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Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydro Power Development and Rural JOBS Act of 2011

Floor Speech

Date: March 8, 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Energy Environment

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, as Co-Chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, I support the responsible development of renewable energy wherever we can generate it--and that includes the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau of Reclamation facilities.

What I cannot support is this legislation's blanket exemption from the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). Conducting appropriate environmental reviews is not a barrier to the responsible development of our energy resources; it is a prerequisite for that development. Moreover, NEPA already gives federal agencies the authority to create categorical exemptions for projects that already meet statutory and regulatory criteria.

For that reason, I will be supporting the amendment offered by Rep. Napolitano to correct this defect in the underlying bill. If the Napolitano amendment is not adopted, I will oppose final passage and urge my colleagues to do the same.


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