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[Page: S1961]  GPO's PDF
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   The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the pending business.

   The legislative clerk read as follows:

   A bill (S. 517) to authorize funding for the Department of Energy to enhance its mission areas through technology transfer and partnerships for fiscal years 2002 through 2006, and for other purposes.

   Pending:

   Daschle/Bingaman further modified amendment No. 2917, in the nature of a substitute.

   Feinstein amendment No. 2989 (to amendment No. 2917), to provide regulatory oversight over energy trading markets.

   Kerry/McCain amendment No. 2999 (to amendment No. 2917), to provide for increased average fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles and light trucks.

   Dayton/Grassley amendment No. 3008 (to amendment No. 2917), to require that Federal agencies use ethanol-blended gasoline and biodiesel-blended diesel fuel in areas in which ethanol-blended gasoline and biodiesel-blended diesel fuel are available.

   Bingaman amendment No. 3016 (to amendment No. 2917), to clarify the provisions relating to the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

   Lott amendment No. 3028 (to amendment No. 2917), to provide for the fair treatment of Presidential judicial nominees.

   Mr. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, during this lull in the debate of the energy bill I would like to take a moment to thank the Senator from New Mexico and his staff for all of their hard work and cooperation on the Alaska gas pipeline title of this bill.

   Mr. BINGAMAN. I thank the Senator for those kind words. This is an important energy policy initiative for the nation. I thought we had a good beginning with the amendments that were offered and debated last week.

   Mr. MURKOWSKI. I agree, it was a good start. However, we still have a fair piece to go before we reach the end of this trail. If the Senator would recall during last week's debate I mentioned that there were a number of additional items that would need to be addressed before we completed our legislative effort on this important issue.

   These additional items include crafting language that sets procedures in place for allocating initial gas capacity of the pipeline and for any subsequent expansions that might be warranted based on new discoveries or additional needs in Lower 48 markets.

   Mr. BINGAMAN. Yes, I do recall the Senator's remarks and I am aware that there are several additional items that are being worked on at the staff level. I particularly hope we will be able to make some improvements that will assist in lowering the overall risk associated with this $20 billion project.

   These include enhancing the ability of the Pipeline Coordinator created in the gas pipeline title to keep the numerous Federal and State agencies that will be involved in this project working in a cooperative and coordinated fashion and providing for clear and expedited procedures for resolving legal challenges that might arise during permitting and construction of the pipeline. Streamlining the permitting process will help reduce the risks of delay and added costs to the project.

   Mr. MURKOWSKI. I do indeed understand what my friend from New Mexico is saying. This point is especially true when you recall that the oil and gas producers who hold the leases on the Prudhoe Bay gas have stated publicly that the project as it now stands is uneconomical. Any legislative language that adds risk or cost to the project will simply make it impossible to build the Alaska gas transportation system--and this will deny the American consumers with access to a dependable,

[Page: 
S1962]  GPO's PDF

   Mr. BINGAMAN. I agree with the Senator from Alaska. We must be extremely careful in crafting language for inclusion in the gas title; poorly thought out concepts can add significant risk to this project.

   I suggest that we continue our cooperative efforts as we have in the past. I believe that by working together we can get this project built, and that will benefit both the people of Alaska and the entire gas consuming public across the United States.

   Mr. MURKOWSKI. I agree completely and I look forward to continuing our efforts. I particularly appreciate the Senator's understanding the need to allow Alaskans access to the North Slope gas reserves. As in the Nation, my State needs abundant and dependable gas supplies to fuel the growth of our economy over the next three decades.

   The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Utah.

   Mr. BENNETT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent I might be allowed to speak as in morning business for up to 7 minutes.

   The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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