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The Administration opposes S. 439. The bill would erode the uniformity of the
Federal Power Act's licensing process for hydroelectric projects in the United
States by allowing individual States to exercise jurisdiction over licensing.
This would result in a patchwork of regulatory programs and related
environmental review and enforcement requirements, which would impair the
Federal Government's ability to adequately protect federally-managed
resources.
Although the reported bill is an improvement over the bill as introduced, it
would provide a lesser level of protection than current law. It would fail to
adequately protect areas of critical environmental concern, as well as Alaska
Native lands.
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