Palmetto Bend Conveyance Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Palmetto Bend Conveyance Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Project.--The term ``Project'' means the Palmetto Bend 
        Reclamation Project in the State of Texas authorized under 
        Public Law 90-562 (82 Stat. 999).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the Texas Water 
        Development Board and Lavaca-Navidad River Authority jointly, 
        unless Lavaca-Navidad River Authority has acquired the 
        interests of the Texas Water Development Board prior to the 
        time of title transfer, in which case ``State'' shall mean 
        Lavaca-Navidad River Authority.

SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall, as soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this Act and in accordance with all applicable 
law, and subject to the conditions set forth in sections 4 and 5, 
convey to the State all right, title, and interest (excluding the 
mineral estate) in and to the Project held by the United States.
    (b) Report.--If the conveyance under section 3 has not been 
completed within 1 year and 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a report that describes--
            (1) the status of the conveyance;
            (2) any obstacles to completion of the conveyance; and
            (3) the anticipated date for completion of the conveyance.

SEC. 4. PAYMENT.

    (a) In General.--As a condition of the conveyance, the State shall 
pay the Secretary the adjusted net present value of current repayment 
obligations on the Project, calculated 30 days prior to closing using a 
discount rate equal to the average interest rate on 30-year United 
States Treasury notes during the preceding calendar month, which 
following application of the State's August 1, 1999, payment, is 
currently calculated to be $45,082,675 using a discount rate of 6.070 
percent. The State shall also pay interest on the adjusted net present 
value of current repayment obligations from the date of State's most 
recent annual payment until closing at the interest rate for constant 
maturity United States Treasury notes of an equivalent term.
    (b) Obligation Extinguished.--Upon payment by the State under 
subsection (a), the obligation of the State and the Bureau of 
Reclamation under the Bureau of Reclamation Contract No. 14-06-500-
1880, as amended shall be extinguished. After completion of conveyance 
provided for in section 3, the State shall assume full responsibility 
for all aspects of operation, maintenance, and replacement of the 
Project.
    (c) Additional Costs.--The State shall bear the cost of all 
boundary surveys, title searches, appraisals, and other transaction 
costs for the conveyance.
    (d) Reclamation Fund.--All funds paid by the State to the Secretary 
under this section shall be credited to the Reclamation Fund in the 
Treasury of the United States.

SEC. 5. FUTURE MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--As a condition of the conveyance under section 3, 
the State shall agree that the lands, water, and facilities of the 
Project shall continue to be managed and operated for the purposes for 
which the Project was originally authorized; that is, to provide a 
dependable municipal and industrial water supply, to conserve and 
develop fish and wildlife resources, and to enhance recreational 
opportunities. The State's agreement shall be reflected in the 
management agreement required by subsection (b) of this section.
    (b) Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation Management.--As a condition of 
conveyance under section 3, management decisions and actions affecting 
the public aspects of the Project (namely, fish, wildlife, and 
recreation resources) shall be conducted according to a management 
agreement between all recipients of title to the Project and the Texas 
Parks and Wildlife Department that has been approved by the Secretary 
and shall extend for the useful life of the Project.
    (c) Existing Obligations.--The United States shall assign to the 
State and the State shall accept all surface use obligations of the 
United States associated with the Project existing on the date of the 
conveyance including contracts, easements, and any permits or license 
agreements.

SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT OF MINERAL ESTATE.

    All mineral interests in the Project retained by the United States 
shall be managed consistent with Federal law and in a manner that will 
not interfere with the purposes for which the Project was authorized.

SEC. 7. LIABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Effective on the date of conveyance of the 
Project, the United States shall not be liable for damages of any kind 
arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the 
Project, except for damages caused by acts of negligence committed 
prior to the date of conveyance by--
            (1) the United States; or
            (2) an employee, agent, or contractor of the United States.
    (b) No Increase in Liability.--Nothing in this Act increases the 
liability of the United States beyond that provided for in the Federal 
Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 2671 et seq.).

SEC. 8. FUTURE BENEFITS.

    After purchase of the Project, the State shall not be entitled to 
receive any benefits for the Project under Federal reclamation law (the 
Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093)), and Acts 
supplemental to and amendatory of that Act (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.).


                                                 

Summary: Directs the State, as a condition of conveyance, to pay the Secretary the adjusted net present value of current repayment obligations on the Project as well as interest. Extinguishes the State's obligation under a specified Bureau of Reclamation contract upon payment of such amount. Requires the State to bear the cost of all boundary surveys, title searches, appraisals, and other transaction costs for the conveyance. Requires State payments to the Secretary to be credited to the Reclamation Fund in the Treasury. Requires, as a condition of the conveyance, that: (1) the State agree that Project lands, water, and facilities shall continue to be managed and operated for the purposes for which the Project was originally authorized. And (2) management actions affecting the public aspects of the Project be conducted according to a management agreement between recipients of title to the Project and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department approved by the Secretary. Assigns to the State all US surface use obligations associated with the Project. Makes the State, after purchase of the Project, ineligible to receive any benefits for the Project under Federal reclamation law.