Friday, December 16, 2011
In Case You Missed It:
News Round Up: Robert Hurt Introduces SHORE Act
On Wednesday, Robert introduced Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement (SHORE) Act. This legislation protects private landowners’ rights by requiring that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) take into consideration private property rights of Fifth District Virginians when exercising their authority as it relates to federally regulated hydropower projects in the Fifth District and across the country.
Below please find several news articles that discuss Robert’s SHORE Act, including coverage containing examples from Fifth District Virginians whose concerns this legislation seeks to address. Click on the links to read the full articles.
Roanoke Times: Rep. Robert Hurt Seeks Boost To Landowner Rights: Sparked by complaints by Smith Mountain Lake residents, Rep. Robert Hurt filed a bill Wednesday to boost private property owners’ rights in federally licensed hydropower projects. If passed, the Supporting Homeowner Rights Enforcement, or SHORE Act, would amend the Federal Power Act to require that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must take into consideration landowners’ rights when issuing hydropower licenses.
News and Advance: Hurt Introduces Bill To Protect Lake Property Owners From Over Regulation: Homeowners at Smith Mountain Lake could have a federal agency paying more attention to their property rights under a bill introduced in Congress Wednesday by Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th District. The measure was inspired by conflicts between lakefront property owners and regulators, who in some cases have limited the owners’ dock-building plans or told people to tear up property they’ve improved. Hurt proposed the Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement (SHORE) Act, which, if passed, would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to take into account private-property ownership rights when issuing and enforcing hydropower project licenses. Currently, FERC is not required to consider private-property matters when it issues or renews licenses for hydroelectric projects like the Smith Mountain-Leesville Lake complex operated by Appalachian Power Co. Hurt said his legislation would require FERC to consider “the private use and enjoyment of land.” Hurt’s measure would require APCO, when enforcing FERC rules, to “consider the benefit of private landownership to investment and increased tourism” when developers are building recreation resources on the lake, Hurt said.
WSLS: Congressman Hurt Hopes New Bill Will Prevent Future Dock Fights: It took nearly a year and $10,000 in legal fees for Waterfront Condominium residents in Smith Mountain Lake to ensure their docks wouldn’t be removed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, better known as FERC. But while their fight is over, the issue is taking a much bigger stage. Six weeks ago FERC backed off its stance that the docks at the condominium complex had to be torn down. But thanks in part to the noise made by several of these condominium owners this issue will now be taken up in Congress. Wednesday Fifth District Congressman Republican Robert Hurt introduced the Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement Act (SHORE). The bill would require FERC to take private property rights into account when issuing licenses, something they are not required to do now. “It will give an opportunity to landowners to have their views heard in a very real way,” Hurt said. “I think that will have a very positive outcome in the final product.”
WDBJ: SHORE Act: Hurt Introduces Legislation To Protect Landowners’ Rights At Smith Mountain Lake: 5th District Congressman Robert Hurt has introduced legislation he hopes will protect the rights of private landowners at Smith Mountain Lake. He has dubbed the proposal the SHORE Act, short for Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement. The legislation would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider property ownership rights when issuing and enforcing licenses for hydroelectric projects like Smith Mountain Lake. Earlier this year, residents of Gangplank Point objected when FERC ordered their homeowners association to remove boat docks from the condominium community.
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