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[108th Congress Public Law 315]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]

[DOCID: f:publ315.108]

[[Page 118 STAT. 1200]]

Public Law 108-315
108th Congress

                                 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. <<NOTE: Oct. 5, 2004 -  [H.R. 1648]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Carpinteria and Montecito 
Water Distribution Systems Conveyance Act of 2004.>> assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Carpinteria and Montecito Water 
Distribution Systems Conveyance Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS OF THE CACHUMA PROJECT, 
            CALIFORNIA.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior--
            (1) may convey to the Carpinteria Valley Water District, 
        located in Santa Barbara County, California, all right, title, 
        and interest of the United States in and to the Carpinteria 
        Distribution System of the Cachuma Project, California, 
        consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the 
        agreement entitled ``Agreement Between the United States and the 
        Carpinteria Valley Water District to Transfer Title to the 
        Federally Owned Distribution System to the Carpinteria Valley 
        Water District'' (Agreement No. 00-XC-20-0364); and
            (2) may convey to the Montecito Water District, located in 
        Santa Barbara County, California, all right, title, and interest 
        of the United States in and to the Montecito Water Distribution 
        System of the Cachuma Project, California, consistent with the 
        terms and conditions set forth in the agreement entitled 
        ``Agreement Between the United States and the Montecito Water 
        District to Transfer Title to the Federally Owned Distribution 
        System to the Montecito Water District'' (Agreement No. 01-XC-
        20-0365).

    (b) Liability.--Effective <<NOTE: Effective date.>> upon the date of 
conveyance of a distribution system under this section, the United 
States shall not be held liable by any court for damages of any kind 
arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the 
distribution system, except for damages caused by acts of negligence 
committed by the United States or by its employees or agents prior to 
the date of conveyance. Nothing in this section increases the liability 
of the United States beyond that provided in chapter 171 of title 28, 
United States Code (popularly known as the Federal Tort Claims Act) on 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

    (c) Benefits.--After conveyance of a water distribution system to 
the Carpinteria Valley Water District or the Montecito Water District 
under this section--

[[Page 118 STAT. 1201]]

            (1) such water distribution system shall not be considered 
        to be a part of a Federal reclamation project; and
            (2) such water district shall not be eligible to receive any 
        benefits with respect to any facility comprising that 
        distribution system, except benefits that would be available to 
        a similarly situated person with respect to such a facility that 
        is not part of a Federal reclamation project.

    Approved October 5, 2004.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1648:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 108-363 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 108-287 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 149 (2003):
                                    Nov. 17, considered and passed 
                                        House.
                                                        Vol. 150 (2004):
                                    Sept. 15, considered and passed 
                                        Senate.

                                  <all>
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