IB 
Union Calendar No. 213 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1607 
[Report No. 118–264] 
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 
NOVEMBER 3, 2023 
Additional sponsors: Mrs. LESKO, Mr. GALLEGO, and Mr. CISCOMANI 
NOVEMBER 3, 2023 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 14, 2023] 
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A BILL 
To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of 
Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other 
purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. LAND WITHDRAWAL AND RESERVATION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘Agreement’’ means 
the agreement between the United States and the As-
sociation dated September 6, 1917, as amended. 
(2) 
ASSOCIATION.—The 
term 
‘‘Association’’ 
means the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Associa-
tion. 
(3) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 
means the portion of the National Forest System land 
located on the south side of the Salt River from the 
March 9, 1903, 1-mile withdrawal area for the Bu-
reau of Reclamation purposes extending an addi-
tional 2 miles from the Salt River at Roosevelt Dam 
to 18.25 river miles downstream, in the State of Ari-
zona, not including the Superstition Mountain Wil-
derness Area and the Tonto National Monument, as 
depicted on the Map. 
(4) DISTRICT.—The term ‘‘District’’ means the 
Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and 
Power District. 
(5) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map pre-
pared under subsection (e)(1). 
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(6) SRP.—The term ‘‘SRP’’ means— 
(A) the District; and 
(B) the Association. 
(b) RESERVATION
OF COVERED LAND.—Subject to 
valid existing rights, the covered land is reserved to the 
United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, for the 
exclusive right to use the covered land and interests in the 
covered land for the development, generation, and trans-
mission of electrical power and energy for the use and ben-
efit of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant 
to the Agreement. 
(c) WITHDRAWAL OF COVERED LAND.—The covered 
land is permanently withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and dis-
posal under the public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 
laws; and 
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 
materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 
(d) FACILITIES.—With respect to facilities constructed 
by SRP on the covered land for the development, generation, 
and transmission of electrical power and energy— 
(1) the design and specifications shall conform to 
Bureau of Reclamation standards, and final designs 
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shall be subject to review and approval by the Sec-
retary of the Interior; 
(2) all construction work shall be subject to in-
spection and approval by the Secretary of the Inte-
rior; 
(3) upon a determination of substantial comple-
tion of such facilities, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall accept title on behalf of the United States as 
part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project 
pursuant to— 
(A) section 6 of the Act of June 17, 1902 
(32 Stat. 389, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 498); and 
(B) the Agreement; and 
(4) SRP shall be responsible for the care, oper-
ation, and maintenance pursuant to the Agreement. 
(e) MAP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture shall prepare a map depicting the boundary 
of the covered land. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—The Map shall be on file and 
available for public inspection in the appropriate of-
fices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Rec-
lamation. 
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(f) MANAGEMENT OF COVERED LAND.—Management 
of the covered lands shall be in accordance with the Manage-
ment Memorandum among the District, United States De-
partment of Agriculture, Forest Service, and the Bureau of 
Reclamation, dated April 27, 1979, as amended. 
(g) RELATION TO OTHER LAW.— 
(1) COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.— 
The Secretary of the Interior is directed to carry out 
all necessary environmental compliance under the Na-
tional 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.), and all other applicable envi-
ronmental laws and regulations, prior to construction 
of facilities on the covered land for the development, 
generation, and transmission of electrical power and 
energy. 
(2) LEAD AGENCY.—The Bureau of Reclamation 
shall be the lead agency with respect to environmental 
compliance. 
(3) WITHDRAWAL
NOT
MAJOR
FEDERAL
AC-
TION.—The withdrawal of the covered land shall not 
constitute a major Federal action under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, 
et seq.). 
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(4) ANTIDEFICIENCY.—The United States shall 
not be liable for failure to carry out any obligation 
or activity authorized to be carried out under this 
title (including any such obligation or activity under 
the Agreement) if adequate appropriations are not 
provided by Congress expressly to carry out the pur-
poses of this Act. 
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Union Calendar No. 213 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1607 
[Report No. 118–264] 
A BILL 
To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bu-
reau of Reclamation pumped storage develop-
ment, and for other purposes. 
NOVEMBER 3, 2023 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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