Collinsville Renewable Energy Production Act

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this hearing is to consider the nomination of Ernest J. Moniz to be the Secretary of Energy.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to Abigail_Campbell@energy.senate .gov.

For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Abigail Campbell at (202) 224-4905.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of this hearing is to consider the President's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2014 for the Forest Service.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to John_Assini@energy.senate.gov.

For further information, please contact please contact Meghan Conklin (202) 224-8046 or John Assini (202) 224-9313.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this hearing will be to hear testimony on the following measures:

S. 211, the Provo River Project Transfer Act;

S. 284, the Fort Sumner Project Title Conveyance Act;

S. 510, the Scofield Land Transfer Act;

S. 659, to reauthorize the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991;

S.J. Res. 12, A joint resolution to consent to certain amendments enacted by the legislature of the State of Hawaii to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Act, 1920; and,

H.R. 316 and S. Amdt. 579, the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to John_Assini@energy.senate.gov.

For further information, please contact Sara Tucker at (202) 224-6224 or John Assini at (202) 224-9313.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on the U.S. Department of Energy's budget for fiscal year 2014.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to lauren_goldschmidt @energy.senate.gov.

For further information, please contact Abigail Campbell at (202) 224-4905 or Lauren Goldschmidt at (202) 224-5488.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend and colleague from Maryland, Congressman Sarbanes, as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), for their roles in bringing this bill to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a proud sponsor of the Collinsville Renewable Energy Production Act.

This bill provides, as has been noted, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, commonly known as FERC, the authority to reinstate, extend, and transfer the licenses of two dams in my district to the town of Canton in order to redevelop hydropower at these two facilities that have been dormant since 1966.

The upper and lower Collinsville dams on the Farmington River were first built in the 18th and 19th centuries to power an ax manufacturer. Although this business closed in the 1960s, the dams have remained and are a lasting symbol of the manufacturing history of the Farmington Valley.

Today's legislation provides Canton the opportunity to create local clean energy and to stimulate local economic development along the scenic Farmington River.

As provided in the Senate's amendment to H.R. 316, Canton would need to file an application for approval with FERC that describes the town's qualifications to hold these licenses and to operate the dams.

It would require the town to be subject to the same conditions as in the original licenses, as well as any additional terms that FERC may deem necessary after reviewing the application.

I am aware that there are legitimate environmental concerns about the impact on the river and the surrounding ecosystem's health. These concerns are reflected in part with the addition of fish ladders to the hydrodams in the ensuing years since the closing of the facility.

To address those concerns, FERC would need to update the environmental impact statement provided for in the original licenses before they could be reinstated, extended, and transferred to the town.

If the Commission, under the authority provided in this bill, approves the application to reinstate these permits, the upper and lower Collinsville dams would provide nearly 2 megawatts of power. That is enough to power more than 1,500 homes.

It is important for me to acknowledge that the passage of this bill today is only possible because of the work and support of many others who have labored over this for many years.

First, I want to thank Senator Chris Murphy--my colleague, friend, and neighbor--who championed this issue for several sessions here in the House, and our senior Senator, Richard Blumenthal, for their leadership and sponsorship of the Senate amendment, which is before us today.

My thanks also go out to Chairman Whitfield, as well as Chairman Upton and Ranking Members Waxman and Rush and their staffs, for their bipartisan support to advance this legislation.

I also want to thank First Selectman Richard Barlow for all he has done over many years to spearhead this effort at home.

Finally, as I mentioned, 1\1/2\ years ago, when this bill first came to the floor, I want to honor two gentleman, Art Fournier and Mark Quattro, environmental and community leaders who sadly are no longer with us, but who championed this effort for many years. We could not be here today without their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, roughly 5,000 bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives this Congress. Of those 5,000 pieces of legislation, this bill, H.R. 316, represents just the 167th bill which hopefully will pass both the House and the Senate.

I am honored and humbled to be able to work with colleagues across the aisle in this Congress to advance clean energy legislation that empowers local communities to harness local resources to produce renewable electricity and, at the same time, supports and advances local economic development.

There is much more that we can and should do to advance energy production and to protect our environment, but today is an excellent start.

I urge my colleagues to support the motion to concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 316.

Thank you, Congressman Lujan. And I'd like to thank Chairman Whitfield for his leadership on this important issue and for bringing this bill to the floor so quickly this year.

I rise as the proud sponsor of the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act. This bill, as the chairman so aptly described, would provide FERC limited authority to license the Town of Canton, in my district, to operate two small and dormant dams for hydroelectric power.

The Upper and Lower Collinsville dams on the Farmington River were first built in the 18th and 19th centuries to power an ax manufacturer. While this business closed in the 1960s, the dams have remained and are a lasting symbol of the Farmington Valley's very proud manufacturing history.

And just as our communities have been reinvented over the years, we now have the opportunity to reinvent a dormant dam into a dam producing local, clean energy. If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, under the authority of this bill, permits both dams to generate hydropower, the dams could produce nearly 2 megawatts of power, enough to power more than 1,500 homes, which I'll note, parenthetically, with 3 feet of snow in the last week, were much in demand, that additional power. Licenses for this purpose had previously been issued, and this bill would allow the reinstatement of the inactive FERC licenses.

Now, as with any dam on any river, there are legitimate concerns about the river and the ecosystem's health. The Upper and Lower Collinsville dams already exist, and our legislation addresses many concerns to fully protect the river's health by requiring FERC to complete an updated analysis of the environmental impact of the projects and seek additional public comment before taking action.

Now, this project started long before I was elected to Congress, and I'm proud to continue the work on this bill. Just a few months ago, this body passed the exact same language offered by then-Congressman Chris Murphy, Connecticut's new Senator. He's been a longtime champion on this issue, and I'm grateful for his and First Selectman of Canton Richard Barlow's work spearheading these efforts back home.

I would also like to mention another longtime supporter of this project, Art Fournier. Sadly, Art passed away this past July. But during one of the occasions I had the opportunity to discuss issues with him and gain from his lifetime of experiences, he brought up this

bill to enforce upon me how important it was. He was committed to public service and to ensuring that the world was a better place for the next generation. His commitment to public service was evident from his service on many boards and commissions in the town of Canton, including on the Hydro Power Advisory Commission.

Another strong advocate for this project also, sadly, died this summer, Mark Quattro. Mark, too, made us aware of the importance of this project for the little town of Canton, and he was deeply committed to the community and served on many town organizations, including the chamber of commerce. It would be a fitting tribute to honor these two fine citizens of Canton, Art Fournier and Mark Quattro, by passing this bill today.

I'd like to thank, again, Chairman Whitfield, as well as Chairman Upton and Ranking Members Waxman and Rush and their staffs for bringing the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act to the floor today for a vote. This project has a long history of bipartisan support at the local level, and I'm proud to be working with my colleagues across the aisle to empower local communities to utilize existing resources to create locally produced clean, renewable power. I respectfully urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of this hearing is to consider the President's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2014 for the Forest Service.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to John_Assini@energy.senate.gov.

For further information, please contact Meghan Conklin (202) 224-8046 or John Assini (202) 224-9313.

Mr. President, I would like to advise you that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this hearing will be to hear testimony on the following measures:

S. 211, the Provo River Project Transfer Act;

S. 284, the Fort Sumner Project Title Conveyance Act;

S. 510, the Scofield Land Transfer Act;

S. 659, to reauthorize the Reclamation States Emergency

Drought Relief Act of 1991;

S. 684, to amend the Mni Wiconi Project Act of 1988 to

facilitate completion of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply

System, and for other purposes;

S. 693, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater

Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the

Interior to participate in the City of Hermiston, Oregon,

water recycling and reuse project, and for other purposes.

S.J. Res. 12, A joint resolution to consent to certain

amendments enacted by the legislature of the State of Hawaii

to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Act, 1920; and

H.R. 316 and S. Amdt. 579, the Collinsville Renewable

Energy Promotion Act.

For further information, please contact Sara Tucker at (202) 224-6224 or John Assini at (202) 224-9313.

Mr. President, I would like to advise you of an addition to a previously announced hearing before Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

In addition to the other measures previously announced, the Committee will also consider:

S. 684, to amend the Mni Wiconi Project Act of 1988 to

facilitate completion of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply

System, and for other purposes;

S. 693, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater

Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the

Interior to participate in the City of Hermiston, Oregon,

water recycling and reuse project, and for other purposes;

and

S. 715, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to use

designated funding to pay for construction of authorized

rural water projects, and for other purposes.

For further information, please contact Sara Tucker at (202) 224- 6224, or John Assini at (202) 224-9313.

Madam President, I thank my colleagues for their prompt consideration and passage of H.R. 862, a bill that would authorize the conveyance of 2.67 acres within the Coconino National Forest to landowners who built on those parcels in reliance on an erroneous survey.

On Tuesday, a relatively small 4-acre wildfire started just north of Sedona, AZ, near the Slide Rock State Park. It took less than 24 hours for the Slide Fire, as it is being called, to explode through the overgrown and dry vegetation and make its way up Oak Creek Canyon. In less than 2 days, estimates put the fire at 4,800 acres. Unfortunately, it appears poised to grow larger.

Some areas have already been evacuated and an estimated 3,200 people in the Kachina Village and Forest Highland communities were put on pre- evacuation notice last night. Nearby, the Mountainaire community sits approximately five miles from the fire line. As they watch smoke fill the sky near their homes, residents are preparing for the possibility of having to evacuate. For some of those residents, the imminent fire threat brings added uncertainly due to a longstanding boundary dispute.

The problem stems from an incorrect survey that was completed in 1960. Unbeknownst to the landowners, homes and other improvements were built based on that errant work. In 2007, a subsequent survey revealed the error and a number of landowners were alerted to the fact that portions of their property are within the Coconino National Forest boundary. As a result, these parcels have a cloud on their title that needs to be resolved through a land conveyance.

The Slide Fire has brought the impact of this survey error into further focus. Some of those homeowners have apparently been told by their insurance companies that if the Slide Fire destroys their homes, they will be compensated. However, it is unlikely they will be able to rebuild on the property because of the boundary dispute.

In my view, the least we can do during this difficult time is remove the boundary issue from the litany of concerns these families in the Mountainaire community are dealing with right now. That is why Senator McCain and I sought expedited consideration of H.R. 862 today through the unanimous consent process. This bill, which was introduced by Representatives Kirkpatrick and Gosar in the House, would enable the conveyance of the 2.67 acres that are tied up in this longstanding boundary issue to the private landowners.

The House passed this measure in June of last year by a vote of 395- 1, and it was favorably reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by voice vote late last year. The Forest Service has also issued a statement signaling its support for this measure.

I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate, in particular Senators McCain, Landrieu, and Murkowski, for their

support in moving this bill through the Senate today. It provides a much needed sliver of good news for families that are dealing with a significant threat. Likewise, I look forward to working my colleagues to find a path forward to proactively address the catastrophic wildfire situation that continues to plague the West.