Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/1294

 118 STAT. 1264 PUBLIC LAW 108–324—OCT. 13, 2004 (A) update the study at least once every 5 years until construction of an Alaska natural gas transportation project is completed; and (B) on completion of each update, submit to Congress a report containing the results of the update. SEC. 113. ALASKA PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) PROGRAM.— (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Labor (in this sec tion referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall make grants to the Alaska Workforce Investment Board— (A) to recruit and train adult and dislocated workers in Alaska, including Alaska Natives, in the skills required to construct and operate an Alaska gas pipeline system; and (B) for the design and construction of a training facility to be located in Fairbanks, Alaska, to support an Alaska gas pipeline training program. (2) COORDINATION WITH EXISTING PROGRAMS.—The training program established with the grants authorized under para graph (1) shall be consistent with the vision and goals set forth in the State of Alaska Unified Plan, as developed pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.). (b) REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make a grant under subsection (a) only if— (1) the Governor of the State of Alaska requests the grant funds and certifies in writing to the Secretary that there is a reasonable expectation that the construction of the Alaska natural gas pipeline system will commence by the date that is 2 years after the date of the certification; and (2) the Secretary of Energy concurs in writing to the Sec retary with the certification made under paragraph (1) after considering— (A) the status of necessary Federal and State permits; (B) the availability of financing for the Alaska natural gas pipeline project; and (C) other relevant factors. (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000. Not more than 15 percent of the funds may be used for the facility described in subsection (a)(1)(B). SEC. 114. SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING NATURAL GAS DEMAND. It is the sense of Congress that— (1) North American demand for natural gas will increase dramatically over the course of the next several decades; (2) both the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline and the Mac kenzie Delta Natural Gas project in Canada will be necessary to help meet the increased demand for natural gas in North America; (3) Federal and State officials should work together with officials in Canada to ensure both projects can move forward in a mutually beneficial fashion; (4) Federal and State officials should acknowledge that the smaller scope, fewer permitting requirements, and lower cost of the Mackenzie Delta project means it will most likely be completed before the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline; 15 USC 720l. Grants. 15 USC 720k. Reports.

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