Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1759
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: California
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2009-10-07
text: 
Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009 - Considers the following voluntary water transfers to meet specified conditions for authorized transfers of Central Valley Project (CVP) water under the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992: (1) a transfer of irrigation water among CVP contractors from the Friant, San Felipe, West San Joaquin, and Delta divisions; and (2) a transfer of water among current or prior temporary or long-term water service, repayment, water rights settlement, or exchange contractors within a division of the CVP. Conditions any such transfer on not interfering with the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act and the Settlement.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commissioner of Reclamation, to initiate and complete on an expedited basis the programmatic development of environmental documentation to facilitate voluntary water transfers within the CVP. Requires such documentation to include all applicable environmental reviews, permitting, and consultations, including the environmental documentation needed to address concerns regarding the Giant Garter Snake.
 
Directs the Commissioner, by January 10, 2010, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that: (1) describes the status of efforts to help facilitate and improve the water transfers under this Act; and (2) provides recommendations on ways to facilitate and improve the process for water transfers within the CVP and water transfers between the CVP and state water projects. Requires the Commissioner to update the report by July 15, 2010, and every 180 days thereafter until no further federal action is warranted or authorized regarding the transfers under this Act.

action_date: 2010-03-02
text: 
Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009 - Provides that the following voluntary water transfers shall be considered to meet conditions specified for authorized transfers of Central Valley Project (CVP) water under the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992: (1) a transfer of irrigation water among CVP contractors from the Friant, San Felipe, West San Joaquin, and Delta divisions; and (2) a transfer from a long-term Friant Division water service or repayment contractor to a temporary or prior temporary water service contractor within the place of use in existence on the date of the transfer, as identified in the Bureau of Reclamation water rights permits for the Friant Division.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commissioner of Reclamation, to initiate and complete on an expedited basis programmatic documentation to facilitate voluntary water transfers within the CVP. 
 
Directs the Commissioner to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that: (1) describes the status of efforts to help facilitate and improve the water transfers under this Act; (2) evaluates potential effects of this Act on federal programs, Indian tribes, CVP operations, the environment, groundwater aquifers, refuges, and communities; and (3) provides recommendations on ways to facilitate and improve the process for water transfers within the CVP and water transfers between the CVP and other water projects in California. Requires the Commissioner to update the report by the end of the water year in which the report is submitted and each of the four water years thereafter.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-03-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 294.
action_date: 2010-03-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-144.
action_date: 2010-03-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-144.
action_date: 2009-12-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2009-11-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-339.
action_date: 2009-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10220)
action_date: 2009-10-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10218-10220, S10220-10221)
action_date: 2009-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate