§ 1651. — Congressional findings and declaration.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 43USC1651]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 34--TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE
Sec. 1651. Congressional findings and declaration
The Congress finds and declares that:
(a) The early development and delivery of oil and gas from Alaska's
North Slope to domestic markets is in the national interest because of
growing domestic shortages and increasing dependence upon insecure
foreign sources.
(b) The Department of the Interior and other Federal agencies, have,
over a long period of time, conducted extensive studies of the technical
aspects and of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the
proposed trans-Alaska oil pipeline, including consideration of a trans-
Canada pipeline.
(c) The earliest possible construction of a trans-Alaska oil
pipeline from the North Slope of Alaska to Port Valdez in that State
will make the extensive proven and potential reserves of low-sulfur oil
available for domestic use and will best serve the national interest.
(d) A supplemental pipeline to connect the North Slope with a trans-
Canada pipeline may be needed later and it should be studied now, but it
should not be regarded as an alternative for a trans-Alaska pipeline
that does not traverse a foreign country.
(Pub. L. 93-153, title II, Sec. 202, Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 584.)
Short Title of 1990 Amendment
Pub. L. 101-380, title VIII, Sec. 8001, Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat.
564, provided that: ``This title [enacting sections 1642 and 1656 of
this title, amending sections 1350 and 1653 of this title and section
3145 of Title 16, Conservation, and enacting provisions set out as notes
under this section and section 1653 of this title] may be cited as the
`Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Reform Act of 1990'.''
Short Title
Section 201 of title II of Pub. L. 93-153 provided that: ``This
title [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the `Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Authorization Act'.''
Separability
Section 411 of Pub. L. 93-153 provided that: ``If any provision of
this Act [enacting this chapter, section 1456a of this title, and
section 3512 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents, amending
section 1608 of this title, sections 45, 46, 53, and 56 of Title 15,
Commerce and Trade, section 185 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining,
section 3502 of Title 44, and section 391a of former Title 46, Shipping,
and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1608 and 1651 of
this title, section 1904 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, section 45 of
Title 15, section 791a of Title 16, Conservation, and section 1221 of
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters] or the applicability thereof
is held invalid the remainder of this Act shall not be affected
thereby.''
Presidential Task Force
Pub. L. 101-380, title VIII, Sec. 8103, Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat.
567, established a Presidential Task Force on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
System, to conduct an audit of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and make
recommendations to the President, Congress, and the Governor of Alaska,
authorized appropriations for the Task Force, and required it to
transmit its final report to the President, Congress, and the Governor
no later than 2 years after the date on which funding was made
available.
North Slope Crude Oil; Report on Equitable Allocation
Pub. L. 94-586, Sec. 18, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2916, directed that
the President, within 6 months of Oct. 22, 1976, determine special
expediting procedures necessary to insure the equitable allocation of
North Slope crude oil to the Northern Tier States of Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, Montana, Illinois, Indiana, and Idaho to carry out the provisions
of section 410 of Pub. L. 93-153 [set out below], and to report his
findings to Congress, such report to include a statement demonstrating
the impact that the delivery system would have on reducing the
dependency of New England and the Middle Atlantic States on foreign oil
imports.
Trans-Canada Pipeline; Negotiations With Canada; Feasibility Study
Title III (Secs. 301-303) of Pub. L. 93-153 authorized the President
to enter into negotiations with the Government of Canada to determine
Canadian willingness to permit construction of pipelines or other
transportation systems across its territory to bring gas and oil from
Alaska's North Slope to the United States; the need for
intergovernmental agreements to protect interests of any parties
involved with construction, operation, and maintenance of such natural
gas or oil transportation systems; terms and conditions for construction
across Canadian territory; desirability of joint studies to insure
environmental protection, reduce regulatory uncertainty, and insure
meeting energy requirements; quantity of oil and gas for which Canada
would guarantee transit; and acquisition of other energy sources so as
to make unnecessary the shipment of oil from the Alaska pipeline by
tanker into the Puget Sound area. The President was to report to
Congress on actions taken and recommendations for further action. In
addition, the Secretary of the Interior was to investigate, and to
report to Congress within 2 years of Nov. 16, 1973, as to the
feasibility of oil or gas pipelines from the North Slope of Alaska to
connect with a pipeline through Canada that would deliver oil or gas to
United States markets. Nothing in title III was to limit the authority
of the Secretary or any other Federal official to grant a gas or oil
pipeline right-of-way or permit, which that official was otherwise
authorized by law to grant.
Exclusion of Persons From Trans-Alaska Pipeline Activities on Basis of
Race, Creed, Color, National Origin, or Sex Prohibited
Section 403 of Pub. L. 93-153 provided that: ``The Secretary of the
Interior shall take such affirmative action as he deems necessary to
assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color,
national origin, or sex, be excluded from receiving, or participating in
any activity conducted under, any permit, right-of-way, public land
order, or other Federal authorization granted or issued under title II
[this chapter]. The Secretary of the Interior shall promulgate such
rules as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection
and may enforce this subsection, and any rules promulgated under this
subsection, through agency and department provisions and rules which
shall be similar to those established and in effect under title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [section 2000d et seq. of Title 42, The
Public Health and Welfare].''
Equitable Allocation of North Slope Crude Oil
Section 410 of Pub. L. 93-153 provided that: ``The Congress declares
that the crude oil on the North Slope of Alaska is an important part of
the Nation's oil resources, and that the benefits of such crude oil
should be equitably shared, directly or indirectly, by all regions of
the country. The President shall use any authority he may have to insure
an equitable allocation of available North Slope and other crude oil
resources and petroleum products among all regions and all of the
several States.''
