I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1648

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 7, 2003

Mrs. CAPPS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Resources 

A BILL

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,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

5 Montecito Water Distribution Systems Conveyance Act of 

6 2003’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS 

2 OF THE CACHUMA PROJECT, CALIFORNIA. 

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

4 (1) may convey to the Carpinteria Valley Water 

5 District, located in Santa Barbara County, Cali6 fornia, all right, title, and interest of the United 

7 States in and to the Carpinteria Distribution System 

8 of the Cachuma Project, California, consistent with 

9 the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement 

10 entitled ‘‘Agreement Between the United States and 

11 the Carpinteria Valley Water District to Transfer 

12 Title to the Federally Owned Distribution System to 

13 the Carpinteria Valley Water District’’ (Agreement 

14 No. 00–XC–20–0364); and 

15 (2) may convey to the Montecito Water Dis16 trict, located in Santa Barbara County, California, 

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

18 and to the Montecito Water Distribution System of 

19 the Cachuma Project, California, consistent with the 

20 terms and conditions set forth in the agreement en21 titled ‘‘Agreement Between the United States and 

22 the Montecito Water District to Transfer Title to 

23 the Federally Owned Distribution System to the 

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

25 20–0365). 
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1 (b) LIABILITY.—Effective upon the date of convey2 ance of a distribution system under this section, the 

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

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

5 occurrence relating to the distribution system, except for 

6 damages caused by acts of negligence committed by the 

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

8 date of conveyance. Nothing in this section increases the 

9 liability of the United States beyond that provided in chap10 ter 171 of title 28, United States Code (popularly known 

11 as the Federal Tort Claims Act) on the date of the enact12 ment of this Act. 

13 (c) BENEFITS.—After conveyance of a water distribu14 tion system to the Carpinteria Valley Water District or 

15 the Montecito Water District under this section—

16 (1) such water distribution system shall not be 

17 considered to be a part of a Federal reclamation 

18 project; and 

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

20 receive any benefits with respect to any facility com21 prising that distribution system, except benefits that 

22 would be available to a similarly situated person 

23 with respect to such a facility that is not part of a 

24 Federal reclamation project.

Æ