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103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 745

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Goshen Irrigation

District, Wyoming, certain lands and irrigation structures relating to

the Fort Laramie Division of the North Platte Project.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 2, 1993

Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to

the Goshen Irrigation District, Wyoming, certain lands

and irrigation structures relating to the Fort Laramie

Division of the North Platte Project.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. TRANSFER TO GOSHEN IRRIGATION DISTRICT.

4 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of the Interior

5 is authorized to transfer to the Goshen Irrigation District,

6 Wyoming, without cost to the district, title to such lands,

7 easements, ditches, laterals, canals, drains, and other

8 rights-of-way, together with all appurtenant structures
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1 which the United States has acquired in connection with

2 the Fort Laramie Division of the North Platte Project

3 that are used solely for the purpose of serving Goshen Irri4 gation District lands in Wyoming and which the Secretary

5 determines are necessary to enable the Goshen Irrigation

6 District to carry out operation and maintenance with re7 spect to that portion of the facilities to be transferred. The

8 title to such lands, easements, ditches, laterals, canals,

9 drains, and other rights-of-way, together with all appur10 tenant structures located in Wyoming that are for the pur11 pose of jointly serving Goshen Irrigation District lands in

12 Wyoming and Gering-Ft. Laramie lands in Nebraska, may

13 be transferred to the Goshen Irrigation District upon mu14 tual agreement by the Secretary and the Goshen Irrigation

15 District.

16 (b) CONDITION.—Any transfer under this Act shall

17 be subject to the condition that the district assumes the

18 responsibility for the operation and maintenance portion

19 of the project works in a manner necessary to ensure that

20 the United States obligation to deliver water to the

21 Gering-Ft. Laramie Irrigation District shall be main22 tained.

23 (c) INTERESTS RETAINED BY UNITED STATES.—

24 Title to and management and operation of the reservoirs

25 and related water supply works necessary for their protec-
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1 tion and operation shall remain in the United States, un2 less otherwise provided by an Act of Congress. The United

3 States shall incur no further expense on behalf of the Go4 shen Irrigation District for the operation and mainte5 nance, rehabilitation, or replacement of the irrigation, de6 livery, drainage, and related facilities transferred under

7 this Act.

8 (d) LIABILITY.—The district shall assume all liability

9 with respect to such transferred facilities and shall indem10 nify the United States against all such liability.

11 (e) CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.—Nothing con12 tained herein shall relieve the Goshen Irrigation District

13 from any provisions or requirements of its existing con14 tracts (1926 Contract and 1952 Amendatory Contract)

15 with the United States except conveyance of title to the

16 facilities as provided for by this Act.

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