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HR 651105th CongressSigned into LawHouse

To extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act for the construction of a hydroelectric project located in the State of Washington, and for other purposes.

Policy Area: Energy
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
House
Last Updated
Mar 24, 2026
Latest Action Date
Jul 14, 1998

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 105-189.

Official Summary

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, upon request of the project licensee, to extend for a maximum of three consecutive two-year periods the time period during which the licensee is required to commence construction of a certain hydroelectric project in the State of Washington. Provides for reinstatement of any currently expired license.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

This bill directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend the deadline for commencing construction of a specific hydroelectric project located in Washington State. Upon request by the project licensee, FERC may grant up to three consecutive extensions, each lasting two years. Additionally, the bill allows for the reinstatement of any license that has already expired for this project. The purpose is to provide additional time for the project to begin construction under the Federal Power Act.

Bottom Line

The law extends construction deadlines and reinstates expired licenses for a hydroelectric project in Washington, allowing more time for project development under federal regulation.

Policy Risk Level
🟢 Low
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • FERC is authorized to grant up to three consecutive two-year extensions for starting construction of the hydroelectric project.
  • The extensions are available only upon request from the project licensee.
  • Any license for the project that has expired can be reinstated under this law.
Who Benefits?

['The project licensee responsible for the hydroelectric project in Washington State', 'Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) through clarified authority', 'Potentially the energy sector and local stakeholders involved in the hydroelectric project']

Potential Concerns

['The bill grants extended authority to FERC to delay project commencement, which could affect project timelines and regulatory certainty.', 'Reinstatement of expired licenses may raise questions about oversight and enforcement of original deadlines.', 'No explicit cost or funding provisions are detailed, which may affect administrative or monitoring resources.']

Political Context

This bill was enacted during the 105th Congress and signed into law on July 14, 1998, reflecting legislative action to address timing and licensing issues for hydroelectric projects under the Federal Power Act. It focuses on a specific project in Washington State, indicating a targeted legislative approach rather than a broad policy change.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 2

GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

2 Detected
Detected Flags
Indirect Effects

['Extended construction deadlines may delay the availability of hydroelectric power from the project, potentially affecting local energy supply timelines.', 'Reinstatement of expired licenses could set a precedent for similar extensions or reinstatements in other projects, influencing future regulatory practices.', 'Additional administrative workload for FERC in processing extension requests and license reinstatements.']

GovScope Watchdog Notes

The bill centralizes authority with FERC to extend deadlines and reinstate licenses for a specific hydroelectric project, which underscores the importance of transparent reporting on extension requests and license reinstatements. Oversight mechanisms should ensure that extensions are granted based on clear criteria to maintain regulatory integrity and public trust. The absence of detailed cost or oversight provisions suggests a need for monitoring administrative impacts.

Passage Likelihood: HighConfidence: 95%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

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