United States 115th Congress Status: Passed Senate 1 R cosponsors

S 724 — A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.

Last action — Held at the desk.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) (Sec. 1) This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a preliminary permit to a hydropower construction license applicant for up to four years, instead of three. FERC may extend a preliminary permit once for no more than four years and may issue a new permit after the end of an extension if it determines there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of an additional permit. Additionally, FERC may extend the time a licensee has to commence construction on a project for up to eight years. Under current law, FERC may extend the license for no more than two years.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

17 added · 17 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill S 724 adds a provision that specifies when the obligation for payment of annual charges under section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act begins for licensees or exempts. It states that these obligations will not start until the later of the date construction is required to begin or any extended deadline for that construction. This matters because it clarifies the timeline for financial obligations related to projects that have not yet started construction, potentially providing more leeway for licensees and exempts in managing their financial commitments.

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Latest
724 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
724 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
100 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
724 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.
724 [Report No.
115-81] To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.
_______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 27, 2017 Ms.
Murkowski introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources May 24, 2017 Reported by Ms.
Murkowski, without amendment _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.
Calendar No.
(c) Obligation for Payment of Annual Charges.--Any obligation of a licensee or exemptee for the payment of annual charges under section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C.
100 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
803(e)) for a project that has not commenced construction as of the date of enactment of this Act shall commence not earlier than the latest of-- (1) the date by which the licensee or exemptee is required to commence construction;
724 [Report No.
or (2) the date of any extension of the deadline under paragraph (1).
115-81] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.
Passed the Senate June 28, 2018.
_______________________________________________________________________ May 24, 2017 Reported without amendment
Attest:
Secretary.
115th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
724 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.
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How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill revises the time limits for preliminary permits and construction deadlines under the Federal Power Act.

  • 16 U.S.C. § 798(a)

    three → 4

    This change increases the maximum duration of preliminary permits from three years to four years.

  • 16 U.S.C. § 798(b)

    the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 2 additional years beyond the 3 years → the period of a preliminary permit once for not more than 4 additional years beyond the 4 years

    This change allows for a longer extension of preliminary permits, increasing the maximum potential extension from two years to four years.

  • 16 U.S.C. § 798(b)

    . → ; and

    This change modifies the sentence structure to introduce an additional provision regarding the issuance of new permits.

  • 16 U.S.C. § 798(b)

    (2) after the end of an extension period granted under paragraph (1), issue an additional permit to the permittee if the Commission determines that there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of the additional permit.

    This establishes a new condition under which the Commission may issue an additional permit after an extension of a preliminary permit.

  • 16 U.S.C. § 806

    once but not longer than two additional years → for not more than 8 additional years,

    This increases the maximum extension period for the commencement of construction from two years to eight years.

  • 16 U.S.C. § 803(e)

    not earlier than the latest of-- (1) the date by which the licensee or exemptee is required to commence construction; or (2) the date of any extension of the deadline under paragraph (1).

    This change postpones the obligation to pay annual charges until construction is set to begin, providing flexibility for licensees.

Action History

  1. Received in the House.

  2. Held at the desk.

  3. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  4. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4808-4809; text: CR S4809)

  5. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  6. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-81.

  8. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-81.

  9. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 100.

  10. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  11. Introduced in Senate

  12. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 724 do?
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) (Sec. 1) This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a preliminary permit to a hydropower construction license applicant for up to four years, instead of three. FERC may extend a preliminary permit once for no more than four years and may issue a new permit after the end of an extension if it determines there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of an additional permit. Additionally, FERC may extend the time a licensee has to commence construction on a project for up to eight years. Under current law, FERC may extend the license for no more than two years.
Who sponsors S 724?
S 724 is sponsored by Murkowski, Lisa (Republican).
What is the current status of S 724?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 724?
Track S 724 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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