Provo River Project Transfer Act

Bill: 108-s-1876
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2003-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Canals
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Irrigation
Land transfers
Nonprofit organizations
Right-of-way
Social Welfare
Transportation and Public Works
Utah
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-18
text: 
Provo River Project Transfer Act - Conveys the Provo Reservoir Canal and the Pleasant Grove Property to the Provo River Water Users Association. Conveys the Salt Lake Aqueduct to the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy, Utah. 
Confirms that all existing contracts are not impaired in any way. 
Requires payment of net present value for the land, but allows a deduction for reimbursements described in the Contributed Funds Act Agreement. 
Provides that the Association and the District are no longer entitled to reclamation benefits with respect to the transferred land or facilities.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: 
Provo River Project Transfer Act - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Provo River Water Users Association (Association), ownership of the Provo Reservoir Canal (Canal) in the State of Utah. Conditions such conveyance on the Secretary's acceptance of future arrangements with specified Utah agencies for the operation, ownership, financing, and improvement of the Canal.
 
 Directs the Secretary to convey to the Association ownership of the Pleasant Grove Property in Utah.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) convey to the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy (District) in Utah, ownership of the Salt Lake Aqueduct; (2) grant to the District permanent easements to the National Forest System land on which the Salt Lake Aqueduct is located and certain land of the Aqueduct Division of the Provo River Project for the use, operation, maintenance, repair, improvement, or replacement of the Salt Lake Aqueduct by the District; (3) determine the boundaries of such easements; and (4) transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain land of the Aqueduct Division of the Provo River Project to the Secretary of Agriculture.
 
Requires the Association and the District to pay the Secretary for land conveyed under this Act and for certain costs incurred in making such conveyances. Requires the Secretary to comply with certain environmental and other laws before making land conveyances.
 
(Sec. 4) Confirms that: (1) certain existing contracts covering lands of the Provo River Project not conveyed under this Act remain in effect; and (2) entities with existing contractual capacity rights to either the Provo Reservoir Canal or Salt Lake Aqueduct may transport Central Utah Project water. 
 
Provides that nothing in this Act impairs any existing contract (including subscription contracts) for the conveyance of water through the Provo Reservoir Canal. 
 
(Sec. 5) Provides that: (1) lands and facilities conveyed under this Act are no longer part of a Federal reclamation project; (2) the Association and the District are no longer entitled to reclamation benefits for conveyed land, except for benefits available to other nonreclamation facilities; and (3) the United States shall not be liable for damages for acts, omissions, or occurrences relating to conveyances under this Act, except for negligent acts committed prior to the date of conveyance. 
 
(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the status of any land conveyances not completed within 18 months after enactment of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-365.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-365.
action_date: 2004-09-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2004-05-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-618.
action_date: 2003-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2003-11-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15062)
action_date: 2003-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate