DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AT YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, OHIO.

SEC. 2863. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AT YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, OHIO. (a) Authority.— The Secretary of the Air Force may carry out a demonstration project to assess the feasibility and advisability of permitting private entities to install, operate, and maintain electric power distribution systems at military installations. The Secretary shall carry out the demonstration project through an agreement under subsection (b). (b) Agreement.— (1) In order to carry out the demonstration project, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with an electric utility or other company in the Youngstown, Ohio, area, consistent with State law, under which the utility or company installs, operates, and maintains (in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary and the utility or company) an electric power distribution system at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. (2) The Secretary may not enter into an agreement under this subsection until— (A) the Secretary submits to Congress a report on the agreement to be entered into, including the costs to be incurred by the United States under the agreement; and (B) a period of 30 days has elapsed from the date of the receipt of the report by the committees. (c) Licenses and Easements.— In order to facilitate the installation, operation, and maintenance of the electric power distribution system under the agreement under subsection (b), the Secretary may grant the utility or company with which the Secretary enters into the agreement such licenses, easements, and rights-of-way, consistent with State law, as the Secretary and the utility or company jointly determine necessary for such purposes. (d) Ownership of System.— The agreement between the Secretary and the utility or company under subsection (b) may provide that the utility or company shall own the electric power distribution system installed under the agreement. (e) Rate.— The rate charged by the utility or company for providing or distributing electric power at Youngstown Air Reserve Station through the electric power distribution system installed under the agreement under subsection (b) shall be the rate established by the appropriate Federal or State regulatory authority. (f) Reports.— Not later than February 1, 1997, and February 1 of each year following a year in which the Secretary carries 110 STAT. 2806 out the demonstration project under this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the project. The report shall include the Secretary’s current assessment of the project and the recommendations, if any, of the Secretary of extending the authority with respect to the project to other facilities and installations of the Department of Defense. (g) Funding.— In order to pay the costs of the United States under the agreement under subsection (b), the Secretary may use funds authorized to be appropriated by section 2601(3)(B) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (division B of Public Law 104–106; 110 Stat. 540) for the purpose of rebuilding the electric power distribution system at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station that were appropriated for that purpose by the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1996 (Public Law 104–32; 109 Stat. 283), and that remain available for obligation for that purpose as of the date of the enactment of this Act. (h) Application of Other Law.— Nothing in this section shall authorize actions which are inconsistent with Federal or State law. (i) Additional Terms and Conditions.— The Secretary may require such additional terms and conditions in the agreement under subsection (b) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.