H.R. 626

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 22, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Newhouse

Table of contents

• H.R. 626
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Definitions
  • SEC. 3. Operation of FCRPS
  • SEC. 4. Amendments to supplemental opinion
  • SEC. 5. Limitation on restricting FCRPS electrical generation; clarification

SEC. 1. Short title

• The Act may be cited as the Northwest Energy Security Act.

SEC. 2. Definitions

• In this Act:
  • The term FCRPS means those portions of the Federal Columbia River Power System that are the subject of the Supplemental Opinion.
  • The term Secretaries means—
  • The term Supplemental Opinion means the document entitled and dated September 2020. The term means the document entitled and dated September 2020. Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision

SEC. 3. Operation of FCRPS

• The Secretaries shall operate the FCRPS in a manner consistent with the reasonable and prudent alternative described in the Supplemental Opinion.

SEC. 4. Amendments to supplemental opinion

• (a) In general
  • Notwithstanding section 3, the Secretaries may amend portions of the Supplemental Opinion and operate the FCRPS in accordance with those amendments if all of the Secretaries determine, in the sole discretion of each Secretary, that—
    • the amendment is necessary for public safety or transmission and grid reliability; or
    • the actions, operations, or other requirements that the amendment would remove are no longer warranted.
• (b) Restriction on amendments
  • The process described in subsection (a) shall be the only method by which the Secretaries may operate the FCRPS in any way that is not consistent with the reasonable and prudent alternative set forth in the Supplemental Opinion.

SEC. 5. Limitation on restricting FCRPS electrical generation; clarification

• (a) Restricting FCRPS electrical generation
  • No structural modification, action, study, or engineering plan that restricts electrical generation at any FCRPS hydroelectric dam, or that limits navigation on the Snake River in the State of Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, shall proceed unless such proposal is specifically and expressly authorized by a Federal statute enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act.
• (b) Clarification
  • Nothing in this section affects or interferes with the authority of the Secretaries to conduct operation and maintenance activities or make capital improvements necessary to meet authorized project purposes of FCRPS facilities.