Docket HopperPart I · Bills · 113th H.R. 678
H.R. 678 · 113th CongressPublic Law 113-24Energy

Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act became law 177 days after introduction, with cosponsors from both parties

Sponsored by Tipton, Scott R. R-CO · 11 cosponsors: 1 Democrat, 10 Republicans
IntroducedFeb 13, 2013
ReportedMar 20, 2013
Passed one chamberApr 10, 2013
Passed bothAug 1, 2013
LawAug 9, 2013
What it changes · CRS summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 344 words.

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 10, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities. Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance. Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved conduit. Defines: (1) reserved conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) transferred conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district. Requires the Secretary to offer the lease of power privilege to other parties if the irrigation district or water users association elects not to accept a lease of power privilege offer. Requires the Bureau to apply its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to small conduit hydropower, except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands. Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities. (Thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC].) Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.

Context
Committees
House Natural Resources Committee
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Policy area
Energy: 27 of 2,251 bills became law, 113th–118th (1.2%)
Sponsor
6 of 93 bills enacted since 2013
Text versions
7, from enrolled bill to public law · 1,122 words
Subjects
Alternative and renewable resourcesDams and canalsElectric power generation and transmissionEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchWater use and supply
Latest action
Aug 9, 2013: Became Public Law No: 113-24.
Records
Congress.gov · Bill text
Exhibit 1Passage odds band at each stage, rated when the bill reached it [4]
Related bills · 4

Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 4 in all.

Identical or companion · 1
  • 113th S. 306 Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act R · Reported
Procedural (rules, motions) · 1
  • 113th H.Res. 140 Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 678) to authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development unde R · Agreed to
Related, per CRS or House · 2
  • 113th H.R. 1963 Bureau of Reclamation Conduit Hydropower Development Equity and Jobs Act R · Passed one chamber
  • 113th H.R. 2 American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act R · Passed one chamber

See these 31 bills on the network map →

Exhibit 2Articles naming the bill per day, last 90 days, US sources [3]