ms. Murkowski introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the construction of the Yupik Alaskan/Central Kuskokwim
Energy Project, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Calista Energy and Economic
Revitalization Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the Yupik Eskimo people have--
(A) inhabited the Upper Kuskokwim region for
thousands of years; and
(B) developed a unique lifestyle that allows the
people to thrive in a harsh and formidable climate;
(2) on December 18, 1971, Congress enacted the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) in
recognition and settlement of the aboriginal claims of the
Yupik Eskimo people in the Upper Kuskokwim regions;
(3) under that Act--
(A) the Calista Regional Corporation was formed by
the Yupik Eskimo people to represent the needs and
interests of the Yupik Eskimo people in implementing
the Act; and
(B) the Corporation has selected as part of the
land entitlement the Donlin Creek area of the Upper
Kuskokwim region;
(4) as owner of the Donlin Creek area, Calista Regional
Corporation has made a discovery of international significance
of gold and other minerals that would aid the Yupik Eskimo
people if developed;
(5) there is widespread support among the local Yupik
population for development of the Donlin Creek area;
(6) the Donlin Creek area is currently isolated and
unconnected by road or utility services to the rest of the
State of Alaska;
(7) the Upper Kuskokwim region contains many Yupik Eskimo
villages that are not connected to the rest of the State of
Alaska;
(8) the unemployment rate in the region is almost 25
percent, and there is currently little or no opportunity for
year-round nongovernmental employment;
(9) it is fair and equitable that Congress enact
legislation to aid and assist the Yupik Eskimo people, through
the Calista Regional Corporation, in providing reasonable and
adequate utility services to the area; and
(10) Congress should act to provide a sound economic
opportunity for the Yupik Eskimo and other residents of the
region to enjoy an improved quality of life by providing a year
round employment base.
SEC. 3. CALISTA ENERGY PROJECT AUTHORIZATION.
(a) Financial Assistance.--The Secretary of Energy shall, subject
to any terms and conditions that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, provide the Calista Regional Corporation grants and loan
guarantees to assist in the construction of the Calista Energy Project
as generally identified in the document entitled ``Calista Region
Energy Needs Study'' and dated July 1, 2002.
(b) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of construction
of the Calista Energy Project shall be not more than 80 percent.
(c) Limitation.--The total amount of financial assistance that the
Secretary may provide under subsection (a) is--
(1) $100,000,000 for grants; and
(2) $50,000,000 for loan guarantees.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act.
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