Great Smoky Mountain Clean Air Act of 2000

Great Smoky Mountains Clean Air Act of 2000 - Amends the Clean Air Act to identify aggregate emission reduction objectives in connection with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) powerplants.

Sets a modernization deadline for outdated TVA powerplants.

Prohibits TVA from increasing hydroelectric energy generation in order to achieve such mandated objectives if the increase would require a drawdown of any contiguous lake or reservoir between Memorial Day and August 1.

[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4859 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4859

     To reduce emissions from Tennessee Valley Authority electric 
                  powerplants, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 2000

 Mr. Taylor of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Ballenger, Mr. Coble, 
 Mr. Graham, Mr. Burr of North Carolina, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, 
Mr. Doolittle, and Mr. Radanovich) introduced the following bill; which 
               was referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To reduce emissions from Tennessee Valley Authority electric 
                  powerplants, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Great Smoky Mountains Clean Air Act 
of 2000''.

SEC. 2. REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM TVA POWERPLANTS.

    Part A of title I of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following section:

``SEC. 132. REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM TVA POWERPLANTS.

    ``(a) Emission Reduction Objectives.--The emissions reduction 
objectives of this section are to--
            ``(1) reduce aggregate sulfur dioxide emissions from TVA 
        powerplants from 1997 levels by 75 percent by January 1, 2005;
            ``(2) reduce aggregate emission of nitrogen oxides from TVA 
        powerplants from 1997 levels by 75 percent by January 1, 2005;
            ``(3) reduce aggregate carbon dioxide emissions from TVA 
        powerplants by January 1, 2005, to the level of carbon dioxide 
        emissions from TVA powerplants in 1990; and
            ``(4) reduce aggregate mercury emissions from TVA 
        powerplants from 1997 levels by 90 percent by January 1, 2005.
    ``(b) Agency Action.--Not later than 2 years after the enactment of 
this section, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to achieve 
the emissions reduction objectives specified in subsection (a). Such 
regulations shall achieve the objectives in a manner that the 
Administrator determines will allocate required emission reductions 
equitably, taking into account emission reductions achieved prior to 
enactment of this section and other relevant factors. Such regulations 
shall prevent localized adverse effects on public health and the 
environment and shall prohibit emission trading.
    ``(c) Additional Reductions.--The Administrator may require 
additional reductions in emissions from TVA powerplants in the 
regulations under subsection (b) if the Administrator determines that 
the emissions levels necessary to achieve the objectives specified in 
subsection (a) would not be reasonably anticipated to protect public 
health or welfare.
    ``(d) Modernization of Outdated Powerplants.--(1) On the later of 
the date that is 30 years after the TVA powerplant commenced operation 
or 5 years after the enactment of this section, every outdated TVA 
powerplant shall comply with the most recent new source performance 
standards promulgated under section 111, and with the requirements 
under subparts C and D of this Act, applicable to modified sources.
    ``(2) The requirements of this subsection shall be in addition to 
the requirements of regulations issued under subsection (b).
    ``(e) Other Requirements.--This section shall not affect the 
application of any other requirements of this Act.
    ``(f) Limitation on Lake Drawdowns.--Notwithstanding any other 
requirements of this Act, the TVA shall not increase the generation of 
hydroelectric energy at any dam or reservoir in its possession and 
control in order to achieve the objectives specified in subsection (a), 
if any such increase in generation would require a drawdown of any 
contiguous lake or reservoir between Memorial Day and August 1 in any 
calendar year.
    ``(g) Definition of Powerplant.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) The term `TVA' means the Tennessee Valley Authority.
            ``(2) The term `TVA powerplant' means an electric 
        generation facility operated under the authority of the 
        Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 (16 U.S.C. 831 et seq.) 
        with a nameplate capacity of 15 megawatts or greater that uses 
        a combustion device to generate electricity for sale.
            ``(3) The term `outdated TVA powerplant' means a TVA 
        powerplant that has been in operation for 30 years or more. Any 
        period during which a TVA powerplant is out of service shall 
        not be taken into account for purposes of calculating the 30-
        year period.''.
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