Pete Domenici: “I hope that Senators and those advising Senators listened carefully to the two arguments that have already been made. In…”

“I hope that Senators and those advising Senators listened carefully to the two arguments that have already been made. In particular, I commend both Senators. But let me say, if you listen carefully to the argument that Senator Bingaman, my colleague from New Mexico, just made, it should be clear that there is no intention in our legislation that local authorities be usurped. There is no intention that the environmental law of the land--NEPA--not be complied with. As a matter of fact, it is required. There is nothing in this law that will take a myriad of State and local requirements and do anything other than say they must be complied with. I have behind me a chart which summarizes that permit and certification approval that must take place before we get to the final stages. And you go through a myriad of activities. We are talking about California: Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Transportation, regional water quality, California State Historic Preservation, storm water discharge associated with construction--we can go on and on, all of these things, including a full analysis as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA. As we wrote this bill, we were trying to write national energy policy. Our country has been accustomed to a myriad of regulatory constraints and litigation before issues that are significant to our Nation's energy come to an end.…”