I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 89 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey a water distribution 
system to the Goleta Water District, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2009 
Mrs. CAPPS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey a water 
distribution system to the Goleta Water District, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Goleta Water Distribu-
tion System Conveyance Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
AGREEMENT.—The 
term 
‘‘Agreement’’ 
means Agreement No. 07–LC–20–9387 between the 
United States and the District, entitled ‘‘Agreement 
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Between the United States and the Goleta Water 
District to Transfer Title of the Federally Owned 
Distribution System to the Goleta Water District’’. 
(2) DISTRICT.—The term ‘‘District’’ means the 
Goleta Water District, located in Santa Barbara 
County, California. 
(3) GOLETA WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.— 
The term ‘‘Goleta Water Distribution System’’ 
means the facilities constructed by the United States 
to enable the District to convey water to its water 
users, and associated lands, as described in Appen-
dix A of the Agreement. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF THE GOLETA WATER DISTRIBU-
TION SYSTEM. 
The Secretary is authorized to convey to the District 
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and 
to the Goleta Water Distribution System of the Cachuma 
Project, California, subject to valid existing rights and 
consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the 
Agreement. 
SEC. 4. LIABILITY. 
Effective upon the date of the conveyance authorized 
by section 3, the United States shall not be held liable 
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by any court for damages of any kind arising out of any 
act, omission, or occurrence relating to the lands, build-
ings, or facilities conveyed under this Act, except for dam-
ages caused by acts of negligence committed by the United 
States or by its employees or agents prior to the date of 
conveyance. Nothing in this section increases the liability 
of the United States beyond that provided in chapter 171 
of title 28, United States Code (popularly known as the 
Federal Tort Claims Act). 
SEC. 5. BENEFITS. 
After conveyance of the Goleta Water Distribution 
System under this Act— 
(1) such distribution system shall not be consid-
ered to be a part of a Federal reclamation project; 
and 
(2) the District shall not be eligible to receive 
any benefits with respect to any facility comprising 
the Goleta Water Distribution System, except bene-
fits that would be available to a similarly situated 
entity with respect to property that is not part of a 
Federal reclamation project. 
SEC. 6. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. 
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND HIS-
TORIC PRESERVATION LAWS.—Prior to any conveyance 
under this Act, the Secretary shall complete all actions 
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required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the National His-
toric Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), and all 
other applicable laws. 
(b) COMPLIANCE BY THE DISTRICT.—Upon the con-
veyance of the Goleta Water Distribution System under 
this Act, the District shall comply with all applicable Fed-
eral, State, and local laws and regulations in its operation 
of the facilities that are transferred. 
(c) APPLICABLE AUTHORITY.—All provisions of Fed-
eral reclamation law (the Act of June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 
371 et seq.) and Acts supplemental to and amendatory 
of that Act) shall continue to be applicable to project water 
provided to the District. 
SEC. 7. REPORT. 
If, 12 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary has not completed the conveyance re-
quired under section 3, the Secretary shall complete a re-
port that states the reason the conveyance has not been 
completed and the date by which the conveyance shall be 
completed. The Secretary shall submit a report required 
under this section to Congress not later than 14 months 
after the date of the enactment the of this Act. 
Æ 
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