HR 6 EAS1S/PP
turing that was approved by the Administrator
1
under this part prior to the effective date of this
2
subsection.
3
‘‘(C) E
XISTING
REGULATIONS
.—A deter-
4
mination by the Administrator under paragraph
5
(3) that regulation is unnecessary will relieve all
6
States (including those with existing approved
7
programs for the regulation of hydraulic frac-
8
turing) from any further obligation to regulate
9
hydraulic fracturing as an underground injec-
10
tion under this part.
11
‘‘(5) D
EFINITION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
.—
12
For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘hydraulic
13
fracturing’ means the process of creating a fracture in
14
a reservoir rock, and injecting fluids and propping
15
agents, for the purposes of reservoir stimulation re-
16
lated to oil and gas production activities.
17
‘‘(6) S
AVINGS
.—Nothing in this subsection shall
18
in any way limit the authorities of the Administrator
19
under section 1431 (42 U.S.C. 300i).’’.
20
SEC. 611. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
21
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Admin-
22
istrator of the Environmental Protection Agency $100,000
23
for fiscal year 2003, to remain available until expended,
24
for a grant to the State of Alabama to assist in the imple-
25
†
162
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
mentation of its regulatory program under section 1425 of
1
the Safe Drinking Water Act.
2
SEC. 612. PRESERVATION OF OIL AND GAS RESOURCE
3
DATA.
4
The Secretary of the Interior, through the United
5
States Geological Survey, may enter into appropriate ar-
6
rangements with State agencies that conduct geological sur-
7
vey activities to collect, archive, and provide public access
8
to data and study results regarding oil and natural gas
9
resources. The Secretary may accept private contributions
10
of property and services for purposes of this section.
11
SEC 613. RESOLUTION OF FEDERAL RESOURCE DEVELOP-
12
MENT CONFLICTS IN THE POWDER RIVER
13
BASIN.
14
The Secretary of the Interior shall undertake a review
15
of existing authorities to resolve conflicts between the devel-
16
opment of Federal coal and the development of Federal and
17
non-Federal coalbed methane in the Powder River Basin
18
in Wyoming and Montana. Not later than 90 days from
19
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to Congress
20
on her plan to resolve these conflicts.
21
†
163
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
TITLE VII—NATURAL GAS
1
PIPELINES
2
Subtitle A—Alaska Natural Gas
3
Pipeline
4
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.
5
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Alaska Natural Gas
6
Pipeline Act of 2003’’.
7
SEC. 702. FINDINGS.
8
The Congress finds that:
9
(1) Construction of a natural gas pipeline sys-
10
tem from the Alaskan North Slope to United States
11
markets is in the national interest and will enhance
12
national energy security by providing access to the
13
significant gas reserves in Alaska needed to meet the
14
anticipated demand for natural gas.
15
(2) The Commission issued a conditional certifi-
16
cate of public convenience and necessity for the Alas-
17
ka Natural Gas Transportation System, which re-
18
mains in effect.
19
SEC. 703. PURPOSES.
20
The purposes of this subtitle are—
21
(1) to provide a statutory framework for the ex-
22
pedited approval, construction, and initial operation
23
of an Alaska natural gas transportation project, as
24
an alternative to the framework provided in the Alas-
25
†
164
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
ka Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (15
1
U.S.C. 719–719o), which remains in effect;
2
(2) to establish a process for providing access to
3
such transportation project in order to promote com-
4
petition in the exploration, development and produc-
5
tion of Alaska natural gas;
6
(3) to clarify Federal authorities under the Alas-
7
ka Natural Gas Transportation Act; and
8
(4) to authorize Federal financial assistance to
9
an Alaska natural gas transportation project as pro-
10
vided in this subtitle.
11
SEC. 704. ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVEN-
12
IENCE AND NECESSITY.
13
(a) A
UTHORITY
OF
THE
C
OMMISSION
.—Notwith-
14
standing the provisions of the Alaska Natural Gas Trans-
15
portation Act of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 719–719o), the Commis-
16
sion may, pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act
17
(15 U.S.C. 717f(c)), consider and act on an application for
18
the issuance of a certificate of public convenience and neces-
19
sity authorizing the construction and operation of an Alas-
20
ka natural gas transportation project other than the Alaska
21
Natural Gas Transportation System.
22
(b) I
SSUANCE OF
C
ERTIFICATE
.—(1) The Commission
23
shall issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity
24
authorizing the construction and operation of an Alaska
25
†
165
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
natural gas transportation project under this section if the
1
applicant has satisfied the requirements of section 7(e) of
2
the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f(e)).
3
(2) In considering an application under this section,
4
the Commission shall presume that—
5
(A) a public need exists to construct and operate
6
the proposed Alaska natural gas transportation
7
project; and
8
(B) sufficient downstream capacity will exist to
9
transport the Alaska natural gas moving through such
10
project to markets in the contiguous United States.
11
(c) E
XPEDITED
A
PPROVAL
P
ROCESS
.—The Commis-
12
sion shall issue a final order granting or denying any ap-
13
plication for a certificate of public convenience and neces-
14
sity under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C.
15
717f(c)) and this section not more than 60 days after the
16
issuance of the final environmental impact statement for
17
that project pursuant to section 705.
18
(d) P
ROHIBITION ON
C
ERTAIN
P
IPELINE
R
OUTE
.—No
19
license, permit, lease, right-of-way, authorization or other
20
approval required under Federal law for the construction
21
of any pipeline to transport natural gas from lands within
22
the Prudhoe Bay oil and gas lease area may be granted
23
for any pipeline that follows a route that traverses—
24
†
166
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
(1) the submerged lands (as defined by the Sub-
1
merged Lands Act) beneath, or the adjacent shoreline
2
of, the Beaufort Sea; and
3
(2) enters Canada at any point north of 68 de-
4
grees North latitude.
5
(e) O
PEN
S
EASON
.—Except where an expansion is or-
6
dered pursuant to section 706, initial or expansion capacity
7
on any Alaska natural gas transportation project shall be
8
allocated in accordance with procedures to be established
9
by the Commission in regulations governing the conduct of
10
open seasons for such project. Such procedures shall include
11
the criteria for and timing of any open seasons, be con-
12
sistent with the purposes set forth in section 703(2) and,
13
for any open season for capacity beyond the initial capac-
14
ity, provide the opportunity for the transportation of nat-
15
ural gas other than from the Prudhoe Bay and Point
16
Thompson units. The Commission shall issue such regula-
17
tions no later than 120 days after the enactment of this
18
subtitle.
19
(f) P
ROJECTS IN THE
C
ONTIGUOUS
U
NITED
S
TATES
.—
20
Applications for additional or expanded pipeline facilities
21
that may be required to transport Alaska natural gas from
22
Canada to markets in the contiguous United States may
23
be made pursuant to the Natural Gas Act. To the extent
24
such pipeline facilities include the expansion of any facility
25
†
167
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
constructed pursuant to the Alaska Natural Gas Transpor-
1
tation Act of 1976, the provisions of that Act shall continue
2
to apply.
3
(g) S
TUDY OF
I
N
-S
TATE
N
EEDS
.—The holder of the
4
certificate of public convenience and necessity issued, modi-
5
fied, or amended by the Commission for an Alaska natural
6
gas transportation project shall demonstrate that it has con-
7
ducted a study of Alaska in-State needs, including tie-in
8
points along the Alaska natural gas transportation project
9
for in-State access.
10
(h) A
LASKA
R
OYALTY
G
AS
.—The Commission, upon
11
the request of the State of Alaska and after a hearing, may
12
provide for reasonable access to the Alaska natural gas
13
transportation project for the State of Alaska or its designee
14
for the transportation of the State’s royalty gas for local
15
consumption needs within the State: Provided, That the
16
rates of existing shippers of subscribed capacity on such
17
project shall not be increased as a result of such access.
18
(i) R
EGULATIONS
.—The Commission may issue regu-
19
lations to carry out the provisions of this section.
20
SEC. 705. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.
21
(a) C
OMPLIANCE
W
ITH
NEPA.—The issuance of a cer-
22
tificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the
23
construction and operation of any Alaska natural gas
24
transportation project under section 704 shall be treated as
25
†
168
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality
1
of the human environment within the meaning of section
2
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of
3
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
4
(b) D
ESIGNATION OF
L
EAD
A
GENCY
.—The Commis-
5
sion shall be the lead agency for purposes of complying with
6
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and shall
7
be responsible for preparing the statement required by sec-
8
tion 102(2)(c) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) with re-
9
spect to an Alaska natural gas transportation project under
10
section 704. The Commission shall prepare a single environ-
11
mental statement under this section, which shall consolidate
12
the environmental reviews of all Federal agencies consid-
13
ering any aspect of the project.
14
(c) O
THER
A
GENCIES
.—All Federal agencies consid-
15
ering aspects of the construction and operation of an Alaska
16
natural gas transportation project under section 704 shall
17
cooperate with the Commission, and shall comply with
18
deadlines established by the Commission in the preparation
19
of the statement under this section. The statement prepared
20
under this section shall be used by all such agencies to sat-
21
isfy their responsibilities under section 102(2)(C) of the Na-
22
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
23
4332(2)(C)) with respect to such project.
24
†
169
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
(d) E
XPEDITED
P
ROCESS
.—The Commission shall
1
issue a draft statement under this section not later than
2
12 months after the Commission determines the application
3
to be complete and shall issue the final statement not later
4
than 6 months after the Commission issues the draft state-
5
ment, unless the Commission for good cause finds that addi-
6
tional time is needed.
7
SEC. 706. PIPELINE EXPANSION.
8
(a) A
UTHORITY
.—With respect to any Alaska natural
9
gas transportation project, upon the request of one or more
10
persons and after giving notice and an opportunity for a
11
hearing, the Commission may order the expansion of such
12
project if it determines that such expansion is required by
13
the present and future public convenience and necessity.
14
(b) R
EQUIREMENTS
.—Before ordering an expansion
15
the Commission shall—
16
(1) approve or establish rates for the expansion
17
service that are designed to ensure the recovery, on an
18
incremental or rolled-in basis, of the cost associated
19
with the expansion (including a reasonable rate of re-
20
turn on investment);
21
(2) ensure that the rates as established do not re-
22
quire existing shippers on the Alaska natural gas
23
transportation project to subsidize expansion ship-
24
pers;
25
†
170
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
(3) find that the proposed shipper will comply
1
with, and the proposed expansion and the expansion
2
of service will be undertaken and implemented based
3
on, terms and conditions consistent with the then-ef-
4
fective tariff of the Alaska natural gas transportation
5
project;
6
(4) find that the proposed facilities will not ad-
7
versely affect the financial or economic viability of the
8
Alaska natural gas transportation project;
9
(5) find that the proposed facilities will not ad-
10
versely affect the overall operations of the Alaska nat-
11
ural gas transportation project;
12
(6) find that the proposed facilities will not di-
13
minish the contract rights of existing shippers to pre-
14
viously subscribed certificated capacity;
15
(7) ensure that all necessary environmental re-
16
views have been completed; and
17
(8) find that adequate downstream facilities exist
18
or are expected to exist to deliver incremental Alaska
19
natural gas to market.
20
(c) R
EQUIREMENT
FOR
A
F
IRM
T
RANSPORTATION
21
A
GREEMENT
.—Any order of the Commission issued pursu-
22
ant to this section shall be null and void unless the person
23
or persons requesting the order executes a firm transpor-
24
tation agreement with the Alaska natural gas transpor-
25
†
171
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
tation project within a reasonable period of time as speci-
1
fied in such order.
2
(d) L
IMITATION
.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
3
strued to expand or otherwise affect any authorities of the
4
Commission with respect to any natural gas pipeline lo-
5
cated outside the State of Alaska.
6
(e) R
EGULATIONS
.—The Commission may issue regu-
7
lations to carry out the provisions of this section.
8
SEC. 707. FEDERAL COORDINATOR.
9
(a) E
STABLISHMENT
.—There is established as an inde-
10
pendent establishment in the executive branch, the Office
11
of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Trans-
12
portation Projects.
13
(b) T
HE
F
EDERAL
C
OORDINATOR
.—The Office shall be
14
headed by a Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas
15
Transportation Projects, who shall—
16
(1) be appointed by the President, by and with
17
the advice of the Senate,
18
(2) hold office at the pleasure of the President,
19
and
20
(3) be compensated at the rate prescribed for
21
level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5314).
22
(c) D
UTIES
.—The Federal Coordinator shall be respon-
23
sible for—
24
†
172
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
(1) coordinating the expeditious discharge of all
1
activities by Federal agencies with respect to an Alas-
2
ka natural gas transportation project; and
3
(2) ensuring the compliance of Federal agencies
4
with the provisions of this subtitle.
5
(d) R
EVIEWS
AND
A
CTIONS
OF
O
THER
F
EDERAL
6
A
GENCIES
.—(1) All reviews conducted and actions taken by
7
any Federal officer or agency relating to an Alaska natural
8
gas transportation project authorized under this section
9
shall be expedited, in a manner consistent with completion
10
of the necessary reviews and approvals by the deadlines set
11
forth in this subtitle.
12
(2) No Federal officer or agency shall have the author-
13
ity to include terms and conditions that are permitted, but
14
not required, by law on any certificate, right-of-way, per-
15
mit, lease or other authorization issued to an Alaska nat-
16
ural gas transportation project if the Federal Coordinator
17
determines that the terms and conditions would prevent or
18
impair in any significant respect the expeditious construc-
19
tion and operation of the project.
20
(3) Unless required by law, no Federal officer or agen-
21
cy shall add to, amend, or abrogate any certificate, right-
22
of-way, permit, lease or other authorization issued to an
23
Alaska natural gas transportation project if the Federal Co-
24
ordinator determines that such action would prevent or im-
25
†
173
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
pair in any significant respect the expeditious construction
1
and operation of the project.
2
(e) S
TATE
C
OORDINATION
.—The Federal Coordinator
3
shall enter into a Joint Surveillance and Monitoring Agree-
4
ment, approved by the President and the Governor of Alas-
5
ka, with the State of Alaska similar to that in effect during
6
construction of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline to monitor
7
the construction of the Alaska natural gas transportation
8
project. The Federal Government shall have primary sur-
9
veillance and monitoring responsibility where the Alaska
10
natural gas transportation project crosses Federal lands
11
and private lands, and the State government shall have pri-
12
mary surveillance and monitoring responsibility where the
13
Alaska natural gas transportation project crosses State
14
lands.
15
SEC. 708. JUDICIAL REVIEW.
16
(a) E
XCLUSIVE
J
URISDICTION
.—The United States
17
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit shall
18
have exclusive jurisdiction to determine—
19
(1) the validity of any final order or action (in-
20
cluding a failure to act) of any Federal agency or of-
21
ficer under this subtitle;
22
(2) the constitutionality of any provision of this
23
subtitle, or any decision made or action taken there-
24
under; or
25
†
174
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
(3) the adequacy of any environmental impact
1
statement prepared under the National Environ-
2
mental Policy Act of 1969 with respect to any action
3
under this subtitle.
4
(b) D
EADLINE FOR
F
ILING
C
LAIM
.—Claims arising
5
under this subtitle may be brought not later than 60 days
6
after the date of the decision or action giving rise to the
7
claim.
8
(c) E
XPEDITED
C
ONSIDERATION
.—The United States
9
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit shall
10
set any action brought under subsection (a) of this section
11
for expedited consideration, taking into account the na-
12
tional interest as described in section 702 of this subtitle.
13
(d) A
MENDMENT TO
ANGTA.—Section 10(c) of the
14
Alaska Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 719h)
15
is amended by adding the following paragraph:
16
‘‘(2) E
XPEDITED CONSIDERATION
.—The United
17
States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
18
Circuit shall set any action brought under subsection
19
(a) of this section for expedited consideration, taking
20
into account the national interest described in section
21
2 of this Act.’’.
22
†
175
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
SEC. 709. STATE JURISDICTION OVER IN-STATE DELIVERY
1
OF NATURAL GAS.
2
(a) L
OCAL
D
ISTRIBUTION
.—Any facility receiving
3
natural gas from the Alaska natural gas transportation
4
project for delivery to consumers within the State of Alaska
5
shall be deemed to be a local distribution facility within
6
the meaning of section 1(b) of the Natural Gas Act (15
7
U.S.C. 717), and therefore not subject to the jurisdiction
8
of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
9
(b) A
DDITIONAL
P
IPELINES
.—Nothing in this subtitle,
10
except as provided in subsection 704(d), shall preclude or
11
affect a future gas pipeline that may be constructed to de-
12
liver natural gas to Fairbanks, Anchorage, Matanuska-
13
Susitna Valley, or the Kenai peninsula or Valdez or any
14
other site in the State of Alaska for consumption within
15
or distribution outside the State of Alaska.
16
(c) R
ATE
C
OORDINATION
.—Pursuant to the Natural
17
Gas Act, the Commission shall establish rates for the trans-
18
portation of natural gas on the Alaska natural gas trans-
19
portation project. In exercising such authority, the Commis-
20
sion, pursuant to Section 17(b) of the Natural Gas Act (15
21
U.S.C. 717p), shall confer with the State of Alaska regard-
22
ing rates (including rate settlements) applicable to natural
23
gas transported on and delivered from the Alaska natural
24
gas transportation project for use within the State of Alas-
25
ka.
26
†
176
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
SEC. 710. LOAN GUARANTEE.
1
(a) A
UTHORITY
.—The Secretary of Energy may guar-
2
antee not more than 80 percent of the principal of any loan
3
made to the holder of a certificate of public convenience and
4
necessity issued under section 704(b) of this Act or section
5
9 of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976
6
(15 U.S.C. 719g) for the purpose of constructing an Alaska
7
natural gas transportation project.
8
(b) C
ONDITIONS
.—(1) The Secretary of Energy may
9
not guarantee a loan under this section unless the guarantee
10
has filed an application for a certificate of public conven-
11
ience and necessity under section 704(b) of this Act or for
12
an amended certificate under section 9 of the Alaska Nat-
13
ural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 719g) with
14
the Commission not later than 18 months after the date of
15
enactment of this subtitle.
16
(2) A loan guaranteed under this section shall be made
17
by a financial institution subject to the examination of the
18
Secretary.
19
(3) Loan requirements, including term, maximum size,
20
collateral requirements and other features shall be deter-
21
mined by the Secretary.
22
(c) L
IMITATION ON
A
MOUNT
.—Commitments to guar-
23
antee loans may be made by the Secretary of Energy only
24
to the extent that the total loan principal, any part of which
25
is guaranteed, will not exceed $10,000,000,000.
26
†
177
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
(d) R
EGULATIONS
.—The Secretary of Energy may
1
issue regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.
2
(e) A
UTHORIZATION OF
A
PPROPRIATIONS
.—There are
3
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums
4
as may be necessary to cover the cost of loan guarantees,
5
as defined by section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform
6
Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a(5)).
7
SEC. 711. STUDY OF ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF CONSTRUC-
8
TION.
9
(a) R
EQUIREMENT OF
S
TUDY
.—If no application for
10
the issuance of a certificate or amended certificate of public
11
convenience and necessity authorizing the construction and
12
operation of an Alaska natural gas transportation project
13
has been filed with the Commission within 18 months after
14
the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary of Energy
15
shall conduct a study of alternative approaches to the con-
16
struction and operation of the project.
17
(b) S
COPE OF
S
TUDY
.—The study shall consider the
18
feasibility of establishing a Government corporation to con-
19
struct an Alaska natural gas transportation project, and
20
alternative means of providing Federal financing and own-
21
ership (including alternative combinations of Government
22
and private corporate ownership) of the project.
23
(c) C
ONSULTATION
.—In conducting the study, the Sec-
24
retary of Energy shall consult with the Secretary of the
25
†
178
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
Treasury and the Secretary of the Army (acting through
1
the Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers).
2
(d) R
EPORT
.—If the Secretary of Energy is required
3
to conduct a study under subsection (a), he shall submit
4
a report containing the results of the study, his rec-
5
ommendations, and any proposals for legislation to imple-
6
ment his recommendations to the Congress within 6 months
7
after the expiration of the Secretary of Energy’s authority
8
to guarantee a loan under section 710.
9
SEC. 712. CLARIFICATION OF ANGTA STATUS AND AUTHORI-
10
TIES.
11
(a) S
AVINGS
C
LAUSE
.—Nothing in this subtitle affects
12
any decision, certificate, permit, right-of-way, lease, or
13
other authorization issued under section 9 of the Alaska
14
Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 719g)
15
or any Presidential findings or waivers issued in accord-
16
ance with that Act.
17
(b) C
LARIFICATION OF
A
UTHORITY TO
A
MEND
T
ERMS
18
AND
C
ONDITIONS TO
M
EET
C
URRENT
P
ROJECT
R
EQUIRE
-
19
MENTS
.—Any Federal officer or agency responsible for
20
granting or issuing any certificate, permit, right-of-way,
21
lease, or other authorization under section 9 of the Alaska
22
Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 719g)
23
may add to, amend, or abrogate any term or condition in-
24
cluded in such certificate, permit, right-of-way, lease, or
25
†
179
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
other authorization to meet current project requirements
1
(including the physical design, facilities, and tariff speci-
2
fications), so long as such action does not compel a change
3
in the basic nature and general route of the Alaska Natural
4
Gas Transportation System as designated and described in
5
section 2 of the President’s Decision, or would otherwise
6
prevent or impair in any significant respect the expeditious
7
construction and initial operation of such transportation
8
system.
9
(c) U
PDATED
E
NVIRONMENTAL
R
EVIEWS
.—The Sec-
10
retary of Energy shall require the sponsor of the Alaska
11
Natural Gas Transportation System to submit such up-
12
dated environmental data, reports, permits, and impact
13
analyses as the Secretary determines are necessary to de-
14
velop detailed terms, conditions, and compliance plans re-
15
quired by section 5 of the President’s Decision.
16
SEC. 713. DEFINITIONS.
17
For purposes of this subtitle:
18
(1) The term ‘‘Alaska natural gas’’ means nat-
19
ural gas derived from the area of the State of Alaska
20
lying north of 64 degrees North latitude.
21
(2) The term ‘‘Alaska natural gas transportation
22
project’’ means any natural gas pipeline system that
23
carries Alaska natural gas to the border between Alas-
24
ka and Canada (including related facilities subject to
25
†
180
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
the jurisdiction of the Commission) that is authorized
1
under either—
2
(A) the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation
3
Act of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 719–719o); or
4
(B) section 704 of this subtitle.
5
(3) The term ‘‘Alaska Natural Gas Transpor-
6
tation System’’ means the Alaska natural gas trans-
7
portation project authorized under the Alaska Natural
8
Gas Transportation Act of 1976 and designated and
9
described in section 2 of the President’s Decision.
10
(4) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal
11
Energy Regulatory Commission.
12
(5) The term ‘‘President’s Decision’’ means the
13
Decision and Report to Congress on the Alaska Nat-
14
ural Gas Transportation system issued by the Presi-
15
dent on September 22, 1977 pursuant to section 7 of
16
the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976
17
(15 U.S.C. 719c) and approved by Public Law 95–
18
158.
19
SEC. 714. SENSE OF THE SENATE.
20
It is the sense of the Senate that an Alaska natural
21
gas transportation project will provide significant economic
22
benefits to the United States and Canada. In order to maxi-
23
mize those benefits, the Senate urges the sponsors of the
24
pipeline project to make every effort to use steel that is man-
25
†
181
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
ufactured or produced in North America and to negotiate
1
a project labor agreement to expedite construction of the
2
pipeline.
3
SEC. 715. ALASKAN PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION TRAINING
4
PROGRAM.
5
(a) Within six months after enactment of this Act, the
6
Secretary of Labor (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
7
retary’’) shall submit a report to the Committee on Energy
8
and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the
9
Committee on Resources of the United States House of Rep-
10
resentatives setting forth a program to train Alaska resi-
11
dents in the skills and crafts required in the design, con-
12
struction, and operation of an Alaska gas pipeline system
13
and that will enhance employment and contracting oppor-
14
tunities for Alaskan residents. The report shall also describe
15
any laws, rules, regulations and policies which act as a de-
16
terrent to hiring Alaskan residents or contracting with
17
Alaskan residents to perform work on Alaska gas pipelines,
18
together with any recommendations for change. For pur-
19
poses of this subsection, Alaskan residents shall be defined
20
as those individuals eligible to vote within the State of Alas-
21
ka on the date of enactment of this Act.
22
(b) Within 1 year of the date the report is transmitted
23
to Congress, the Secretary shall establish within the State
24
of Alaska, at such locations as are appropriate, one or more
25
†
182
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
training centers for the express purpose of training Alaskan
1
residents in the skills and crafts necessary in the design,
2
construction and operation of gas pipelines in Alaska. Each
3
such training center shall also train Alaskan residents in
4
the skills required to write, offer, and monitor contracts in
5
support of the design, construction, and operation of Alaska
6
gas pipelines.
7
(c) In implementing the report and program described
8
in this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the Alas-
9
kan Governor.
10
(d) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
11
retary such sums as may be necessary, but not to exceed
12
$20,000,000 for the purposes of this subsection.
13
Subtitle B—Operating Pipelines
14
SEC. 721. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING OF
15
NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECTS.
16
(a) I
NTERAGENCY
R
EVIEW
.—The Chairman of the
17
Council on Environmental Quality, in coordination with
18
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, shall establish
19
an interagency task force to develop an interagency memo-
20
randum of understanding to expedite the environmental re-
21
view and permitting of natural gas pipeline projects.
22
(b) M
EMBERSHIP OF
I
NTERAGENCY
T
ASK
F
ORCE
.—
23
The task force shall consist of—
24
†
183
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
(1) the Chairman of the Council on Environ-
1
mental Quality, who shall serve as the Chairman of
2
the interagency task force,
3
(2) the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regu-
4
latory Commission,
5
(3) the Director of the Bureau of Land Manage-
6
ment,
7
(4) the Director of the United States Fish and
8
Wildlife Service,
9
(5) the Commanding General, United States
10
Army Corps of Engineers,
11
(6) the Chief of the Forest Service,
12
(7) the Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
13
tection Agency,
14
(8) the Chairman of the Advisory Council on
15
Historic Preservation, and
16
(9) the heads of such other agencies as the Chair-
17
man of the Council on Environmental Quality and
18
the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
19
mission deem appropriate.
20
(c) M
EMORANDUM OF
U
NDERSTANDING
.—The agencies
21
represented by the members of the interagency task force
22
shall enter into the memorandum of understanding not
23
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
24
section.
25
†
184
HR 6 EAS1S/PP
Subtitle C—Pipeline Safety
1
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: | 
