Coal Pipeline Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
Coal Pipeline Act of 1979 - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant rights-of-way through Federal lands for a pipeline to transport coal. Authorizes the exercise of the right of eminent domain only by a carrier holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Department of the Interior. Stipulates that, before issuance of such certificate, environmental considerations and the need for energy domestically shall be weighed before the Secretary of the Interior makes a finding. Requires with certain exceptions that no carrier granted the power of eminent domain under this Act shall transport any coal in which it has any ownership interest. Establishes procedures for making application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, for antitrust review, and for enforcement under this Act. Imposes a maximum fine of $10,000, six months imprisonment, or both, for knowing violation of any provision of, or regulation issued pursuant to, this Act. Permits any State in granting a State water permit or authorization to a pipeline to condition, pursuant to State law, the water rights of such pipeline. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting in any way any law, regulation or rule of law governing appropriation, use, or diversion of water, or as affecting any Federal, State or private right to water, or as granting a right to the use of water to any carrier, or as superceding or modifying any State law, regulation, or rule of law governing the acquisition and administration of water rights. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate and transmit to Congress for approval such rules and regulations as necessary to carry out this Act. Requires that all coal pipelines subject to this Act be buried underground, in a manner consistent with environmental protection, safety, and good engineering and technological practices. States that this Act shall not be applicable to coal pipelines in bona fide operation on January 1, 1978.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on June 27, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on June 27, 1979: Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
JOHN BREAUX (D-LA) introduced it on June 27, 1979. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on June 27, 1979, 17242 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17242 days ago, on June 27, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers