A bill to provide for Alaska state jurisdiction over small hydroelectric projects.

Summary

Amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to discontinue its licensing and regulatory authority over certain new, small (power production capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or less) qualifying hydroelectric project works in Alaska, effective upon FERC certification that Alaska has a regulatory program in place for water-power development meeting specified criteria. Prescribes such criteria as: (1) protection of certain public and environmental interests to the same extent provided by FERC and specified Federal law; (2) equal consideration given to energy conservation, fish and wildlife protection, recreational opportunities, environmental quality, the interests of Alaska Natives, and beneficial public uses; and (3) licensing requirements for construction, operation and maintenance of lights, signals, and fishways by a licensee at its own expense, operation of navigation facilities subject to Secretary of the Army regulations, and fish and wildlife protection and enhancement based upon Federal and State agency recommendations. Authorizes the licensee of a project works licensed before enactment of this Act to elect to subject such works to licensing and regulation by Alaska in accordance with this Act. Declares that, with respect to project works on an Indian reservation, a conservation system unit, or Federal public lands, a State license or exemption from license shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary having jurisdiction over such lands, and such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. Requires FERC to consult with the Secretaries of the Interior, of Agriculture, and of Commerce before certifying Alaska's regulatory program. Requires the State of Alaska to notify FERC within 30 days after making any significant modification to its regulatory program. Requires FERC to reassert its regulatory and licensing authority if Alaska has not complied with one or more requirements of this Act. Prescribes FERC compliance review procedures.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

No timeline events have been ingested for this record yet.

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

11 official files

• Referred in House (text)

  Referred in House · EN · 12 April 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Referred in House (PDF)

  Referred in House · EN · 12 April 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in Senate (text)

  Engrossed in Senate · EN · 25 March 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

  Engrossed in Senate · EN · 25 March 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 25 March 1999

  Open at official source

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 19 March 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 19 March 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 19 March 1999

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 11 February 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 11 February 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 11 February 1999

  Open at official source

Sponsors

No sponsors or actors listed by the source.

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.