15 U.S.C. § 719b — Definitions

Page 1207 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 719c Sec. 719l. Antitrust laws. 719m. Authorization of appropriations. 719n. Separability. 719o. Civil rights; affirmative action of Federal of- ficers and agencies; rules: promulgation and enforcement. § 719. Congressional findings The Congress finds and declares that— (1) a natural gas supply shortage exists in the contiguous States of the United States; (2) large reserves of natural gas in the State of Alaska could help significantly to alleviate this supply shortage; (3) the expeditious construction of a viable natural gas transportation system for delivery of Alaska natural gas to United States mar- kets is in the national interest; and (4) the determinations whether to authorize a transportation system for delivery of Alaska natural gas to the contiguous States and, if so, which system to select, involve questions of the utmost importance respecting national en- ergy policy, international relations, national security, and economic and environmental im- pact, and therefore should appropriately be ad- dressed by the Congress and the President in addition to those Federal officers and agencies assigned functions under law pertaining to the selection, construction, and initial operation of such a system. (Pub. L. 94–586, § 2, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2903.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EXPIRATION DATE Pub. L. 94–586, § 20, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2916, provided that: ‘‘This Act [this chapter] shall terminate in the event that no decision of the President takes effect under section 8 of this Act [section 719f of this title], such termination to occur at the end of the last day on which a decision could be, but is not, approved under such section.’’ SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 94–586, § 1, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2903, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1651 of Title 43, Public Lands] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Nat- ural Gas Transportation Act of 1976’.’’ ANTITRUST STUDY Pub. L. 94–586, § 19, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2916, directed Attorney General of United States to conduct a thor- ough study of antitrust issues and problems relating to production and transportation of Alaska natural gas and, not later than six months after Oct. 22, 1976, to complete such study and submit to Congress a report containing his findings and recommendations with re- spect thereto. § 719a. Congressional statement of purpose The purpose of this chapter is to provide the means for making a sound decision as to the se- lection of a transportation system for delivery of Alaska natural gas to the contiguous States for construction and initial operation by pro- viding for the participation of the President and the Congress in the selection process, and, if such a system is approved under this chapter, to expedite its construction and initial operation by (1) limiting the jurisdiction of the courts to review the actions of Federal officers or agen- cies taken pursuant to the direction and author- ity of this chapter, and (2) permitting the limi- tation of administrative procedures and effect- ing the limitation of judicial procedures related to such actions. To accomplish this purpose it is the intent of the Congress to exercise its con- stitutional powers to the fullest extent in the authorizations and directions herein made, and particularly with respect to the limitation of ju- dicial review of actions of Federal officers or agencies taken pursuant thereto. (Pub. L. 94–586, § 3, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2903.) § 719b. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) the term ‘‘Alaska natural gas’’ means natural gas derived from the area of the State of Alaska generally known as the North Slope of Alaska, including the Continental Shelf thereof; (2) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Fed- eral Power Commission; (3) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec- retary of the Interior; (4) the term ‘‘provision of law’’ means any provision of a Federal statute or rule, regula- tion, or order issued thereunder; and (5) the term ‘‘approved transportation sys- tem’’ means the system for the transportation of Alaska natural gas designated by the Presi- dent pursuant to section 719e(a) or 719f(b) of this title and approved by joint resolution of the Congress pursuant to section 719f of this title. (Pub. L. 94–586, § 4, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2904.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS The Federal Power Commission was terminated, and its functions, personnel, property, funds, etc., were transferred to the Secretary of Energy (except for cer- tain functions which were transferred to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) by sections 7151(b), 7171(a), 7172(a)(1), 7291, and 7293 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. § 719c. Federal Power Commission reviews and reports (a) Proceedings: suspension, vacation or removal of suspension; issuance of certificate of con- venience and necessity (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the Nat- ural Gas Act or any other provision of law, the Commission shall suspend all proceedings pend- ing before the Commission on October 22, 1976, relating to a system for the transportation of Alaska natural gas as soon as the Commission determines to be practicable after such date, and the Commission may refuse to act on any application, amendment thereto, or other re- quests for action under the Natural Gas Act re- lating to a system for the transportation of Alaska natural gas until such time as (A) a deci- sion of the President designating such a system for approval takes effect pursuant to section 719f of this title, (B) no such decision takes effect pursuant to section 719f of this title, or (C) the President decides not to designate such a sys-