I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1607 

To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped 

storage development, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 14, 2023 

Mr. SCHWEIKERT (for himself and Mr. STANTON) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of 

Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other 

purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. LAND WITHDRAWAL AND RESERVATION. 

4 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

5 (1) AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘Agreement’’ 

6 means the agreement between the United States and 

7 the Association dated September 6, 1917. 

8 (2) ASSOCIATION.—The term ‘‘Association’’ 

9 means the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Associa10 tion. 


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1 (3) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 

2 means the portion of the National Forest System 

3 land located on the south side of the Salt River from 

4 the March 9, 1903, 1-mile withdrawal area for Rec5 lamation purposes extending an additional 2 miles 

6 from the Salt River at Roosevelt Dam to 18.25 river 

7 miles downstream, not including the Superstition 

8 Mountain Wilderness Area and the Tonto National 

9 Monument, as depicted on the Map. 

10 (4) DISTRICT.—The term ‘‘District’’ means the 

11 Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and 

12 Power District. 

13 (5) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map 

14 prepared under subsection (e)(1). 

15 (6) SRP.—The term ‘‘SRP’’ means— 

16 (A) the District; and 

17 (B) the Association. 

18 (b) RESERVATION OF COVERED LAND.—Subject to 

19 valid existing rights, the covered land is reserved to the 

20 United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, for 

21 the exclusive right to use the covered land and interests 

22 in the covered land for the development, generation, and 

23 transmission of electrical power and energy for the use 

24 and benefit of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project 

25 pursuant to the Agreement. 


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1 (c) WITHDRAWAL OF COVERED LAND.—The covered 

2 land is permanently withdrawn from— 

3 (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and dis4 posal under the public land laws; 

5 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

6 laws; and 

7 (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 

8 materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

9 (d) TITLE TO FACILITIES.—With respect to facilities 

10 constructed by SRP on the covered land for the develop11 ment, generation, and transmission of electrical power and 

12 energy— 

13 (1) title shall be held by the United States as 

14 part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project 

15 pursuant to— 

16 (A) section 6 of the Act of June 17, 1902 

17 (32 Stat. 389, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 498); 

18 and 

19 (B) the Agreement; and 

20 (2) SRP shall be responsible for the care, oper21 ation, and maintenance pursuant to the Agreement. 

22 (e) MAP.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 


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1 Agriculture shall prepare a map depicting the 

2 boundary of the covered land. 

3 (2) AVAILABILITY.—The Map shall be on file 

4 and available for public inspection in the appropriate 

5 offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Rec6 lamation. 

Æ 


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