Public Works for Water and Power Development and Energy Research Appropriation Act, 1977

(Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1297)

Public Works for Water and Power Development and Energy Research Appropriation Act - =Title I: Energy Research and Development Administration= - Makes appropriations to the Energy Research and Development Administration for fiscal year 1977. Appropriates $4,147,563,000 in monies from the general fund and fees received by the Administration for use as operating expenses. Appropriates $1,572,410,000 for plant and capital equipment. Appropriates $30,000,000 to carry out the Loan Guarantee and Interest Assistance Program for development of geothermal resources.

=Title II: Department of Defense-Civil= - Makes appropriations to the Secretary of the Army, under the supervision of the Chief of Engineers, for fiscal year 1977. Appropriates $71,920,000 for general investigations and study of authorized projects. Authorizes $1,436,745,000 for construction of authorized Corps of Engineers projects. Stipulates that portions of such sums shall be transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to provide equal consideration to wildlife conservation in project planning and construction.

Appropriates $231,497,000 for flood control projects for the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Stipulates that not less than $250,000 shall be available for bank stabilization measures in the Yazoo Basin.

Appropriates $648,900,000 for general operation and maintenance of existing projects. Appropriates $6,600,000 for design and construction of hopper dredges.

Appropriates $22,140,000 for emergency flood control, $47,200,000 for general expenses; and $2,000,000 for outdoor recreation facilities to be derived from fees established by the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965.

Authorizes expenditures for various administrative functions from such appropriation. Limits the amount of expenses for official reception and representation to $10,000. Stipulates that the total capital of the revolving fund for such expenses shall not exceed $291,000,000.

=Title III: Department of the Interior= - Authorizes appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation for fiscal year 1977. Appropriates $24,762,000 for general investigations and studies. Stipulates that $554,000 of such appropriation shall be transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service for wildlife conservation purposes.

Appropriates $348,811,000 for construction of authorized reclamation projects, of which $214,000,000 shall be derived from the reclamation fund. Appropriates an additional $200,000,000 in such funds for payment of claims and reimbursement for damages resulting from the Teton River Dam collapse in Idaho.

Appropriates $59,331,000 for the Upper Colorado River Storage Project, of which $4,131,000 shall be available for construction of fish and wildlife facilities.

Appropriates $94,020,000 to the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund, of which $20,600,000 is for liquidation of contract authority. Appropriates $44,680,000 for construction, operation and maintenance of Colorado River Basin Salinity Control projects.

Appropriates $143,000,000 for general operations and maintenance and soil and moisture conservation on lands within the Bureau's jurisdiction. Stipulates that $116,000,000 of such funds be derived from the reclamation fund and $5,172,000 from the Colorado River Dam fund.

Appropriates $27,495,000 for loan and grant programs to irrigation districts and other public agencies. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the reclamation fund for emergencies, and $22,600,000 from such fund for general administrative expenses.

Authorizes transfer of special funds monies to merge with funds expended, from the general fund at the request of the Secretary of the Interior. Imposes restrictions the manner in which funds may be spent for construction and rehabilitation work.

Appropriates $749,000 to the Alaska Power Administration for general investigations, $20,000 of which shall be transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Appropriates $1,141,000 for operation and maintenance expenses with respect to Alaskan power resources. Appropriates already specified funds to the Bonneville Power Administrator for the purchase of one replacement aircraft and construction of specified transmission facilities in Idaho.

Appropriates $1,076,000 to the Southeastern Power Administration for operations and maintenance expenses. Appropriates $896,000 to the Southwestern Power Administration for construction of additional facilities. Appropriates $7,707,000 to the Southwestern Power Administration for operations and maintenance. Stipulates that funds appropriated to such Administration may not be transferred to other uses.

=Title IV: Independent Offices= - Makes appropriations to the following independent offices for fiscal year 1977: (1) to the Appalachian Regional Commission, $1,897,000 for salaries and expenses; (2) to the President, for Appalachian Regional development programs, $303,000,000 ($185,000,000 to be available for the Appalachian Development Highway System); (3) to the Delaware River Basin Commission, $83,000 for salaries and expenses, and $198,000 for additional expenses as authorized by law; (4) to the Federal Power Commission, $41,582,000 for salaries and expenses; (5) to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, $52,000; (6) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, $244,430,000 for salaries and expenses; (7) to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, $83,000,000 for salaries and expenses, and an additional $150,000 as authorized by law; (8) to the Tennessee Valley Authority Fund, $125,930,000; and (9) to the Water Resources Council, $12,665,000 for expenses to carry out provisions of the Water Resources Planning Act of 1965.

=Title V: General Provisions= - Stipulates that no amount appropriated by this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 1977 except where expressly so provided.