,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #cdc #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bhgb ,report ,no4 #aae-dfa1 ,part ,i ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #ab1 #bjag ,mr4 ,bucshon introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,december #ab1 #bjag ,reported with an amendment and referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure for a period ending not later than ,december #ab1 #bjag1 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of those committees under clause #a7m7 and #a7r71 of rule ,x respectively ,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,december #ab1 #bjag,the ,committees on ,natural ,resources and ,transportation and ,infrastructure discharged2 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union and ordered to be printed ,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,june #ab1 #bjag ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,federal ,power ,act to promote hydropower development at existing nonpowered dams1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,promoting ,hydropower ,development at ,existing ,nonpowered ,dams ,act4 #b4 ,promoting hydropower development at existing nonpowered dams ,part ,i of the ,federal ,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gib et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cd4 ,promoting hydropower development at existing nonpowered dams 7a7 ,expedited licensing process for non-,federal hydropower projects at existing nonpowered dams 7#a7 ,in general ,as provided in this section1 the ,commission may issue and amend licenses and preliminary permits1 as appropriate1 for any facility the ,commission determines is a qualifying facility4 7#b7 ,rule ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,commission shall issue a rule establishing an expedited process for issuing and amending licenses and preliminary permits for qualifying facilities under this section4 7#c7 ,interagency ,task ,force ,in establishing the expedited process under this section1 the ,commission shall convene an interagency task force1 with appropriate ,federal and ,state agencies and ,indian tribes represented1 to coordinate the regulatory processes associated with the authorizations required to construct and operate a qualifying facility4 7#d7 ,length of ,process ,the ,commission shall ensure that the expedited process under this section will result in a final decision on an application for a license by not later than #b years after receipt of a completed application for the license4 7b7 ,dam safety 7#a7 ,assessment ,before issuing any license for a qualifying facility1 the ,commission shall assess the safety of existing non-,federal dams and other non-,federal structures related to the qualifying facility 7including possible consequences associated with failure of such structures74 7#b7 ,requirements ,in issuing any license for a qualifying facility1 the ,commission shall ensure that the ,commission's dam safety requirements apply to such qualifying facility1 and the associated qualifying nonpowered dam1 over the term of such license4 7c7 ,interagency communications ,interagency cooperation in the preparation of environmental documents under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 with respect to an application for a license for a qualifying facility under this section1 and interagency communications relating to licensing process coordination pursuant to this section1 shall not-- 7#a7 be considered to be ex parte communications under ,commission rules2 or 7#b7 preclude an agency from participating in a licensing proceeding under this part4 7d7 ,identification of nonpowered dams for hydropower development 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,commission1 with the ,secretary of the ,army1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 and the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 shall jointly develop a list of existing nonpowered ,federal dams that the ,commission and the ,secretaries agree have the greatest potential for non-,federal hydropower development4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in developing the list under paragraph 7#a71 the ,commission and the ,secretaries may consider the following3 7,a7 ,the compatibility of hydropower generation with existing purposes of the dam4 7,b7 ,the proximity of the dam to existing transmission resources4 7,c7 ,the existence of studies to characterize environmental1 cultural1 and historic resources relating to the dam4 7,d7 ,the effects of hydropower development on release or flow operations of the dam4 7#c7 ,availability ,the ,commission shall-- 7,a7 provide the list developed under paragraph 7#a7 to-- 7i7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7ii7 the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works1 and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources1 of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 make such list available to the public4 7e7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section3 7#a7 ,qualifying criteria ,the term qualifying criteria means1 with respect to a facility-- 7,a7 as of the date of enactment of this section1 the facility is not licensed under1 or exempted from the license requirements contained in1 this part2 7,b7 the facility will be associated with a qualifying nonpowered dam2 7,c7 the facility will be constructed1 operated1 and maintained for the generation of electric power2 7,d7 the facility will use for such generation any withdrawals1 diversions1 releases1 or flows from the associated qualifying nonpowered dam1 including its associated impoundment or other infrastructure2 and 7,e7 the operation of the facility will not result in any material change to the storage1 release1 or flow operations of the associated qualifying nonpowered dam4 7#b7 ,qualifying facility ,the term qualifying facility means a facility that is determined under this section to meet the qualifying criteria4 7#c7 ,qualifying nonpowered dam ,the term qualifying nonpowered dam means any dam1 dike1 embankment1 or other barrier-- 7,a7 the construction of which was completed on or before the date of enactment of this section2 7,b7 that is or was operated for the control1 release1 or distribution of water for agricultural1 municipal1 navigational1 industrial1 commercial1 environmental1 recreational1 aesthetic1 drinking water1 or flood control purposes2 and 7,c7 that1 as of the date of enactment of this section1 is not generating electricity with hydropower generating works that are licensed under1 or exempted from the license requirements contained in1 this part4 4 #c4 ,obligation for payment of annual charges ,section #aj7;e7 of the ,federal ,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hjc7;e77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#e7 ,any obligation of a licensee for payment of annual charges under this subsection shall commence when the construction of the applicable facility commences4 4 ,december #ab1 #bjag ,reported with an amendment and referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure for a period ending not later than ,december #ab1 #bjag1 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of those committees under clause #a7m7 and #a7r71 of rule ,x respectively,december #ab1 #bjag,the ,committees on ,natural ,resources and ,transportation and ,infrastructure discharged2 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union and ordered to be printed