19–006

107TH CONGRESS REPORT " HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ! 2d Session 107–762

CARPINTERIA AND MONTECITO WATER DISTRIBUTION 

SYSTEMS CONVEYANCE ACT OF 2002

OCTOBER 16, 2002.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HANSEN, from the Committee on Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 5399]

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 

(H.R. 5399) 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, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 

without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 5399 is 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. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Overview of transfers 

Since the Bureau of Reclamation began building water supply 

and distribution systems in the early 1900s, there has been an expectation that many of the facilities would ultimately be transferred to the local entities they were built to serve. Taking facilities 

off the federal books represents real budget savings for the future. 

Transfers help shrink the size and budget of the federal government, and help us manage our water resources in a more efficient 

way. 

Overview of project conveyance 

The proposed transfer of ownership of the Cachuma Project 

would include the following facilities: the distribution system conVerDate 0ct 09 2002 23:00 Oct 17, 2002 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR762.XXX HR762
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sisting of 36 miles of pipeline and laterals; Governador Reservoir; 

Shephard Mesa Tank; Lateral 10L, Carpinteria and Shephard 

Mesa pumping plants; several pressure regulating vaults located 

throughout the system; fences and structures; and rights-of-way, 

easements, leases and other property permitting access to the federal system. 

The proposed transfer would apply to only land and facilities and 

would not affect the Districts’ existing water service contract with 

the Santa Barbara County Water Agency nor the federal government receipts from water deliveries under the contract. In addition, 

the proposed transfer does not involve any new physical modification or expansion of the service infrastructure. Finally, both Districts met all requirements of Bureau of Reclamation transfers, including payment obligations and required environmental reviews, 

and need only to complete the process with an act of Congress. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 5399 WAS INTRODUCED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2002, BY CONGRESSWOMAN LOIS CAPPS (D–CA). THE BILL WAS REFERRED TO THE

COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES, AND WITHIN THE COMMITTEE TO THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER. ON OCTOBER 8, 2002, THE

FULL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MET TO CONSIDER THE BILL. THE

SUBCOMMITTEE WAS DISCHARGED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION

OF THE BILL BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. NO AMENDMENTS WERE OFFERED AND THE BILL WAS ORDERED FAVORABLY REPORTED TO THE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY VOICE VOTE. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in 

the body of this report. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States 

grants Congress the authority to enact this bill. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. The Committee believes that enactment of this 

bill will result in minor savings to the United States budget in the 

future. 

2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule 

XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not 

contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does not 

authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the 

Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

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section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested but not received a cost estimate for this bill 

from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law.

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