108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1648

AN ACT

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey

certain water distribution systems of theCachuma Project, California, to the CarpinteriaValley Water District and the Montecito WaterDistrict.

108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1648

AN ACT

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain

water distribution systems of the Cachuma Project, California, to the Carpinteria Valley Water District and the

Montecito Water District.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Carpinteria and

3 Montecito Water Distribution Systems Conveyance Act of

4 2003’’.

5 SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

6 OF THE CACHUMA PROJECT, CALIFORNIA.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior—

8 (1) may convey to the Carpinteria Valley Water

9 District, located in Santa Barbara County, Cali10 fornia, all right, title, and interest of the United

11 States in and to the Carpinteria Distribution System

12 of the Cachuma Project, California, consistent with

13 the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement

14 entitled ‘‘Agreement Between the United States and

15 the Carpinteria Valley Water District to Transfer

16 Title to the Federally Owned Distribution System to

17 the Carpinteria Valley Water District’’ (Agreement

18 No. 00–XC–20–0364); and

19 (2) may convey to the Montecito Water Dis20 trict, located in Santa Barbara County, California,

21 all right, title, and interest of the United States in

22 and to the Montecito Water Distribution System of

23 the Cachuma Project, California, consistent with the

24 terms and conditions set forth in the agreement en25 titled ‘‘Agreement Between the United States and

26 the Montecito Water District to Transfer Title to
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1 the Federally Owned Distribution System to the

2 Montecito Water District’’ (Agreement No. 01–XC–

3 20–0365).

4 (b) LIABILITY.—Effective upon the date of convey5 ance of a distribution system under this section, the

6 United States shall not be held liable by any court for

7 damages of any kind arising out of any act, omission, or

8 occurrence relating to the distribution system, except for

9 damages caused by acts of negligence committed by the

10 United States or by its employees or agents prior to the

11 date of conveyance. Nothing in this section increases the

12 liability of the United States beyond that provided in chap13 ter 171 of title 28, United States Code (popularly known

14 as the Federal Tort Claims Act) on the date of the enact15 ment of this Act.

16 (c) BENEFITS.—After conveyance of a water distribu17 tion system to the Carpinteria Valley Water District or

18 the Montecito Water District under this section—

19 (1) such water distribution system shall not be

20 considered to be a part of a Federal reclamation

21 project; and

22 (2) such water district shall not be eligible to

23 receive any benefits with respect to any facility com24 prising that distribution system, except benefits that

25 would be available to a similarly situated person
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1 with respect to such a facility that is not part of a

2 Federal reclamation project.

Passed the House of Representatives November 17,

2003.

Attest:

Clerk.