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S. 163Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act

Sponsored by Dan SullivanSen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Introduced January 16, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:43 AM UTC

The Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act changes EPA rules so that diesel generators used in remote parts of Alaska must have engines certified to meet at least Tier 3 particulate‑matter standards. It also directs the EPA, together with the Energy Department, to study within a year how the federal government can help those remote Alaskan areas obtain affordable and reliable power using existing emissions‑control technology or comparable alternatives.

Key Provisions

  • EPA must amend its regulation (40 CFR § 60.4216(c)) to require that remote diesel engines be certified to meet Tier 3 PM standards, removing the previous exemption language.
  • Within one year of the law’s enactment, EPA and the Energy Department must submit a report to Congress outlining options for the federal government to assist remote Alaskan communities in meeting their energy needs affordably and reliably, using either existing emissions‑control technology or other technologies that achieve similar emissions reductions.

Legislative Activity

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19 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-62.

October 4, 2019

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 16, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

January 16, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Environment and Public Works Committee

February 5, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Barrasso without amendment. Without written report.

Environment and Public Works Committee

February 5, 2019

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 19.

February 5, 2019

SenateCommittee

By Senator Barrasso from Committee on Environment and Public Works filed written report. Report No. 116-2.

Environment and Public Works Committee

February 25, 2019

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2982; text: CR S2982)

May 20, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

May 21, 2019

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

May 21, 2019 • 12:38 PM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 21, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.

Environment Subcommittee

May 22, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. Pallone asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

September 17, 2019 • 7:23 PM

HouseCommittee

Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

Energy and Commerce Committee

September 17, 2019

HouseFloor

Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H7744-7745)

September 17, 2019 • 7:23 PM

SenateFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H7744-7745)

September 17, 2019 • 7:23 PM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H7744-7745)

September 17, 2019 • 7:23 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

September 17, 2019 • 7:23 PM

President

Presented to President.

September 23, 2019

Became Law

Signed by President.

October 4, 2019

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-62.

October 4, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 163 on the floor

1 Republican
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · May 20, 2019

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 19, S. 163. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and…

Record

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

1st Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen

S. 163

AN ACT

To prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines due to emission control devices, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act.

2.

Revision of regulations required

(a)

In general

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall revise section 60.4216(c) of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), by striking that was not certified and all that follows through compared to engine-out emissions and inserting must have that engine certified as meeting at least Tier 3 PM standards.

(b)

Emissions and energy reliability study

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report assessing options for the Federal Government to assist remote areas in the State of Alaska in meeting the energy needs of those areas in an affordable and reliable manner using—

(1)

existing emissions control technology; or

(2)

other technology that achieves emissions reductions similar to the technology described in paragraph (1).

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate