I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2443 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to transfer title of the Orland 
Project located in Glenn, Tehama, and Colusa counties in the State 
of California to a local public agency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 12, 2021 
Mr. GARAMENDI (for himself and Mr. LAMALFA) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to transfer title 
of the Orland Project located in Glenn, Tehama, and 
Colusa counties in the State of California to a local 
public agency, 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 ‘‘Orland Project Trans-
fer Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
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reincorporate as a local public agency under the laws 
of the State of California, such as a water district, 
irrigation district, or joint powers agency. 
(7) The transfer of title to other Federal 
projects and facilities owned and administered by 
the Bureau of Reclamation to local public agencies 
has been authorized and directed by Federal statute, 
including— 
(A) in March 2019, the Contra Costa 
Canal Unit of the Central Valley Project in the 
State of California to the Contra Costa Water 
District under section 8302 of the John D. 
Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and 
Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9); 
(B) in December 2000, the Foresthill Di-
vide Subunit of the Auburn-Folsom South Unit 
of the Central Valley Project to the Foresthill 
Public Utility District under title V of Public 
Law 106–566 (Sugar Pine Dam and Reservoir 
Conveyance Act of 2000). 
(C) in October 2000, the Sly Park Unit of 
the Central Valley Project to the El Dorado Ir-
rigation District under section 212 of the En-
ergy and Water Development Appropriations 
Act, 2001 (enacted by reference in section 
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1(a)(2) of Public Law 106–377; 114 Stat. 
1441B–13); and 
(8) All dams and reservoirs to which title is 
held by non-Federal agencies in the State of Cali-
fornia must meet safety regulations promulgated by 
the Department of Water Resources’ Division of 
Safety of Dams under the California Water Code. 
(9) The Bureau of Reclamation will only use 
available funds to satisfy Federal dam safety stand-
ards and regulations. 
SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF TITLE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall transfer all 
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
the Orland Project located in Glenn, Tehama, and Colusa 
counties in California, to a qualifying entity, as follows: 
(1) For facilities and structures of the Orland 
Project other than the Stony Gorge Dam, not later 
than 1 year after the qualifying entity submits an 
application to the California Department of Water 
Resources’ Division of Safety of Dams for a ‘‘Cer-
tificate of Approval’’ under the California Water 
Code (Division 3, Sections 6000 through 6612) per-
taining to the respective facility or structure of the 
Orland Project. 
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(2) For the Stony Gorge Dam, not later than 
1 year after the Federal safety of dams repayment 
obligation for the dam is extinguished or repaid and 
the qualifying entity submits an application to the 
California Department of Water Resources’ Division 
of Safety of Dams for a ‘‘Certificate of Approval’’ 
under the California Water Code (Division 3, Sec-
tions 6000 through 6612) for such dam. 
(3) For the irrigation distribution system of the 
Orland Project, including approximately 17 miles of 
canals and 139 miles of laterals, not later than 1 
year after the qualifying entity requests transfer of 
the system, in writing, to the Commissioner of Rec-
lamation. 
(4) For the office building, maintenance yard, 
and appurtenant land used by the qualifying entity 
in operating and maintaining the Orland Project, 
not later than 1 year after the qualifying entity re-
quests transfer of the aforementioned, in writing, to 
the Commissioner of Reclamation. 
(b) WATER RIGHTS.—Each transfer under sub-
section (a) shall include all water rights for storage and 
diversion held by the United States related to the oper-
ation of the transferred portion of the Orland Project. 
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(c) CONSULTATION WITH STATE AND QUALIFYING 
ENTITY.—Before each transfer under paragraphs (1) and 
(2) of subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the 
State of California’s Department of Water Resources’ Di-
vision of Safety of Dams and the qualifying entity to iden-
tify any dam safety issues requiring remediation. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Administrative costs 
of each transfer under subsection (a) shall be paid in equal 
shares by the Secretary and the qualifying entity receiving 
title. 
SEC. 4. LIABILITY AND REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) LIABILITY.—The liability of the United States for 
the property transferred under section 3 before and after 
the transfer shall be governed by section 8005 of Public 
Law 116–9 (43 U.S.C. 2905). 
(b) FEDERAL LAW.—Each transfer under section 3 
shall be in accordance with all Federal environmental laws 
as specified under section 8007 of Public Law 116–9 (43 
U.S.C. 2907) and any applicable laws of the State of Cali-
fornia. 
SEC. 5. MAP. 
(a) CORRECTIONS.—The Secretary may make clerical 
and typographical corrections to the map entitled the 
‘‘Orland Project Facilities’’ and dated November 2, 2020. 
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Such corrections shall have the same force and effect as 
if the revised map were included as part of this Act. 
(b) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the map enti-
tled the ‘‘Orland Project Facilities’’ and dated November 
2, 2020, and, not later than 30 days after a revised map 
is in effect, any subsequent revised map, shall be publicly 
available on the website of the Bureau of Reclamation. 
SEC. 6. LIMITATIONS ON FUTURE BENEFITS. 
After each transfer under section 3, the transferred 
portion shall not be considered a Federal reclamation 
project. The qualifying entity to which the Orland Project 
is transferred under section 3 shall be subject to the limi-
tations regarding future benefits under paragraphs (2) 
and (3) of section 8006 of Public Law 116–9 (43 U.S.C. 
2906). 
SEC. 7. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM SALE OF PROJECT 
WATER. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Act of Feb-
ruary 25, 1920 (43 U.S.C. 521) or any other provision 
of Reclamation Law addressing the disbursement or cred-
iting of money, the Secretary shall review, consider, and, 
if deemed appropriate by the Secretary, approve the trans-
fer, allocation, or reallocation of water made available 
from the Stony Gorge Dam and Reservoir of the Orland 
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