II

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 986

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Griffith Project to

the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 6, 1999

Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. BRYAN) introduced the following bill; which

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural

Resources

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Griffith

Project to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Griffith Project Pre5 payment and Conveyance Act.’’

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

7 In this Act:

8 (1) AUTHORITY.—The term ‘‘Authority’’ means

9 the Southern Nevada Water Authority, organized

10 under the laws of the State of Nevada.
2

•S 986 IS

1 (2) GRIFFITH PROJECT.—The term ‘‘Griffith

2 Project’’ means the Robert B. Griffith Water

3 Project, authorized by Public Law 89–292 (com4 monly known as the ‘‘Southern Nevada Water

5 Project Act’’) (79 Stat. 1068), including all pipe6 lines, conduits, pumping plants, intake facilities,

7 aqueducts, laterals, water storage and regulatory fa8 cilities, electric substations, and related works con9 structed and all interests in land acquired under

10 Public Law 89–292.

11 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means

12 the Secretary of the Interior.

13 SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF GRIFFITH PROJECT.

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—In consideration of the assump15 tion by the Authority from the United States of all liability

16 for administration, operation, and maintenance of the

17 Griffith Project and subject to the payment by the Author18 ity of the net present value of the remaining repayment

19 obligation (as determined in accordance with Office of

20 Management and Budget Circular A–129, as in effect on

21 the date of payment and conveyance), the Secretary shall

22 convey and assign to the Authority all right, title, and in23 terest of the United States in and to the Griffith Project.

24 (b) RIGHT TO USE AND OCCUPY PUBLIC LAND.—

25 On and after the date of the conveyance under subsection
3

•S 986 IS

1 (a), the Authority shall have the right to use and occupy

2 without charge all public land, including withdrawn public

3 land—

4 (1) on which the Griffith Project is situated; or

5 (2) that is used for the purposes of the Griffith

6 Project as of that date.

7 (c) REPORT.—If the conveyance under subsection (a)

8 has not occurred by July 1, 2000, the Secretary shall sub9 mit to Congress a report on the status of the conveyance.

10 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary completes

12 the conveyance under subsection (a) before the dead13 line under subsection (c), 50 percent of the cost of

14 administrative action and environmental compliance

15 for the conveyance shall be paid by the Secretary,

16 and 50 percent shall be paid by the Authority.

17 (2) FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINE.—If the Sec18 retary fails to complete the conveyance under this

19 Act before the deadline under subsection (c), 100

20 percent of the cost described in paragraph (1) shall

21 be paid by the Secretary.

22 SEC. 4. RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING OPERATIONS.

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act expands or

24 changes the use or operation of the Griffith Project from
4

•S 986 IS

1 its use and operation as of the day before the date of en2 actment of this Act.

3 (b) FUTURE ALTERATIONS.—If the Authority

4 changes the use or operation of the Griffith Project, the

5 Authority shall comply with all applicable laws (including

6 regulations) governing the changes at that time.

7 SEC. 5. RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING CONTRACTS.

8 The Secretary and the Authority may modify Con9 tract No. 7–07–30–W004 as necessary to conform the

10 contract to this Act.

11 SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

12 On conveyance of the Griffith Project under section

13 3, the Act of June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 391 et seq.), and

14 all Acts amendatory of that Act or supplemental to that

15 Act shall not apply to the Griffith Project.

Æ