I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1696

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

the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 5, 1999

Mr. GIBBONS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on 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.
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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 electric substations, and related works constructed

8 and all interests in land acquired under Public Law

9 89–292.

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

11 the Secretary of the Interior.

12 SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF GRIFFITH PROJECT.

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—In consideration of the assump14 tion by the Authority from the United States of all liability

15 for administration, operation, and maintenance of the

16 Griffith Project and subject to the payment by the Author17 ity of the net present value of the remaining repayment

18 obligation (as determined in accordance with Office of

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

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

21 convey and assign to the Authority all right, title, and in22 terest of the United States in and to the Griffith Project.

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

24 On and after the date of the conveyance under subsection

25 (a), the Authority shall have the right to use and occupy
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1 without charge all public land, including withdrawn public

2 land—

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

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

5 Project as of that date.

6 (c) REPORT.—If the conveyance has not occurred by

7 July 1, 2000, the Secretary shall report to the Congress

8 on the status of the transfer.

9 SEC. 4. RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING OPERATIONS.

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

11 changes the use or operation of the Griffith Project from

12 its use and operation as of the day before the date of en13 actment of this Act.

14 (b) FUTURE ALTERATIONS.—If the Authority alters

15 the operations or uses of the Griffith Project, it shall com16 ply with all applicable laws or regulations governing such

17 changes at that time.

18 SEC. 5. RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING CONTRACTS.

19 The Secretary and the Authority may modify Con20 tract No. 7–07–30–W004 as necessary to conform the

21 contract to this Act.

22 SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

23 On conveyance of the Griffith Project under section

24 3, the Act of June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 391 et seq.), and
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1 all Acts amendatory of that Act or supplemental to that

2 Act shall not apply to the Griffith Project.

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