PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 407.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 12, 1996
Energy Policy and Conservation Act Amendment Act - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to: (1) restate its purpose so as to grant the President authority to fulfill Federal obligations under the international energy program (currently, standby authority, subject to congressional review, to impose rationing and implement energy conservation plans); (2) repeal the loan guarantee program for the development of underground coal mines; and (3) limit only to instances when the Secretary determines before any lease sale that such bidding would adversely affect competition or the receipt of fair market value the current prohibition on certain lease bidding with respect to Outer Continental Shelf lands by persons partly but significantly owned by more than one major oil company or affiliate. Repeals requirements for oil or gas production at the maximum efficient rate and temporary emergency production rate. (Sec. 3) Repeals the mandate for: (1) a Strategic Petroleum Reserve Plan; (2) an Early Storage Reserve; and (3) a Regional Petroleum Reserve. Revises the guidelines for the maintenance of the SPR. Authorizes the Secretary to use underutilized facilities to store petroleum product owned by a foreign government. Repeals guidelines for the use of interim storage facilities, and environmental considerations for existing facilities. Mandates submission of an expansion plan to the Congress when the Secretary determines that a 750 million barrel inventory can reasonably be expected in the Reserve within five years. Makes the Secretary of Energy's authority to acquire petroleum products for the SPR contingent on the availability of funds. Repeals guidelines governing storage, transport, or exchange of petroleum products with respect to: (1) prescriptions for fill operations by the President (minimum fill rates); (2) withdrawals from Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1; (3) fill operations suspensions during emergencies; and (4) a test program of refined petroleum products storage. Instructs the Secretary to sell SPR petroleum at public sale to the highest qualified bidder without regard to Federal, State or local regulations. Makes SPR status reports annual instead of quarterly. Authorizes appropriations for the SPR. Extends the authorities relating to the SPR through FY 2001. (Sec. 4) Repeals general emergency authorities, including energy emergency preparedness authority. Revises guidelines governing: (1) international voluntary agreements affecting emergency responses (including the applicability of the Defense Production Act of 1950); and (2) antitrust defenses applicable to international voluntary agreements (only if the International Energy Agency's Emergency Sharing System has been activated). Extends the authorization of appropriations for interagency working groups to promote exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services through FY 2001. Extends other emergency energy authorities through FY 2001. (Sec. 5) Extends authorizations of appropriations through FY 2001 for: (1) State energy conservation programs; (2) the energy conservation program for schools and hospitals; and (3) the alternative fuels truck commercial application program. (Sec. 6) Modifies the statutory mandate that the President collect certain petroleum product information.
People & committees
Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK] · R–AK
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 407.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-273.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-273.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1856-1862)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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