NO 11 II. I.1K1 AN OLD FOSSIL FUEL 819 



We don't have Co answer every question now that may arise from these programs. 

 I think it we attempted to do this with all legislation we would never pass anything. 



Thornton, Bell, and Myers supported McCormack. Thornton stated: 



The basic, underlying question which must be resolved is whether this Nation at 

 Mime point in the future and before the end of this century is going to need to obtain a 

 synthetic fuel capacity. If the answer to that question is affirmative, then now is the 

 time to begin. 



TEAGUE A MODERATING FORCE IN CONFERENCE 



Following the two-hour hearing, Teague announced that the con- 

 ferees would meet during the first week in November. Prior to these 

 meetings, the House conferees met and took test votes on a number of 

 the issues which had been raised during the October hearings, but very 

 few actual changes were made. The House conferees found their Senate 

 counterparts very amenable to making changes in the Senate language 

 on the loan guarantee section. Teague joined with Hechler in the sup- 

 port of a number of amendments to do the following: 



Provide for review of loan guarantees by the Justice Department and Federal 

 Trade Commission regarding the competitive impact and possible industry concentra- 

 tion resulting from the guarantees. 



Provide for State and local review of the siting of synthetic fuels plants, and 

 allowing a Governor to veto a site under some circumstances. 



On many occasions, Teague's vote in the conference swung the balance 

 toward modifying the terms of the bill to enhance competition, to 

 provide for assistance to local communities, and to give a voice to 

 State and local authorities. A $300 million community impact assist- 

 ance fund was set up. Oil shale development was limited to small size 

 units. More extensive review and safety provisions were included. 

 After a stiff tight with the State Department, which strongly opposed 

 the provision, a requirement was written into the conference report 

 that borrowers and applicants had to be citizens or nationals of the 

 United States. 



RULES COMMITTEE ACTION 



When the conference committee completed its deliberations on 

 December 8, Teague agreed to allow the House to have a separate vote 

 on sections 102 and 103. He went before the Rules Committee, along 

 with the vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy 

 (Representative Mel Price, Democrat of Illinois) to ask for a separate 

 vote on these sections. It was agreed all around that Hechler would be 

 recognized to make the motion to strike these sections after two hours 

 of general debate. 



