19–006 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 112–437 

IDAHO WILDERNESS WATER RESOURCES PROTECTION 

ACT 

APRIL 16, 2012.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, from the Committee on Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2050] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 2050) to authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank 

Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot 

Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes, 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. 2050 is to authorize the continued use of 

certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in 

the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the SelwayBitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

There are a number of water diversions within Idaho wilderness 

areas that predate its wilderness designation. Although the diversions continue to exist, owners lack authority to maintain and repair the facilities, which in some cases threaten the environment 

and watersheds. Providing this authority will ensure that existing 

water diversions can be properly maintained and repaired when 

necessary and preserves beneficial use for private property owners 

who hold water rights under state law. Subject to certain criteria, 

H.R. 2050 requires the U.S. Forest Service to issue special use 

maintenance permits to owners of certain existing water systems 


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within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the 

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 2050 was introduced on May 26, 2011, by Congressman Michael Simpson (R–ID). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 

on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. On October 25, 2011, 

the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On February 29, 

2012, the Full Natural Resources Committee met to consider the 

bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public 

Lands was discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments 

were offered and the bill was then 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 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 

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

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 2050—Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act 

H.R. 2050 would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to issue 

special permits for owners to continue using certain water storage, 

transport, and diversion facilities in the Frank Church-River of No 

Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness of Idaho. 

According to the Forest Service, any costs to process the permits 

would be paid by the permit holders. Because the legislation would 

affect direct spending (through the collection and spending of receipts), pay-as-you-go procedures apply; however, CBO estimates 

that enacting H.R. 2050 would have an insignificant impact on net 

direct spending. Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues. 

H.R. 2050 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aurora Swanson. The 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required by 

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tives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, 

this bill does not contain any new budget authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2050 would have an insignificant impact on net direct spending. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill is to authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank ChurchRiver of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates as defined under Public 

Law 104–4. 

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. 

Æ 


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