115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 724
AN ACT
To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.
Modernizing authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals
Preliminary permits
Section 5 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 798) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking three
and inserting 4
; and
in subsection (b)—
by striking Commission may extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 2 additional years beyond the 3 years
and inserting the following:
Commission may—
extend the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 4 additional years beyond the 4 years
;
by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
after the end of an extension period granted under paragraph (1), issue an additional permit to the permittee if the Commission determines that there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of the additional permit.
.
Time limit for construction of project works
Section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) is amended in the second sentence by striking once but not longer than two additional years
and inserting for not more than 8 additional years,
.
Obligation for Payment of Annual Charges
Any obligation of a licensee or exemptee for the payment of annual charges under section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803(e)) for a project that has not commenced construction as of the date of enactment of this Act shall commence not earlier than the latest of—
the date by which the licensee or exemptee is required to commence construction; or
the date of any extension of the deadline under paragraph (1).
Passed the Senate June 28, 2018.
Secretary