16 U.S.C. § 839b — Regional planning and participation

Page 1521 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b (B) which will result in an increase in power requirements of such customer of ten average megawatts or more in any consecu- tive twelve-month period. (14) ‘‘Pacific Northwest’’, ‘‘region’’, or ‘‘re- gional’’ means— (A) the area consisting of the States of Or- egon, Washington, and Idaho, the portion of the State of Montana west of the Conti- nental Divide, and such portions of the States of Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming as are within the Columbia River drainage basin; and (B) any contiguous areas, not in excess of seventy-five air miles from the area referred to in subparagraph (A), which are a part of the service area of a rural electric coopera- tive customer served by the Administrator on December 5, 1980, which has a distribution system from which it serves both within and without such region. (15) ‘‘Plan’’ means the Regional Electric Power and Conservation plan (including any amendments thereto) adopted pursuant to this chapter and such plan shall apply to actions of the Administrator as specified in this chapter. (16) ‘‘Renewable resource’’ means a resource which utilizes solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, or similar sources of energy and which either is used for electric power genera- tion or will reduce the electric power require- ments of a consumer, including by direct ap- plication. (17) ‘‘Reserves’’ means the electric power needed to avert particular planning or oper- ating shortages for the benefit of firm power customers of the Administrator and available to the Administrator (A) from resources or (B) from rights to interrupt, curtail, or otherwise withdraw, as provided by specific contract pro- visions, portions of the electric power supplied to customers. (18) ‘‘Residential use’’ or ‘‘residential load’’ means all usual residential, apartment, sea- sonal dwelling and farm electrical loads or uses, but only the first four hundred horse- power during any monthly billing period of farm irrigation and pumping for any farm. (19) ‘‘Resource’’ means— (A) electric power, including the actual or planned electric power capability of gener- ating facilities, or (B) actual or planned load reduction re- sulting from direct application of a renew- able energy resource by a consumer, or from a conservation measure. (20) ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of En- ergy. (Pub. L. 96–501, § 3, Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2698.) § 839b. Regional planning and participation (a) Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Con- servation Planning Council; establishment and operation as regional agency (1) The purposes of this section are to provide for the prompt establishment and effective oper- ation of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council, to further the purposes of this chapter by the Council promptly preparing and adopting (A) a regional conservation and electric power plan and (B) a program to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife, and to otherwise expeditiously and effectively carry out the Council’s responsibil- ities and functions under this chapter. (2) To achieve such purposes and facilitate co- operation among the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, and with the Bonne- ville Power Administration, the consent of Con- gress is given for an agreement described in this paragraph and not in conflict with this chapter, pursuant to which— (A) there shall be established a regional agency known as the ‘‘Pacific Northwest Elec- tric Power and Conservation Planning Coun- cil’’ which (i) shall have its offices in the Pa- cific Northwest, (ii) shall carry out its func- tions and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, (iii) shall con- tinue in force and effect in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and (iv) except as otherwise provided in this chapter, shall not be considered an agency or instrumen- tality of the United States for the purpose of any Federal law; and (B) two persons from each State may be ap- pointed, subject to the applicable laws of each such State, to undertake the functions and du- ties of members of the Council. The State may fill any vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of any member. The appointment of six initial members, subject to applicable State law, by June 30, 1981, by at least three of such States shall constitute an agreement by the States establishing the Coun- cil and such agreement is hereby consented to by the Congress. Upon request of the Governors of two of the States, the Secretary shall extend the June 30, 1981, date for six additional months to provide more time for the States to make such appointments. (3) Except as otherwise provided by State law, each member appointed to the Council shall serve for a term of three years, except that, with respect to members initially appointed, each Governor shall designate one member to serve a term of two years and one member to serve a term of three years. The members of the Council shall select from among themselves a chairman. The members and officers and employees of the Council shall not be deemed to be officers or em- ployees of the United States for any purpose. The Council shall appoint, fix compensation, as- sign and delegate duties to such executive and additional personnel as the Council deems nec- essary to fulfill its functions under this chapter, taking into account such information and anal- yses as are, or are likely to be, available from other sources pursuant to provisions of this chapter. The compensation of the members shall be fixed by State law. The compensation of the members and the officers shall not exceed the rate prescribed for Federal officers and positions at step 1 of level GS–18 of the General Schedule. (4) For the purpose of providing a uniform sys- tem of laws, in addition to this chapter, applica- ble to the Council relating to the making of con- tracts, conflicts-of-interest, financial disclosure, open meetings of the Council, advisory commit- tees, disclosure of information, judicial review Page 1522 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b 1 See References in Text note below. of Council functions and actions under this chapter, and related matters, the Federal laws applicable to such matters in the case of the Bonneville Power Administration shall apply to the Council to the extent appropriate, except that with respect to open meetings, the Federal laws applicable to open meetings in the case of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall apply to the Council to the extent appro- priate. In applying the Federal laws applicable to financial disclosure under the preceding sen- tence, such laws shall be applied to members of the Council without regard to the duration of their service on the Council or the amount of compensation received for such service. No con- tract, obligation, or other action of the Council shall be construed as an obligation of the United States or an obligation secured by the full faith and credit of the United States. For the purpose of judicial review of any action of the Council or challenging any provision of this chapter relat- ing to functions and responsibilities of the Council, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction of any such review. (b) Alternative establishment of Council as Fed- eral agency (1) If the Council is not established and its members are not timely appointed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, or if, at any time after such Council is established and its members are appointed in accordance with sub- section (a)— (A) any provision of this chapter relating to the establishment of the Council or to any substantial function or responsibility of the Council (including any function or responsi- bility under subsection (d) or (h) of this sec- tion or under section 839d(c) of this title) is held to be unlawful by a final determination of any Federal court, or (B) the plan or any program adopted by such Council under this section is held by a final determination of such a court to be ineffective by reason of subsection (a)(2)(B), the Secretary shall establish the Council pursu- ant to this subsection as a Federal agency. The Secretary shall promptly publish a notice there- of in the Federal Register and notify the Gov- ernors of each of the States referred to in sub- section (a) of this section. (2) As soon as practicable, but not more than thirty days after the publication of the notice referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and thereafter within forty-five days after a va- cancy occurs, the Governors of the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana may each (under applicable State laws, if any) pro- vide to the Secretary a list of nominations from such State for each of the State’s positions to be selected for such Council. The Secretary may extend this time an additional thirty days. The list shall include at least two persons for each such position. The list shall include such infor- mation about such nominees as the Secretary may request. The Secretary shall appoint the Council members from each Governor’s list of nominations for each State’s positions, except that the Secretary may decline to appoint for any reason any of a Governor’s nominees for a position and shall so notify the Governor. The Governor may thereafter make successive nomi- nations within forty-five days of receipt of such notice until nominees acceptable to the Sec- retary are appointed for each position. In the event the Governor of any such State fails to make the required nominations for any State position on such Council within the time speci- fied for such nominations, the Secretary shall select from such State and appoint the Council member or members for such position. The members of the Council shall select from among themselves one member of the Council as Chair- man. (3) The members of the Council established by this subsection who are not employed by the United States or a State shall receive compensa- tion at a rate equal to the rate prescribed for of- fices and positions at level GS–18 of the General Schedule for each day such members are en- gaged in the actual performance of duties as members of such Council, except that no such member may be paid more in any calendar year than an officer or employee at step 1 of level GS–18 is paid during such year. Members of such Council shall be considered officers or employ- ees of the United States for purposes of title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. app.) 1 and shall also be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermit- tently in Government service are allowed ex- penses under section 5703 of title 5. Such Council may appoint, and assign duties to, an executive director who shall serve at the pleasure of such Council and who shall be compensated at the rate established for GS–18 of the General Sched- ule. The executive director shall exercise the powers and duties delegated to such director by such Council, including the power to appoint and fix compensation of additional personnel in accordance with applicable Federal law to carry out the functions and responsibilities of such Council. (4) When a Council is established under this subsection after a Council was established pur- suant to subsection (a) of this section, the Sec- retary shall provide, to the greatest extent fea- sible, for the transfer to the Council established by this subsection of all funds, books, papers, documents, equipment, and other matters in order to facilitate the Council’s capability to achieve the requirements of subsections (d) and (h) of this section. In order to carry out its func- tions and responsibilities under this chapter ex- peditiously, the Council shall take into consid- eration any actions of the Council under sub- section (a) and may review, modify, or confirm such actions without further proceedings. (5)(A) At any time beginning one year after the plan referred to in such subsection (d) and the program referred to in such subsection (h) of this section are both finally adopted in accord- ance with this chapter, the Council established pursuant to this subsection shall be terminated by the Secretary 90 days after the Governors of three of the States referred to in this subsection jointly provide for any reason to the Secretary a written request for such termination. Except Page 1523 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b as provided in subparagraph (B), upon such ter- mination all functions and responsibilities of the Council under this chapter shall also termi- nate. (B) Upon such termination of the Council, the functions and responsibilities of the Council set forth in subsection (h) of this section shall be transferred to, and continue to be funded and carried out, jointly, by the Administrator, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, in the same manner and to the same extent as required by such subsection and in cooperation with the Federal and the region’s State fish and wildlife agencies and Indian tribes referred to in sub- section (h) of this section and the Secretary shall provide for the transfer to them of all records, books, documents, funds, and personnel of such Council that relate to subsection (h) matters. In order to carry out such functions and responsibilities expeditiously, the Adminis- trator, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Ad- ministrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service shall take into consideration any ac- tions of the Council under this subsection, and may review, modify, or confirm such actions without further proceedings. In the event the Council is terminated pursuant to this para- graph, whenever any action of the Adminis- trator requires any approval or other action by the Council, the Administrator may take such action without such approval or action, except that the Administrator may not implement any proposal to acquire a major generating resource or to grant billing credits involving a major gen- erating resource until the expenditure of funds for that purpose is specifically authorized by Act of Congress enacted after such termination. (c) Organization and operation of Council (1) The provisions of this subsection shall, ex- cept as specifically provided in this subsection, apply to the Council established pursuant to ei- ther subsection (a) or (b) of this section. (2) A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided specifically in this chapter, all actions and decisions of the Council shall be by majority vote of the members present and voting. The plan or any part thereof and any amendment thereto shall not be approved unless such plan or amendment receives the votes of— (A) a majority of the members appointed to the Council, including the vote of at least one member from each State with members on the Council; or (B) at least six members of the Council. (3) The Council shall meet at the call of the Chairman or upon the request of any three members of the Council. If any member of the Council disagrees with respect to any matter transmitted to any Federal or State official or any other person or wishes to express additional views concerning such matter, such member may submit a statement to accompany such matter setting forth the reasons for such dis- agreement or views. (4) The Council shall determine its organiza- tion and prescribe its practices and procedures for carrying out its functions and responsibil- ities under this chapter. The Council shall make available to the public a statement of its organi- zation, practices, and procedures, and make available to the public its annual work program budget at the time the President submits his an- nual budget to Congress. (5) Upon request of the Council established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to de- tail or assign to the Council, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to as- sist the Council in the performance of its func- tions under this chapter. (6) At the Council’s request the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall furnish the Council established pursuant to sub- section (b) of this section with such offices, equipment, supplies, and services in the same manner and to the same extent as such Adminis- trator is authorized to furnish to any other Fed- eral agency or instrumentality such offices, sup- plies, equipment, and services. (7) Upon the request of the Congress or any committee thereof, the Council shall promptly provide to the Congress, or to such committee, any record, report, document, material, and other information which is in the possession of the Council. (8) To obtain such information and advice as the Council determines to be necessary or appro- priate to carry out its functions and responsibil- ities pursuant to this chapter, the Council shall, to the greatest extent practicable, solicit engi- neering, economic, social, environmental, and other technical studies from customers of the Administrator and from other bodies or organi- zations in the region with particular expertise. (9) The Administrator and other Federal agen- cies, to the extent authorized by other provi- sions of law, shall furnish the Council all infor- mation requested by the Council as necessary for performance of its functions, subject to such requirements of law concerning trade secrets and proprietary data as may be applicable. (10)(A) At the request of the Council, the Ad- ministrator shall pay from funds available to the Administrator the compensation and other expenses of the Council as are authorized by this chapter, including the reimbursement of those States with members on the Council for services and personnel to assist in preparing a plan pur- suant to subsection (d) and a program pursuant to subsection (h) of this section, as the Council determines are necessary or appropriate for the performance of its functions and responsibil- ities. Such payments shall be included by the Administrator in his annual budgets submitted to Congress pursuant to the Federal Columbia River Transmission System Act [16 U.S.C. 838 et seq.] and shall be subject to the requirements of that Act, including the audit requirements of section 11(d) of such Act [16 U.S.C. 838i(d)]. The records, reports, and other documents of the Council shall be available to the Comptroller General for review in connection with such audit or other review and examination by the Comptroller General pursuant to other provi- sions of law applicable to the Comptroller Gen- eral. Funds provided by the Administrator for such payments shall not exceed annually an amount equal to 0.02 mill multiplied by the kilo- watt hours of firm power forecast to be sold by Page 1524 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b the Administrator during the year to be funded. In order to assist the Council’s initial organiza- tion, the Administrator after December 5, 1980, shall promptly prepare and propose an amended annual budget to expedite payment for Council activities. (B) Notwithstanding the limitation contained in the fourth sentence of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, upon an annual showing by the Council that such limitation will not permit the Council to carry out its functions and respon- sibilities under this chapter the Administrator may raise such limit up to any amount not in excess of 0.10 mill multiplied by the kilowatt hours of firm power forecast to be sold by the Administrator during the year to be funded. (11) The Council shall establish a voluntary scientific and statistical advisory committee to assist in the development, collection, and eval- uation of such statistical, biological, economic, social, environmental, and other scientific infor- mation as is relevant to the Council’s devel- opment and amendment of a regional conserva- tion and electric power plan. (12) The Council may establish such other vol- untary advisory committees as it determines are necessary or appropriate to assist it in car- rying out its functions and responsibilities under this chapter. (13) The Council shall ensure that the member- ship for any advisory committee established or formed pursuant to this section shall, to the ex- tent feasible, include representatives of, and seek the advice of, the Federal, and the various regional, State, local, and Indian Tribal Govern- ments, consumer groups, and customers. (d) Regional conservation and electric power plan (1) Within two years after the Council is estab- lished and the members are appointed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the Coun- cil shall prepare, adopt, and promptly transmit to the Administrator a regional conservation and electric power plan. The adopted plan, or any portion thereof, may be amended from time to time, and shall be reviewed by the Council not less frequently than once every five years. Prior to such adoption, public hearings shall be held in each Council member’s State on the plan or substantial, nontechnical amendments to the plan proposed by the Council for adoption. A public hearing shall also be held in any other State of the region on the plan or amendments thereto, if the Council determines that the plan or amendments would likely have a substantial impact on that State in terms of major re- sources which may be developed in that State and which the Administrator may seek to ac- quire. Action of the Council under this sub- section concerning such hearings shall be sub- ject to section 553 of title 5 and such procedure as the Council shall adopt. (2) Following adoption of the plan and any amendment thereto, all actions of the Adminis- trator pursuant to section 839d of this title shall be consistent with the plan and any amendment thereto, except as otherwise specifically pro- vided in this chapter. (e) Plan priorities and requisite features; studies (1) The plan shall, as provided in this para- graph, give priority to resources which the Council determines to be cost-effective. Priority shall be given: first, to conservation; second, to renewable resources; third, to generating re- sources utilizing waste heat or generating re- sources of high fuel conversion efficiency; and fourth, to all other resources. (2) The plan shall set forth a general scheme for implementing conservation measures and de- veloping resources pursuant to section 839d of this title to reduce or meet the Administrator’s obligations with due consideration by the Coun- cil for (A) environmental quality, (B) compat- ibility with the existing regional power system, (C) protection, mitigation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife and related spawning grounds and habitat, including sufficient quantities and qualities of flows for successful migration, sur- vival, and propagation of anadromous fish, and (D) other criteria which may be set forth in the plan. (3) To accomplish the priorities established by this subsection, the plan shall include the fol- lowing elements which shall be set forth in such detail as the Council determines to be appro- priate: (A) an energy conservation program to be implemented under this chapter, including, but not limited to, model conservation stand- ards; (B) recommendation for research and devel- opment; (C) a methodology for determining quantifi- able environmental costs and benefits under section 839a(4) of this title; (D) a demand forecast of at least twenty years (developed in consultation with the Ad- ministrator, the customers, the States, includ- ing State agencies with ratemaking authority over electric utilities, and the public, in such manner as the Council deems appropriate) and a forecast of power resources estimated by the Council to be required to meet the Adminis- trator’s obligations and the portion of such ob- ligations the Council determines can be met by resources in each of the priority categories referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection which forecast (i) shall include regional reli- ability and reserve requirements, (ii) shall take into account the effect, if any, of the re- quirements of subsection (h) on the avail- ability of resources to the Administrator, and (iii) shall include the approximate amounts of power the Council recommends should be ac- quired by the Administrator on a long-term basis and may include, to the extent prac- ticable, an estimate of the types of resources from which such power should be acquired; (E) an analysis of reserve and reliability re- quirements and cost-effective methods of pro- viding reserves designed to insure adequate electric power at the lowest probable cost; (F) the program adopted pursuant to sub- section (h); and (G) if the Council recommends surcharges pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, a methodology for calculating such surcharges. (4) The Council, taking into consideration the requirement that it devote its principal efforts to carrying out its responsibilities under sub- sections (d) and (h) of this section, shall under- take studies of conservation measures reason- Page 1525 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b ably available to direct service industrial cus- tomers and other major consumers of electric power within the region and make an analysis of the estimated reduction in energy use which would result from the implementation of such measures as rapidly as possible, consistent with sound business practices. The Council shall con- sult with such customers and consumers in the conduct of such studies. (f) Model conservation standards; surcharges (1) Model conservation standards to be in- cluded in the plan shall include, but not be lim- ited to, standards applicable to (A) new and ex- isting structures, (B) utility, customer, and gov- ernmental conservation programs, and (C) other consumer actions for achieving conservation. Model conservation standards shall reflect geo- graphic and climatic differences within the re- gion and other appropriate considerations, and shall be designed to produce all power savings that are cost-effective for the region and eco- nomically feasible for consumers, taking into account financial assistance made available to consumers under section 839d(a) of this title. These model conservation standards shall be adopted by the Council and included in the plan after consultation, in such manner as the Coun- cil deems appropriate, with the Administrator, States, and political subdivisions, customers of the Administrator, and the public. (2) The Council by a majority vote of the members of the Council is authorized to rec- ommend to the Administrator a surcharge and the Administrator may thereafter impose such a surcharge, in accordance with the methodology provided in the plan, on customers for those por- tions of their loads within the region that are within States or political subdivisions which have not, or on the Administrator’s customers which have not, implemented conservation measures that achieve energy savings which the Administrator determines are comparable to those which would be obtained under such stand- ards. Such surcharges shall be established to re- cover such additional costs as the Administrator determines will be incurred because such pro- jected energy savings attributable to such con- servation measures have not been achieved, but in no case may such surcharges be less than 10 per centum or more than 50 per centum of the Administrator’s applicable rates for such load or portion thereof. (g) Public information; consultation; contracts and technical assistance (1) To insure widespread public involvement in the formulation of regional power policies, the Council and Administrator shall maintain com- prehensive programs to— (A) inform the Pacific Northwest public of major regional power issues, (B) obtain public views concerning major re- gional power issues, and (C) secure advice and consultation from the Administrator’s customers and others. (2) In carrying out the provisions of this sec- tion, the Council and the Administrator shall— (A) consult with the Administrator’s cus- tomers; (B) include the comments of such customers in the record of the Council’s proceedings; and (C) recognize and not abridge the authorities of State and local governments, electric util- ity systems, and other non-Federal entities re- sponsible to the people of the Pacific North- west for the planning, conservation, supply, distribution, and use of electric power and the operation of electric generating facilities. (3) In the preparation, adoption, and imple- mentation of the plan, the Council and the Ad- ministrator shall encourage the cooperation, participation, and assistance of appropriate Fed- eral agencies, State entities, State political sub- divisions, and Indian tribes. The Council and the Administrator are authorized to contract, in ac- cordance with applicable law, with such agen- cies, entities, tribes, and subdivisions individ- ually, in groups, or through associations thereof to (A) investigate possible measures to be in- cluded in the plan, (B) provide public involve- ment and information regarding a proposed plan or amendment thereto, and (C) provide services which will assist in the implementation of the plan. In order to assist in the implementation of the plan, particularly conservation, renewable resource, and fish and wildlife activities, the Ad- ministrator, when requested and subject to available funds, may provide technical assist- ance in establishing conservation, renewable re- source, and fish and wildlife objectives by indi- vidual States or subdivisions thereof or Indian tribes. Such objectives, if adopted by a State or subdivision thereof or Indian tribes, may be sub- mitted to the Council and the Administrator for review, and upon approval by the Council, may be incorporated as part of the plan. (h) Fish and wildlife (1)(A) The Council shall promptly develop and adopt, pursuant to this subsection, a program to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife, including related spawning grounds and habitat, on the Columbia River and its tributaries. Be- cause of the unique history, problems, and op- portunities presented by the development and operation of hydroelectric facilities on the Co- lumbia River and its tributaries, the program, to the greatest extent possible, shall be designed to deal with that river and its tributaries as a system. (B) This subsection shall be applicable solely to fish and wildlife, including related spawning grounds and habitat, located on the Columbia River and its tributaries. Nothing in this sub- section shall alter, modify, or affect in any way the laws applicable to rivers or river systems, including electric power facilities related there- to, other than the Columbia River and its tribu- taries, or affect the rights and obligations of any agency, entity, or person under such laws. (2) The Council shall request, in writing, promptly after the Council is established under either subsection (a) or (b) of this section and prior to the development or review of the plan, or any major revision thereto, from the Federal, and the region’s State, fish and wildlife agencies and from the region’s appropriate Indian tribes, recommendations for— (A) measures which can be expected to be implemented by the Administrator, using au- thorities under this chapter and other laws, and other Federal agencies to protect, miti- Page 1526 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b gate, and enhance fish and wildlife, including related spawning grounds and habitat, affected by the development and operation of any hy- droelectric project on the Columbia River and its tributaries; (B) establishing objectives for the develop- ment and operation of such projects on the Co- lumbia River and its tributaries in a manner designed to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife; and (C) fish and wildlife management coordina- tion and research and development (including funding) which, among other things, will as- sist protection, mitigation, and enhancement of anadromous fish at, and between, the re- gion’s hydroelectric dams. (3) Such agencies and tribes shall have 90 days to respond to such request, unless the Council extends the time for making such recommenda- tions. The Federal, and the region’s, water man- agement agencies, and the region’s electric power producing agencies, customers, and public may submit recommendations of the type re- ferred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection. All recommendations shall be accompanied by de- tailed information and data in support of the recommendations. (4)(A) The Council shall give notice of all rec- ommendations and shall make the recommenda- tions and supporting documents available to the Administrator, to the Federal, and the region’s, State fish and wildlife agencies, to the appro- priate Indian tribes, to Federal agencies respon- sible for managing, operating, or regulating hy- droelectric facilities located on the Columbia River or its tributaries, and to any customer or other electric utility which owns or operates any such facility. Notice shall also be given to the public. Copies of such recommendations and supporting documents shall be made available for review at the offices of the Council and shall be available for reproduction at reasonable cost. (B) The Council shall provide for public par- ticipation and comment regarding the rec- ommendations and supporting documents, in- cluding an opportunity for written and oral comments, within such reasonable time as the Council deems appropriate. (5) The Council shall develop a program on the basis of such recommendations supporting docu- ments, and views and information obtained through public comment and participation, and consultation with the agencies, tribes, and cus- tomers referred to in subparagraph (A) of para- graph (4). The program shall consist of measures to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wild- life affected by the development, operation, and management of such facilities while assuring the Pacific Northwest an adequate, efficient eco- nomical, and reliable power supply. Enhance- ment measures shall be included in the program to the extent such measures are designed to achieve improved protection and mitigation. (6) The Council shall include in the program measures which it determines, on the basis set forth in paragraph (5), will— (A) complement the existing and future ac- tivities of the Federal and the region’s State fish and wildlife agencies and appropriate In- dian tribes; (B) be based on, and supported by, the best available scientific knowledge; (C) utilize, where equally effective alter- native means of achieving the same sound bio- logical objective exist, the alternative with the minimum economic cost; (D) be consistent with the legal rights of ap- propriate Indian tribes in the region; and (E) in the case of anadromous fish— (i) provide for improved survival of such fish at hydroelectric facilities located on the Columbia River system; and (ii) provide flows of sufficient quality and quantity between such facilities to improve production, migration, and survival of such fish as necessary to meet sound biological objectives. (7) The Council shall determine whether each recommendation received is consistent with the purposes of this chapter. In the event such rec- ommendations are inconsistent with each other, the Council, in consultation with appropriate entities, shall resolve such inconsistency in the program giving due weight to the recommenda- tions, expertise, and legal rights and responsibil- ities of the Federal and the region’s State fish and wildlife agencies and appropriate Indian tribes. If the Council does not adopt any rec- ommendation of the fish and wildlife agencies and Indian tribes as part of the program or any other recommendation, it shall explain in writ- ing, as part of the program, the basis for its finding that the adoption of such recommenda- tion would be— (A) inconsistent with paragraph (5) of this subsection; (B) inconsistent with paragraph (6) of this subsection; or (C) less effective than the adopted rec- ommendations for the protection, mitigation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife. (8) The Council shall consider, in developing and adopting a program pursuant to this sub- section, the following principles: (A) Enhancement measures may be used, in appropriate circumstances, as a means of achieving offsite protection and mitigation with respect to compensation for losses aris- ing from the development and operation of the hydroelectric facilities of the Columbia River and its tributaries as a system. (B) Consumers of electric power shall bear the cost of measures designed to deal with ad- verse impacts caused by the development and operation of electric power facilities and pro- grams only. (C) To the extent the program provides for coordination of its measures with additional measures (including additional enhancement measures to deal with impacts caused by fac- tors other than the development and operation of electric power facilities and programs), such additional measures are to be implemented in accordance with agreements among the appro- priate parties providing for the administration and funding of such additional measures. (D) Monetary costs and electric power losses resulting from the implementation of the pro- gram shall be allocated by the Administrator consistent with individual project impacts and system wide objectives of this subsection. (9) The Council shall adopt such program or amendments thereto within one year after the Page 1527 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b time provided for receipt of the recommenda- tions. Such program shall also be included in the plan adopted by the Council under sub- section (d). (10)(A) The Administrator shall use the Bonne- ville Power Administration fund and the au- thorities available to the Administrator under this chapter and other laws administered by the Administrator to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife to the extent affected by the de- velopment and operation of any hydroelectric project of the Columbia River and its tributaries in a manner consistent with the plan, if in exist- ence, the program adopted by the Council under this subsection, and the purposes of this chap- ter. Expenditures of the Administrator pursuant to this paragraph shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, other expenditures authorized or re- quired from other entities under other agree- ments or provisions of law. (B) The Administrator may make expenditures from such fund which shall be included in the annual or supplementary budgets submitted to the Congress pursuant to the Federal Columbia River Transmission System Act [16 U.S.C. 838 et seq.]. Any amounts included in such budget for the construction of capital facilities with an es- timated life of greater than 15 years and an esti- mated cost of at least $2,500,000 shall be funded in the same manner and in accordance with the same procedures as major transmission facilities under the Federal Columbia River Transmission System Act. (C) The amounts expended by the Adminis- trator for each activity pursuant to this sub- section shall be allocated as appropriate by the Administrator, in consultation with the Corps of Engineers and the Water and Power Resources Service, among the various hydroelectric projects of the Federal Columbia River Power System. Amounts so allocated shall be allocated to the various project purposes in accordance with existing accounting procedures for the Fed- eral Columbia River Power System. (D) INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC REVIEW PANEL.— (i) The Northwest Power Planning Council (Council) shall appoint an Independent Sci- entific Review Panel (Panel), which shall be comprised of eleven members, to review projects proposed to be funded through that portion of the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) annual fish and wildlife budget that implements the Council’s fish and wildlife program. Mem- bers shall be appointed from a list of no fewer than 20 scientists submitted by the National Academy of Sciences (Academy), provided that Pacific Northwest scientists with expertise in Columbia River anadromous and non-anad- romous fish and wildlife and ocean experts shall be among those represented on the Panel. The Academy shall provide such nominations within 90 days of September 30, 1996, and in any case not later than December 31, 1996. If appoint- ments are required in subsequent years, the Council shall request nominations from the Academy and the Academy shall provide nomi- nations not later than 90 days after the date of this request. If the Academy does not provide nominations within these time requirements, the Council may appoint such members as the Council deems appropriate. (ii) SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW GROUPS.—The Council shall establish Scientific Peer Review Groups (Peer Review Groups), which shall be comprised of the appropriate number of sci- entists, from a list submitted by the Academy to assist the Panel in making its recommenda- tions to the Council for projects to be funded through BPA’s annual fish and wildlife budget, provided that Pacific Northwest scientists with expertise in Columbia River anadromous and non-anadromous fish and wildlife and ocean ex- perts shall be among those represented on the Peer Review Groups. The Academy shall provide such nominations within 90 days of September 30, 1996, and in any case not later than December 31, 1996. If appointments are required in subse- quent years, the Council shall request nomina- tions from the Academy and the Academy shall provide nominations not later than 90 days after the date of this request. If the Academy does not provide nominations within these time require- ments, the Council may appoint such members as the Council deems appropriate. (iii) CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND COMPENSA- TION.—Panel and Peer Review Group members may be compensated and shall be considered subject to the conflict of interest standards that apply to scientists performing comparable work for the National Academy of Sciences; provided that a Panel or Peer Review Group members with a direct or indirect financial interest in a project, or projects, shall recuse himself or her- self from review of, or recommendations associ- ated with, such project or projects. All expenses of the Panel and the Peer Review Groups shall be paid by BPA as provided for under paragraph (vii). Neither the Panel nor the Peer Review Groups shall be deemed advisory committees within the meaning of chapter 10 of title 5. (iv) PROJECT CRITERIA AND REVIEW.—The Peer Groups, in conjunction with the Panel, shall re- view projects proposed to be funded through BPA’s annual fish and wildlife budget and make recommendations on matters related to such projects to the Council no later than June 15 of each year. If the recommendations are not re- ceived by the Council by this date, the Council may proceed to make final recommendations on project funding to BPA, relying on the best in- formation available. The Panel and Peer Review Groups shall review a sufficient number of projects to adequately ensure that the list of prioritized projects recommended is consistent with the Council’s program. Project rec- ommendations shall be based on a determina- tion that projects: are based on sound science principles; benefit fish and wildlife; and have a clearly defined objective and outcome with pro- visions for monitoring and evaluation of results. The Panel, with assistance from the Peer Re- view Groups, shall review, on an annual basis, the results of prior year expenditures based upon these criteria and submit its findings to the Council for its review. (v) PUBLIC REVIEW.—Upon completion of the review of projects to be funded through BPA’s annual fish and wildlife budget, the Peer Review Groups shall submit its findings to the Panel. The Panel shall analyze the information sub- mitted by the Peer Review Groups and submit recommendations on project priorities to the Page 1528 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839b Council. The Council shall make the Panel’s findings available to the public and subject to public comment. (vi) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL.—The Council shall fully consider the recommenda- tions of the Panel when making its final rec- ommendations of projects to be funded through BPA’s annual fish and wildlife budget, and if the Council does not incorporate a recommendation of the Panel, the Council shall explain in writ- ing its reasons for not accepting Panel rec- ommendations. In making its recommendations to BPA, the Council shall consider the impact of ocean conditions on fish and wildlife populations and shall determine whether the projects em- ploy cost-effective measures to achieve program objectives. The Council, after consideration of the recommendations of the Panel and other ap- propriate entities, shall be responsible for mak- ing the final recommendations of projects to be funded through BPA’s annual fish and wildlife budget. (vii) COST LIMITATION.—The annual cost of this provision shall not exceed $500,000 in 1997 dol- lars. (11)(A) The Administrator and other Federal agencies responsible for managing, operating, or regulating Federal or non-Federal hydroelectric facilities located on the Columbia River or its tributaries shall— (i) exercise such responsibilities consistent with the purposes of this chapter and other ap- plicable laws, to adequately protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife, including re- lated spawning grounds and habitat, affected by such projects or facilities in a manner that provides equitable treatment for such fish and wildlife with the other purposes for which such system and facilities are managed and oper- ated; (ii) exercise such responsibilities, taking into account at each relevant stage of deci- sionmaking processes to the fullest extent practicable, the program adopted by the Coun- cil under this subsection. If, and to the extent that, such other Federal agencies as a result of such consideration impose upon any non-Fed- eral electric power project measures to pro- tect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife which are not attributable to the development and operation of such project, then the result- ing monetary costs and power losses (if any) shall be borne by the Administrator in accord- ance with this subsection. (B) The Administrator and such Federal agen- cies shall consult with the Secretary of the Inte- rior, the Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the State fish and wildlife agencies of the region, appropriate Indian tribes, and affected project operators in carrying out the provisions of this paragraph and shall, to the greatest extent practicable, coordinate their ac- tions. (12)(A) Beginning on October 1 of the first fis- cal year after all members to the Council are ap- pointed initially, the Council shall submit annu- ally a detailed report to the Committee on En- ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate and to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Natural Resources of the House of Represent- atives. The report shall describe the actions taken and to be taken by the Council under this chapter, including this subsection, the effective- ness of the fish and wildlife program, and poten- tial revisions or modifications to the program to be included in the plan when adopted. At least ninety days prior to its submission of such re- port, the Council shall make available to such fish and wildlife agencies, and tribes, the Ad- ministrator and the customers a draft of such report. The Council shall establish procedures for timely comments thereon. The Council shall include as an appendix to such report such com- ments or a summary thereof. (B) The Administrator shall keep such com- mittees fully and currently informed of the ac- tions taken and to be taken by the Adminis- trator under this chapter, including this sub- section. (i) Review The Council may from time to time review the actions of the Administrator pursuant to this section and section 839d of this title to deter- mine whether such actions are consistent with the plan and programs, the extent to which the plan and programs is being implemented, and to assist the Council in preparing amendments to the plan and programs. (j) Requests by Council for action (1) The Council may request the Adminis- trator to take an action under section 839d of this title to carry out the Administrator’s re- sponsibilities under the plan. (2) To the greatest extent practicable within ninety days after the Council’s request, the Ad- ministrator shall respond to the Council in writ- ing specifying— (A) the means by which the Administrator will undertake the action or any modification thereof requested by the Council, or (B) the reasons why such action would not be consistent with the plan, or with the Ad- ministrator’s legal obligations under this chapter, or other provisions of law, which the Administrator shall specifically identify. (3) If the Administrator determines not to un- dertake the requested action, the Council, with- in sixty days after notice of the Administrator’s determination, may request the Administrator to hold an informal hearing and make a final de- cision. (k) Review and analysis of 5-year period of Coun- cil activities (1) Not later than October 1, 1987, or six years after the Council is established under this chap- ter, whichever is later, the Council shall com- plete a thorough analysis of conservation meas- ures and conservation resources implemented pursuant to this chapter during the five-year pe- riod beginning on the date the Council is estab- lished under this chapter to determine if such measures or resources: (A) have resulted or are likely to result in costs to consumers in the region greater than the costs of additional generating resources or additional fuel which the Council determines would be necessary in the absence of such measures or resources; (B) have not been or are likely not to be gen- erally equitable to all consumers in the re- gion; or Page 1529 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 839c (C) have impaired or are likely to impair the ability of the Administrator to carry out his obligations under this chapter and other laws, consistent with sound business practices. (2) The Administrator may determine that section 839a(4)(D) of this title shall not apply to any proposed conservation measure or resource if the Administrator finds after receipt of such analysis from the Council that such measure or resource would have any result or effect de- scribed in subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of para- graph (1). (Pub. L. 96–501, § 4, Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2700; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(u), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4587; Pub. L. 104–206, title V, § 512, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3005; Pub. L. 106–60, title VI, § 610, Sept. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 502; Pub. L. 112–74, div. B, title III, § 307, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 877; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(104), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4317.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Ethics in Government Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is Pub. L. 95–521, Oct. 26, 1978, 92 Stat. 1824. Title II of the Act was set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 101–194, title II, § 201, Nov. 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 1724. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Federal Columbia River Transmission System Act, referred to in subsecs. (c)(10)(A) and (h)(10)(B), is Pub. L. 93–454, Oct. 18, 1974, 88 Stat. 1376, which is clas- sified generally to chapter 12G (§ 838 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 838 of this title and Tables. CODIFICATION September 30, 1996, referred to in subsec. (h)(10)(D)(i), (ii), was in the original ‘‘the date of this enactment’’, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 104–206, which enacted subsec. (h)(10)(D), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (h)(10)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 117–286 sub- stituted ‘‘chapter 10 of title 5.’’ for ‘‘the Federal Advi- sory Committee Act.’’ 2011—Subsec. (h)(10)(B). Pub. L. 112–74, which directed amendment of ‘‘section 839b(h)(10)(B) of title 16, United States Code’’ by substituting ‘‘$2,500,000’’ for ‘‘$1,000,000’’, was executed by making the substitution in subsec. (h)(10)(B) of this section, which is section 4 of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, to reflect the probable intent of Con- gress. 1999—Subsec. (h)(10)(D)(vii), (viii). Pub. L. 106–60 added cl. (vii) and struck out former cls. (vii) and (viii) which read as follows: ‘‘(vii) COST LIMITATION.—The cost of this provision shall not exceed $2,000,000 in 1997 dollars. ‘‘(viii) EXPIRATION.—This paragraph shall expire on September 30, 2000.’’ 1996—Subsec. (h)(10)(D). Pub. L. 104–206, which di- rected that subpar. (D) be inserted after subsec. (h)(10)(C) of the Northwest Power Planning and Con- servation Act, was executed by adding subsec. (h)(10)(D) to this section, which is from the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, to re- flect the probable intent of Congress. 1994—Subsec. (h)(12)(A). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted ‘‘Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Natural Resources’’ for ‘‘Committees on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and on Interior and Insular Affairs’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives changed to Committee on En- ergy and Commerce of House of Representatives, and jurisdiction over matters relating to securities and ex- changes and insurance generally transferred to Com- mittee on Financial Services of House of Representa- tives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Jan. 3, 2001. TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (h)(12)(A) of this section relating to submit- ting annually a detailed report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 188 of House Document No. 103–7. REFERENCES IN OTHER LAWS TO GS–16, 17, OR 18 PAY RATES References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organi- zation and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF FISH PASSAGE FACILITIES WITHIN THE YAKIMA RIVER BASIN; FUNDING Pub. L. 98–381, title I, § 109, Aug. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 1340, provided that: ‘‘The Secretary of the Interior, acting pursuant to Federal reclamation law (Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388 [see Short Title note under section 371 of Title 43, Public Lands], and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto) and in accordance with the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Con- servation Act (94 Stat. 2697) [16 U.S.C. 839 et seq.] is au- thorized to design, construct, operate, and maintain fish passage facilities within the Yakima River Basin, and to accept funds from any entity, public or private, to design, construct, operate, and maintain such facili- ties.’’ Executive Documents CHANGE OF NAME The Water and Power Resources Service, referred to in subsec. (h)(10)(C), changed to the Bureau of Reclama- tion on May 18, 1981. See 155 Dep’t of the Interior, De- partmental Manual 1.1 (2008 repl.); Sec’y James G. Watt, Dep’t of the Interior, Secretarial Order 3064, §§ 3, 5 (May 18, 1981). § 839c. Sale of power (a) Preferences and priorities All power sales under this chapter shall be subject at all times to the preference and pri- ority provisions of the Bonneville Project Act of 1937 (16 U.S.C. 832 and following) and, in par- ticular, sections 4 and 5 thereof [16 U.S.C. 832c and 832d]. Such sales shall be at rates estab- lished pursuant to section 839e of this title. (b) Sales to public bodies, cooperatives, and Fed- eral agency customers (1) Whenever requested, the Administrator shall offer to sell to each requesting public body