Washington, D.C. - Legislation introduced by Senator Jim Risch and co-sponsored by Senator Mike Crapo to provide a license extension for the American Falls Reservoir District No. 2 project passed the United States Senate yesterday by unanimous consent.

The American Falls Dam Reservoir No. 2 was completed in 1927 as a state hydro project and operates under a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  The license is expired and FERC re-licensing requires congressional action and presidential approval.

S. 276 was introduced by Senator Risch in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee earlier this year.  The re-licensure will allow construction and efficiency work on American Falls Dam Reservoir No. 2.

The American Falls Dam system contains 1,700,000 acre-feet of water with 125 miles of shoreline.  American Falls Dam Reservoir No. 2 is operated by the Big Wood Canal Company.

A similar measure passed the U.S. Senate in the last Congress, but was not voted on in the House.

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