H.R. 3124

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Natural Gas Pipeline Enlargement Act

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Union Calendar No. 184

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3124

[Report No. 109–334]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 29, 2005

Mr. Sherwood introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

December 12, 2005

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 29, 2005

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation to increase the diameter of a natural gas pipeline located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Natural Gas Pipeline Enlargement Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Corporation

The term Corporation means the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation.

(2)

Pipeline

The term pipeline means that portion of the pipeline of the Corporation numbered 1278 that is—

(A)

located in the Recreation Area; and

(B)

situated on 2 tracts designated by the Corporation as ROW No. 16405 and No. 16413.

(3)

Recreation area

The term Recreation Area means the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(5)

Superintendent

The term Superintendent means the Superintendent of the Recreation Area.

3.

Easement for expanded natural gas pipeline

(a)

In general

The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Corporation to grant to the Corporation, an easement to enlarge the diameter of the pipeline from 14 inches to not more than 20 inches.

(b)

Terms and conditions

The easement authorized under subsection (a) shall—

(1)

be consistent with—

(A)

the recreational values of the Recreation Area; and

(B)

protection of the resources of the Recreation Area;

(2)

include provisions for the protection of resources in the Recreation Area that ensure that only the minimum and necessary amount of disturbance, as determined by the Secretary, shall occur during the construction or maintenance of the enlarged pipeline;

(3)

be consistent with the laws (including regulations) and policies applicable to units of the National Park System; and

(4)

be subject to any other terms and conditions that the Secretary determines to be necessary.

(c)

Permits

(1)

In general

The Superintendent may issue a permit to the Corporation for the use of the Recreation Area in accordance with subsection (b) for the temporary construction and staging areas required for the construction of the enlarged pipeline.

(2)

Prior to issuance

The easement authorized under subsection (a) and the permit authorized under paragraph (1) shall require that before the Superintendent issues a permit for any clearing or construction, the Corporation shall—

(A)

consult with the Superintendent;

(B)

identify natural and cultural resources of the Recreation Area that may be damaged or lost because of the clearing or construction; and

(C)

submit to the Superintendent for approval a restoration and mitigation plan that—

(i)

describes how the land subject to the easement will be maintained; and

(ii)

includes a schedule for, and description of, the specific activities to be carried out by the Corporation to mitigate the damages or losses to, or restore, the natural and cultural resources of the Recreation Area identified under subparagraph (B).

(d)

Pipeline replacement requirements

The enlargement of the pipeline authorized under subsection (a) shall be considered to meet the pipeline replacement requirements required by the Research and Special Programs Administration of the Department of Transportation (CPF No. 1–2002–1004–H).

(e)

FERC consultation

The Corporation shall comply with all other requirements for certification by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that are necessary to permit the increase in pipeline size.

(f)

Limitation

The Secretary shall not grant any additional increases in the diameter of, or easements for, the pipeline within the boundary of the Recreation Area after the date of enactment of this Act.

(g)

Effect on right-of-Way easement

Nothing in this Act increases the 50-foot right-of-way easement for the pipeline.

(h)

Penalties

On request of the Secretary, the Attorney General may bring a civil action against the Corporation in United States district court to recover damages and response costs under Public Law 101–337 (16 U.S.C. 19jj et seq.) or any other applicable law if—

(1)

the Corporation—

(A)

violates a provision of—

(i)

an easement authorized under subsection (a); or

(ii)

a permit issued under subsection (c); or

(B)

fails to submit or timely implement a restoration and mitigation plan approved under subsection (c)(3); and

(2)

the violation or failure destroys, results in the loss of, or injures any park system resource (as defined in section 1 of Public Law 101–337 (16 U.S.C. 19jj)).

December 12, 2005

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed