Federal supervision of water resources projects

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall not license the construction of any dam, water conduit, reservoir, powerhouse, transmission line, or other project works under the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.), on or directly affecting the recreation area, and no department or agency of the United States shall assist by loan, grant, license, or otherwise in the construction of any water resources project that would have a direct and adverse effect on the values for which such area is established, except where such project is determined by the State of Georgia to be necessary for water supply or water quality enhancement purposes and authorized by the United States Congress. Nothing contained in the foregoing sentence, however, shall preclude licensing of, or assistance to, developments upstream or downstream from the recreation area or on any stream trib­utary thereto which will not invade the recreation area or unreasonably diminish the scenic, recreational, and fish and wildlife values present therein on August 15, 1978 . Nothing contained in this subsection shall preclude the upgrading, improvement, expansion or development of facilities or public works for water supply or water quality enhancement purposes if such action would not have a material adverse effect on the values for which the recreation area is established.

( Pub. L. 95–344, title I, § 104 , Aug. 15, 1978 , 92 Stat. 476 ; Pub. L. 98–568, § 1(d) , Oct. 30, 1984 , 98 Stat. 2928 ; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(d)(18) , Nov. 2, 1994 , 108 Stat. 4584 ; Pub. L. 106–154, § 2(e)(2) , (3), Dec. 9, 1999 , 113 Stat. 1739 .)