118 STAT. 1200 PUBLIC LAW 108–315—OCT. 5, 2004

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress 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 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—

Effective date.

Carpinteria and

Montecito Water

Distribution

Systems

Conveyance Act

of 2004.

Oct. 5, 2004

[H.R. 1648]

PUBLIC LAW 108–315—OCT. 5, 2004 118 STAT. 1201

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.

Æ

(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.