Sale of excess Federal power; fish and wildlife conservation within Federal Columbia River Power System; residential exchange; personnel flexibility

In this section: The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration. The term “Council” means the Northwest Power and Conservation Planning Council. The term “excess Federal power” means such electric power that has become surplus to the firm contractual obligations of the Administrator under section 839c(f) of this title due to either— Notwithstanding section 837a of this title, subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 837b of this title, and section 837f of this title, and section 839f(c) of this title, the Administrator may, as permitted by otherwise applicable law, sell or otherwise dispose of excess Federal power— The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, acting through the North Pacific Division of the Corps of Engineers, is authorized to place orders for goods and services related to facilities for electric power generation and fish and wildlife mitigation associated with the Federal Columbia River Power System with and through the Administrator using the authorities available to the Administrator. Notwithstanding the establishment, confirmation and approval of rates pursuant to section 839e of this title, and notwithstanding the provisions of section 839c(c) of this title, the cost benefits of eligible utilities’ total purchase and exchange sales under section 839c(c)(1) of this title shall be $145,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and the net benefits paid to each eligible electric utility shall be $145,000,000 multiplied by the percentage of the total of such net benefits paid by the Administrator to such utility for fiscal year 1995. The Administrator may offer employees voluntary separation incentives as deemed necessary which shall not exceed $25,000. Recipients who accept employment with the United States within five years after separation shall repay the entire amount to the Bonneville Power Administration. Unless superseded by an Act of Congress, the authority provided by this section is expressly intended to extend beyond the fiscal year.