HOUSE BILL REPORT

HJM 4040

BYRepresentatives Barnes, Nelson, Todd and Jacobsen

Petitioning Congress and the federal energy regulatory commission to oversee a revision to FERC Order No. 481.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass. (14)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Gallagher, Hankins, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, Meyers, Miller, Sutherland, Unsoeld and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES JANUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The federal Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1986 gave states a definite role in hydroelectric project licensing proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) through a state comprehensive hydroelectric development plan.  Accordingly, the state has taken the first steps toward development of a state plan and intends to complete one.  In October, FERC adopted rules delineating content requirements for state plans that are essentially infeasible of fulfillment.  As a result, states are effectively denied their Congressionally- mandated participatory role in hydroelectric project licensing. The legislature, speaking as one voice, may be able to decisively influence FERC to revise its rules so as to make them functional.

SUMMARY:

FERC is asked to revise its rules on the contents of state comprehensive hydroelectric development plans in cooperation with states so as to make the rules functional and enabling for states to exercise their Congressionally-mandated role in hydroelectric project licensing.  The President and Congress are asked to oversee the revision in order to obtain the desired result.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Rod Sakrison, Department of Ecology, also speaking for the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Energy Office and the Parks and Recreation Commission.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    FERC Order No. 481 is not now workable and needs to be changed.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.