,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #cdj #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bhhj ,report ,no4 #aae-deh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #ab1 #bjag ,mr4 ,griffith introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,december #aa1 #bjag ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed ,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,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 closed-loop pumped storage hydropower1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,promoting ,closed-,loop ,pumped ,storage ,hydropower ,act4 #b4 ,closed-loop pumped storage projects ,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 ,closed-loop pumped storage projects 7a7 ,expedited licensing process for closed-loop pumped storage projects 7#a7 ,in general ,as provided in this section1 the ,commission may issue and amend licenses and preliminary permits1 as appropriate1 for closed-loop pumped storage projects4 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 closed-loop pumped storage projects 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 closed-loop pumped storage projects4 7#d7 ,length of ,process ,the ,commission shall ensure that the expedited process under this section will result in final decision on an application for a license by not later than #b years after receipt of a completed application for such license4 7b7 ,dam safety ,before issuing any license for a closed-loop pumped storage project1 the ,commission shall assess the safety of existing dams and other structures related to the project 7including possible consequences associated with failure of such structures74 7c7 ,exemptions from other requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,in issuing or amending a license or preliminary permit pursuant to the expedited process established under this section1 the ,commission may grant an exemption from any other requirement of this part with respect to any part of the closed-loop pumped storage project 7not including any dam or other impoundment74 7#b7 ,consultation ,in granting an exemption under paragraph 7#a71 the ,commission shall consult with the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and the ,state agency exercising administration over the fish and wildlife resources of the ,state in which the closed-loop pumped storage project is or will be located1 in the manner provided by the ,fish and ,wildlife ,coordination ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffa et seq474 7#c7 ,terms and conditions ,in granting an exemption under paragraph 7#a71 the ,commission shall include in any such exemption-- 7,a7 such terms and conditions as the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 ,national ,marine ,fisheries ,service1 and the ,state agency described in paragraph 7#b7 each determine are appropriate to prevent loss of1 or damage to1 fish and wildlife resources and to otherwise carry out the purposes of the ,fish and ,wildlife ,coordination ,act2 and 7,b7 such terms and conditions as the ,commission deems appropriate to ensure that such closed-loop pumped storage project continues to comply with the provisions of this section and terms and conditions included in any such exemption4 7#d7 ,fees ,the ,commission1 in addition to the requirements of section #aj7;e71 shall establish fees which shall be paid by an applicant for a license for a closed-loop pumped storage project that is required to meet terms and conditions set by fish and wildlife agencies under paragraph 7#c74 ,such fees shall be adequate to reimburse the fish and wildlife agencies referred to in paragraph 7#c7 for any reasonable costs incurred in connection with any studies or other reviews carried out by such agencies for purposes of compliance with this section4 ,the fees shall1 subject to annual appropriations ,acts1 be transferred to such agencies by the ,commission for use solely for purposes of carrying out such studies and shall remain available until expended4 7d7 ,transfers ,notwithstanding section #e1 and regardless of whether the holder of a preliminary permit for a closed-loop pumped storage project claimed municipal preference under section #g7;a7 when obtaining the permit1 the ,commission may1 to facilitate development of a closed-loop pumped storage project-- 7#a7 add entities as joint permittees following issuance of a preliminary permit2 and 7#b7 transfer a license in part to one or more nonmunicipal entities as co-licensees with a municipality1 if the municipality retains majority ownership of the project for which the license was issued4 7e7 ,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 closed-loop pumped storage project submitted pursuant to 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 7f7 ,developing abandoned mines for pumped storage 7#a7 ,workshop ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,commission shall hold a workshop to explore potential opportunities for development of closed-loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites4 7#b7 ,guidance ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,commission shall issue guidance to assist applicants for licenses or preliminary permits for closed-loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites4 7g7 ,qualifying criteria for closed-loop pumped storage projects 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall establish criteria that a pumped storage project shall meet in order to qualify as a closed-loop pumped storage project eligible for the expedited process established under this section4 7#b7 ,inclusions ,in establishing the criteria under paragraph 7#a71 the ,commission shall include criteria requiring that the pumped storage project-- 7,a7 cause little to no change to existing surface and groundwater flows and uses2 and 7,b7 is unlikely to adversely affect species listed as a threatened species or endangered species under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc4 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 #aa1 #bjag ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed