Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act

Bill: 111-hr-3254
Sponsor: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3]
Introduced: 2009-07-17 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Government trust funds
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights
New Mexico
Water use and supply
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-17
text: 
Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act - Authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Settlement Agreement of March 31, 2006, between the United States, the Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, the Taos Valley Acequia Association and its 55 member ditches, Taos, the El Prado Water and Sanitation District (EPWSD), and the 12 Taos area Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Associations. 
 
Requires water rights to which the Taos Pueblo is entitled under the Partial Final Decree entered in 
New Mexico v. Abeyta and New Mexico v. Arellano
 to be held in trust by the United States. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to provide: (1) grants and technical assistance to the Pueblo to construct, replace, or rehabilitate water infrastructure, to protect the environment associated with the Buffalo Pasture area, and to enhance watershed conditions; and (2) financial assistance to eligible non-Pueblo entities for mutual-benefit projects in accordance with the Agreement.
 
Establishes in the Treasury a Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund.
 
Authorizes the Pueblo to market its water rights under the Agreement.
 
Directs the Secretary to enter into three repayment contracts by December 31, 2009, for the delivery of specified amounts of San Juan-Chama Project water to the Pueblo, the town of Taos, and EPWSD.
 
Provides for the waiver and release of claims against the parties to 
New Mexico v. Abeyta and New Mexico v. Arellano
 in return for recognition of the Pueblo's water rights.

action_date: 2010-01-21
text: 
Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act - Authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Settlement Agreement of March 31, 2006, between the United States, the Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, the Taos Valley Acequia Association and its 55 member ditches, Taos, the El Prado Water and Sanitation District (EPWSD), and the 12 Taos area Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Associations, and any amendments executed to make the Agreement consistent with this Act. 
 
Requires water rights to which the Taos Pueblo is entitled under the Partial Final Decree entered in 
New Mexico v. Abeyta and New Mexico v. Arellano
 to be held in trust by the United States. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to provide: (1) grants and technical assistance to the Pueblo to construct, replace, or rehabilitate water infrastructure, to protect the environment associated with the Buffalo Pasture area, and to enhance watershed conditions; and (2) financial assistance to eligible non-Pueblo entities for mutual-benefit projects in accordance with the Agreement.
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund.
 
Authorizes the Pueblo to market its water rights under the Agreement.
 
Directs the Secretary to enter into three repayment contracts for the delivery of specified amounts of San Juan-Chama Project water to the Pueblo, the town of Taos, and EPWSD.
 
Provides for the waiver and release of claims against the parties to 
New Mexico v. Abeyta and New Mexico v. Arellano
 in return for recognition of the Pueblo's water rights.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2016 for the Taos Pueblo Infrastructure and Watershed Fund, for the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund, and for Mutual-Benefit Projects funding (to minimize adverse impacts on the Pueblo's water resources by moving future non-Indian ground water pumping away from the Pueblo's Buffalo Pasture and to implement the resolution of a dispute over the allocation of certain surface water flows between the Pueblo and non-Indian irrigation water right owners in the community of Arroyo Seco Arriba).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-02-01
text: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 266.
action_date: 2010-01-22
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 254 - 158 (Roll no. 12). (text: CR H272-275)
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 254 - 158 (Roll no. 12).(text: CR H272-275)
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H298-299)
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3254, the Chair put the question on passage and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H298)
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1017, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3254.
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3254, H.R. 3342 and H.R. 1065. Each bill is allowed 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered, in each instance, without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measures will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order, in each instance. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources, in each instance,
action_date: 2010-01-21
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1017. (consideration: CR H272-279)
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1017 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3254, H.R. 3342 and H.R. 1065. Each bill is allowed 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered, in each instance, without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measures will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order, in each instance. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources, in each instance,
action_date: 2010-01-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 232.
action_date: 2010-01-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-395.
action_date: 2010-01-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-395.
action_date: 2009-09-30
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2009-09-30
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-09-30
text: Subcommittee on Water and Power Discharged.
action_date: 2009-09-09
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-07-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
action_date: 2009-07-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-07-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-07-17
text: Introduced in House