MEMORANDUM OF THE CHAIRMAN To Members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: The Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act (Public Law 94-586), passed by Congress on October 1, 1976, and signed by the President on October 22, 1976, established a special decisionmaking process for the selection of a transportation system to move natural gas from the North Slope of Alaska to United States markets. The act was designed to expedite the selection of such a transportation system and to provide for the participation of the President and Congress in the final decision. Ordinarily, the Federal Power Commission has the final authority to approve proposed natural gas transmission systems. As mandated by the act, the FPC reported its recommendations to the President on May 2, 1977, and other Federal departments and agencies submitted their comments and responses to the FPC report on July 1, 1977. The President is directed by the act to issue a decision as to whether or not a transportation system for the delivery of Alaska natural gas should be approved and, if so, to designate such a system. Pursuant to the act, the President's decision designating an approved transportation system for the delivery of Alaska natural gas shall take effect upon the enactment of a joint resolution of Congress. Beginning on the date after the receipt of such decision, the Congress has 60 calendar days of continuous session to enact a joint resolution. If not approved within 60 days, the act allows the President an additional 30 days to propose a new decision. In order to provide members of the committee, the Congress, and the public with access to the various reports and comments submitted by the FPC and other Federal departments and agencies, I have asked that the President's decision transmitted to the Congress on September 22, 1977, and selected summaries of relevant documents be assembled in a committee print and made available. HENRY M. JACKSON, Chairman. (III) GRENVILLE GARSIDE, Staff Director and Counsel (II) MEMORANDUM OF THE CHAIRMAN To Members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: The Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act (Public Law 94-586), passed by Congress on October 1, 1976, and signed by the President on October 22, 1976, established a special decisionmaking process for the selection of a transportation system to move natural gas from the North Slope of Alaska to United States markets. The act was designed to expedite the selection of such a transportation system and to provide for the participation of the President and Congress in the final decision. Ordinarily, the Federal Power Commission has the final authority to approve proposed natural gas transmission systems. As mandated by the act, the FPC reported its recommendations to the President on May 2, 1977, and other Federal departments and agencies submitted their comments and responses to the FPC report on July 1, 1977. The President is directed by the act to issue a decision as to whether or not a transportation system for the delivery of Alaska natural gas should be approved and, if so, to designate such a system. Pursuant to the act, the President's decision designating an approved transportation system for the delivery of Alaska natural gas shall take effect upon the enactment of a joint resolution of Congress. Beginning on the date after the receipt of such decision, the Congress has 60 calendar days of continuous session to enact a joint resolution. If not approved within 60 days, the act allows the President an additional 30 days to propose a new decision. In order to provide members of the committee, the Congress, and the public with access to the various reports and comments submitted by the FPC and other Federal departments and agencies, I have asked that the President's decision transmitted to the Congress on September 22, 1977, and selected summaries of relevant documents be assembled in a committee print and made available. HENRY M. JACKSON, Chairman. (III) CONTENTS Page FPC letter to the President dated May 2, 1977_ FPC news release No. 23113 dated May 2, 1977. FPC news release No. 23112 dated May 2, 1977.... Memo and press release on the report of Justice Thomas R. Berger on the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry (May 9, 1977). Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-586) --.- (V) |