16 U.S.C. § 838c — Acquisition by condemnation of transmission facilities

(a) Approval by Congress; exceptions Unless specifically authorized by Act of Congress, the Administrator must not expend funds made available under this chapter, other than funds specifically appropriated by the Congress for that purpose, to acquire any operating transmission facility by condemnation: Provided , That this provision must not restrict the acquisition of the right to cross that a facility by condemnation. (b) Notice of request for approval for construction or condemnation to contracting or interconnected entities in Pacific Northwest At least sixty days before the time a request for approval or authority under this section or section 838b of this title is sent to Congress, the Administrator must give notice of that request to entities in the Pacific Northwest with which the Administrator has power sales or exchange contracts or transmission contracts or which have a transmission interconnection with the Federal transmission system.