a person to construct and operate the system, which person shall be the applicant, if any, which filed for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate such system, (C) if such recommendation is for an all-land pipeline transportation system, or a transportation system involving water transportation, include provision for new facilities to the extent necessary to assure direct pipeline delivery of Alaska natural gas contemporaneously to points both east and west of the Rocky Mountains in the lower continental United States.

90 STAT. 2905

(2) The Commission may, by rule, provide for the presentation of Rule. data, views, and arguments before the Commission or a delegate of the Commission pursuant to such procedures as the Commission determines to be appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such a rule shall, to the extent determined by the Commission, apply, notwithstanding any provision of law that would otherwise have applied to the presentation of data, views, and arguments.

(3) The Commission may request such information and assistance Cooperation. from any Federal agency as the Commission determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. Any Federal agency requested to submit information or provide assistance shall submit such information to the Commission at the earliest practicable time after receipt of a Commission request. (c) The Commission shall accompany any recommendation under Report, public subsection (b) (1) with a report, which shall be available to the public, explaining the basis for such recommendation and including for each transportation system reviewed or considered a discussion of the following:

(1) for each year of the 20-year period which begins with the first year following the date of enactment of this Act, the estimated

(A) volumes of Alaska natural gas which would be available to each region of the United States directly, or indirectly by displacement or otherwise, and

(B) transportation costs and delivered prices of any such volumes of gas by region;

(2) the effects of each of the factors described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) on the projected natural gas supply and demand for each region of the United States and on the projected supplies of alternative fuels available by region to offset shortages of natural gas occurring in such region for each such year;

(3) the impact upon competition;

(4) the extent to which the system provides a means for the transportation to United States markets of natural resources or other commodities from sources in addition to the Prudhoe Bay Reserve;

(5) environmental impacts;

(6) safety and efficiency in design and operation and potential for interruption in deliveries of Alaska natural gas;

(7) construction schedules and possibilities for delay in such schedules or for delay occurring as a result of other factors; (8) feasibility of financing;

(9) extent of reserves, both proven and probable and their deliverability by year for each year of the 20-year period which

availability.

90 STAT. 2906

Transportation system,

recommendation, submittal to President.

15 USC 717w.

Environmental impact statement, submittal to President.

Comments,

submittal to
President.
15 USC 719d.
Public
availability.

begins with the first year following the date of enactment of this Act;

(10) the estimate of the total delivered cost to users of the natural gas to be transported by the system by year for each year of the 20-year period which begins with the first year following the date of enactment of this Act;

(11) capability and cost of expanding the system to transport additional volumes of natural gas in excess of initial system capacity;

(12) an estimate of the capital and operating costs, including an analysis of the reliability of such estimates and the risk of cost overruns; and

(13) such other factors as the Commission determines to be appropriate.

(d) The recommendation by the Commission pursuant to this section shall not be based upon the fact that the Government of Canada or agencies thereof have not, by then rendered a decision as to authorization of a pipeline system to transport Alaska natural gas through Canada.

(e) If the Commission recommends the approval of a particular transportation system, it shall submit to the President with such recommendation (1) an identification of those facilities and operations which are proposed to be encompassed within the term "construction and initial operation" in order to define the scope of directions contained in section 9 of this Act and (2) the terms and conditions permitted under the Natural Gas Act, which the Commission determines to be appropriate for inclusion in a certificate of public_convenience and necessity to be issued respecting such system. The Commission shall submit to the President contemporaneously with its report an environmental impact statement prepared respecting the recommended system, if any, and each environmental impact statement which may have been prepared respecting any other system reported on under this section.

OTHER REPORTS

SEC. 6. (a) Not later than July 1, 1977, any Federal officer or agency may submit written comments to the President with respect to the recommendation and report of the Commission and alternative methods for transportation of Alaska natural gas for delivery to the contiguous States. Such comments shall be made available to the public by the President when submitted to him, unless expressly exempted from this requirement in whole or in part by the President, under section 552(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code. Any such written comment shall include information within the competence of such Federal officer or agency with respect to

(1) environmental considerations, including air and water quality and noise impacts;

(2) the safety of the transportation systems;

(3) international relations, including the status and time sched

ule for any necessary Canadian approvals and plans;

(4) national security, particularly security of supply;

(5) sources of financing for capital costs;

(6) the impact upon competition;

(7) impact on the national economy, including regional natural

gas requirements; and

(8) relationship of the proposed transportation system to other aspects of national energy policy.

(b) Not later than July 1, 1977, the Governor of any State, any municipality, State utility commission, and any other interested person may submit to the President such written comments with respect to the recommendation and report of the Commission and alternative systems for delivering Alaska natural gas to the contiguous States as they determine to be appropriate.

(c) Not later than July 1, 1977, each Federal officer or agency shall report to the President with respect to actions to be taken by such officer or agency under section 9(a) relative to each transportation system reported on by the Commission under section 5(c) and shall include such officer's or agency's recommendations with respect to any provision of law to be waived pursuant to section 8(g) in conjunction with any decision of the President which designates a system for approval.

90 STAT. 2907

Comments,

submittal to President.

Report to
President.

President.

(d) Following receipt by the President of the Commission's recommendations, the Council on Environmental Quality shall afford interested persons an opportunity to present oral and written data, views, and arguments respecting the environmental impact statements submitted by the Commission under section 5(e). Not later than Report to July 1, 1977, the Council on Environmental Quality shall submit to the President a report, which shall be contemporaneously made available by the Council to the public, summarizing any data, views, and arguments received and setting forth the Council's views concerning the legal and factual sufficiency of each such environmental impact statement and other matters related to environmental impact as the Council considers to be relevant.

PRESIDENTIAL DECISION AND REPORT

SEC. 7. (a)(1) As soon as practicable after July 1, 1977, but not later than September 1, 1977, the President shall issue a decision as to whether a transportation system for delivery of Alaska natural gas should be approved under this Act. If he determines such a system should be so approved, his decision shall designate such a system for approval pursuant to section 8 and shall be consistent with section 5(b)(1)(C) to assure delivery of Alaska natural gas to points both east and west of the Rocky Mountains in the continental United States. The President in making his decision shall take into consideration the Commission's recommendation pursuant to section 5, the report under section 5(c), and any comments submitted under section 6; and his decision to designate a system for approval shall be based on his determination as to which system, if any, best serves the national interest.

(2) The President, for a period of up to 90 additional calendar days after September 1, 1977, may delay the issuance of his decision and transmittal thereof to the House of Representatives and the Senate, if he determines (A) that there exists no environmental impact statement prepared relative to a system he wishes to consider or that any prepared environmental impact statement relative to a system he wishes to consider is legally or factually insufficient, or (B) that the additional time is otherwise necessary to enable him to make a sound decision on an Alaska natural gas transportation system. The President shall promptly, but in no case any later than September 1, 1977. notify the House of Representatives and the

15 USC 719e.

Transmittal to
Congress, delay.

Notice to
Congress.

90 STAT. 2908

Notice to
Congress.

Chairman, appointment.

Joint surveillance and monitoring

agreement, establishment.

Senate if he so delays his decision and submit a full explanation of the basis of any such delay.

(3) If, on or before May 1, 1977, the President determines to delay issuance and transmittal of his decision to the House of Representatives and the Senate pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, he may authorize a delay of not more than 90 days in the date of taking of any action specified in sections 5 and 6. The President shall promptly notify the House of Representatives and the Senate of any such authorization of delay and submit a full explanation of the basis of any such authorization.

(4) If the President determines to designate for approval a transportation system for delivery of Alaska natural gas to the contiguous States, he shall in such decision

(A) describe the nature and route of the system designated for approval;

(B) designate a person to construct and operate such a system, which person shall be the applicant, if any, which filed for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate such system;

(C) identify those facilities, the construction of which, and those operations, the conduct of which, shall be encompassed within the term "construction and initial operation" for purposes of defining the scope of the directions contained in section 9 of this Act, taking into consideration any recommendation of the Commission with respect thereto; and

(D) identify those provisions of law, relating to any determination of a Federal officer or agency as to whether a certificate, permit, right-of-way, lease, or other authorization shall be issued or be granted, which provisions the President finds (i) involve determinations which are subsumed in his decision and (ii) require waiver pursuant to section 8 (g) in order to permit the expeditious construction and initial operation of the transportation system. (5) After a decision of the President designating an Alaska natural gas transportation system takes effect under section 8, the President shall appoint an officer of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or designate a board (consisting of such an officer, so appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate, as chairman and such other individuals as the President determines appropriate to serve on such board by reason of background, experience, or position) to serve as Federal inspector of construction of such transportation system, except that no such individual or officer may have a financial interest in the approved transportation system. Upon enactment of a joint resolution pursuant to section 8 approving such a system the Federal inspector shall

(A) establish a joint surveillance and monitoring agreement, approved by the President, with the State of Alaska similar to that in effect during construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline to monitor the construction of the approved transportation system within the State of Alaska;

(B) monitor compliance with applicable laws and the terms and conditions of any applicable certificate, rights-of-way, permit, lease, or other authorization issued or granted under section 9;

(C) monitor actions taken to assure timely completion of construction schedules and the achievement of quality of construction, cost control, safety, and environmental protection objectives and the results obtained therefrom;

(D) have the power to compel, by subpena if necessary, submission of such information as he deems necessary to carry out his responsibilities; and

(E) keep the President and the Congress currently informed on any significant departures from compliance and issue quarterly reports to the President and the Congress concerning existing or potential failures to meet construction schedules or other factors which may delay the construction and initial operation of the system and the extent to which quality of construction, cost control, safety and environmental protection objectives have been achieved.

(6) If the President determines to designate for approval a transportation system for delivery of Alaska natural gas to the contiguous States, he may identify in such decision such terms and conditions permissible under existing law as he determines appropriate for inclusion with respect to any issuance or authorization directed to be made

pursuant to section 9.

90 STAT. 2909

(b) The decision of the President made pursuant to subsection (a) Transmittal to of this section shall be transmitted to both Houses of Congress and Congress. shall be considered received by such Houses for the purposes of this section on the first day on which both are in session occurring after such decision is transmitted. Such decision shall be accompanied by a report explaining in detail the basis for his decision with specific reference to the factors set forth in sections 5(c) and 6(a), and the reasons for any revision, modification of, or substitution for, the Commission recommendation.

(c) The report of the President pursuant to subsection (b) of this Financial section shall contain a financial analysis for the transportation system analysis. designated for approval. Unless the President finds and states in his report submitted pursuant to this section that he reasonably anticipates that the system designated by him can be privately financed, constructed, and operated, his report shall also be accompanied by his recommendation concerning the use of existing Federal financing authority or the need for new Federal financing authority.

(d) In making his decision under subsection (a) the President shall inform himself, through appropriate consultation, of the views and objectives of the States, the Government of Canada, and other governments with respect to those aspects of such a decision that may involve intergovernmental and international cooperation among the Government of the United States, the States, the Government of Canada, and any other government.

(e) If the President determines to designate a transportation system for approval, the decision of the President shall take effect as provided in section 8, except that the approval of a decision of the President shall not be construed as amending or otherwise affecting the laws of the United States so as to grant any new financing authority as may have been identified by the President pursuant to subsection (c).

CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW

SEC. 8. (a) Any decision under section 7(a) or 8(b) designating for 15 USC 719f. approval a transportation system for the delivery of Alaska natural gas shall take effect upon enactment of a joint resolution within the first period of 60 calendar days of continuous session of Congress beginning on the date after the date of receipt by the Senate and House of Representatives of a decision transmitted pursuant to section 7(b) or subsection (b) of this section.