Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-6979
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1]
Introduced: 2018-09-28
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations

Government trust funds

Indian claims

Indian lands and resources rights

Lakes and rivers

Utah

Water Resources Development

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-09-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2018</strong></p> <p>This bill ratifies and modifies the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Agreement negotiated between the Navajo Nation, the United States, and Utah. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6979 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 28, 2018 Mr. Bishop of Utah (for himself, Mr. Curtis , and Mr. Stewart ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Navajo Nation in Utah, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2018 . 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of all claims to water rights in the State of Utah for— (A) the Navajo Nation; and (B) the United States, for the benefit of the Nation; (2) to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement entered into by the Nation and the State, to the extent that the Agreement is consistent with this Act; (3) to authorize and direct the Secretary— (A) to execute the Agreement; and (B) to take any actions necessary to carry out the agreement in accordance with this Act; and (4) to authorize funds necessary for the implementation of the Agreement and this Act. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Agreement The term agreement means— (A) the document entitled Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Agreement dated December 14, 2015, and the exhibits attached thereto; and (B) any amendment or exhibit to the document or exhibits referenced in subparagraph (A) that is executed to make the document or exhibits consistent with this Act. (2) Allotment The term allotment means a parcel of land— (A) granted out of the public domain that is— (i) located within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation; or (ii) Bureau of Indian Affairs parcel number 792 634511 in San Juan County, Utah, consisting of 160 acres located in Township 41S, Range 20E, sections 11, 12, and 14, originally set aside by the United States for the benefit of an individual identified in the allotting document as a Navajo Indian; and (B) held in trust by the United States— (i) for the benefit of an individual, individuals, or an Indian tribe other than the Navajo Nation; or (ii) in part for the benefit of the Navajo Nation as of the enforceability date. (3) Allottee The term allottee means an individual or Indian tribe with a beneficial interest in an allotment held in trust by the United States. (4) Enforceability date The term enforceability date means the date on which the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register the statement of findings described in section 8(a). (5) General stream adjudication The term general stream adjudication means the adjudication pending, as of the date of enactment, in the Seventh Judicial District in and for Grand County, State of Utah, commonly known as the Southeastern Colorado River General Adjudication , Civil No. 810704477, conducted pursuant to State law. (6) Injury to water rights The term injury to water rights means an interference with, diminution of, or deprivation of water rights under Federal or State law, excluding injuries to water quality. (7) Member The term member means any person who is a duly enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. (8) Navajo nation or nation The term Navajo Nation or Nation means a body politic and Federally recognized Indian nation, as published on the list established under section 104(a) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 5131(a) ), also known variously as the Navajo Nation , the Navajo Nation of Arizona, New Mexico, & Utah , and the Navajo Nation of Indians and other similar names, and includes all bands of Navajo Indians and chapters of the Navajo Nation and all divisions, agencies, officers, and agents thereof. (9) Navajo water development projects The term Navajo water development projects means projects for domestic municipal water supply, including distribution infrastructure and agricultural water conservation, to be constructed, in whole or in part, using monies from the Navajo Water Development Projects Account established under section 6(b)(1). (10) Navajo water rights The term Navajo water rights means the Nation’s water rights in Utah described in the agreement and this Act. (11) OM&R The term OM&R means operation, maintenance, and replacement. (12) Parties The term parties means the Navajo Nation, the State, and the United States. (13) Reservation The term Reservation means, for purposes of the agreement and this Act, the Reservation of the Navajo Nation in Utah as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act and depicted on the map attached to the agreement as Exhibit A. (14) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior or a duly authorized representative thereof. (15) State The term State means the State of Utah and all officers, agents, departments, and political subdivisions thereof. (16) United states The term United States means the United States of America and all departments, agencies, bureaus, officers, and agents thereof. (17) United states acting in its trust capacity The term United States acting in its trust capacity means the United States acting for the benefit of the Navajo Nation or for the benefit of allottees. 4. Ratification of agreement (a) Approval by congress Except to the extent that any provision of the agreement conflicts with this Act, Congress approves, ratifies, and confirms the agreement (including any amendments to the agreement that are executed to make the agreement consistent with this Act). (b) Execution by secretary The Secretary is authorized and directed to promptly execute the agreement to the extent that the agreement does not conflict with this Act, including— (1) any exhibits to the agreement requiring the signature of the Secretary; and (2) any amendments to the agreement necessary to make the agreement consistent with this Act. (c) Environmental compliance (1) In general In implementing the agreement and this Act, the Secretary shall comply with all applicable provisions of— (A) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (B) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and (C) all other applicable environmental laws and regulations. (2) Execution of the agreement Execution of the agreement by the Secretary as provided for in this Act shall not constitute a major Federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 5. Navajo water rights (a) Confirmation of navajo water rights (1) Quantification The Navajo Nation shall have the right to use water from water sources located within Utah and adjacent to or encompassed within the boundaries of the Reservation resulting in depletions not to exceed 81,500 acre-feet annually as described in the agreement and as confirmed in the decree entered by the general stream adjudication court. (2) Satisfaction of allottee rights Depletions resulting from the use of water on an allotment shall be accounted for as a depletion by the Navajo Nation for the purposes of depletion accounting under the agreement, including the recognition of— (A) any water use existing on an allotment as of the date of enactment of this Act and as subsequently reflected in the hydrographic survey report referenced in section 7(b); (B) reasonable domestic and stock water uses put into use on an allotment; and (C) any allotment water rights that may be decreased in the general stream adjudication or other appropriate forum. (3) Satisfaction of on-reservation State law-based water rights Depletion resulting from the use of water on the Reservation pursuant to State law-based water rights existing as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be accounted for as depletions by the Navajo Nation for purposes of depletion accounting under the agreement. (4) In general The Navajo water rights are ratified, confirmed, and declared to be valid. (5) Use Any use of the Navajo water rights shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement and this Act. (6) Conflict In the event of a conflict between the agreement and this Act, the provisions of this Act shall control. (b) Trust status of Navajo water rights The Navajo water rights— (1) shall be held in trust by the United States for the use and benefit of the Nation in accordance with the agreement and this Act; and (2) shall not be subject to forfeiture or abandonment. (c) Authority of the nation (1) In general The Nation shall have the authority to allocate, distribute, and lease the Navajo water rights for any use on the Reservation in accordance with the agreement, this Act, and applicable tribal and Federal law. (2) Off-reservation use The Nation may allocate, distribute, and lease the Navajo water rights for off-Reservation use in accordance with the agreement, subject to the approval of the Secretary. (3) Allottee water rights The Nation shall not object in the general stream adjudication or other applicable forum to the quantification of reasonable domestic and stock water uses on an allotment, and shall administer any water use on the Reservation in accordance with applicable Federal law, including the recognition of— (A) any water use existing on an allotment as of the date of enactment of this Act and as subsequently reflected in the hydrographic survey report referenced in section 7(b); (B) reasonable domestic and stock water uses on an allotment; and (C) any allotment water rights decreed in the general stream adjudication or other appropriate forum. (d) Effect Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, nothing in this Act— (1) authorizes any action by the Nation against the United States under Federal, State, tribal, or local law; or (2) alters or affects the status of any action brought pursuant to section 1491(a) of title 28, United States Code. 6. Navajo trust accounts (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a trust fund, to be known as the Navajo Utah Settlement Trust Fund (referred to in this Act as the Trust Fund ), to be managed, invested, and distributed by the Secretary and to remain available until expended, consisting of the amounts deposited in the Trust Fund under subsection (c), together with any interest earned on those amounts, for the purpose of carrying out this Act. (b) Accounts The Secretary shall establish in the Trust Fund the following accounts: (1) The Navajo Water Development Projects Account. (2) The Navajo OM&R Account. (c) Deposits The Secretary shall deposit in the Trust Fund Accounts the following: (1) In the Navajo Water Development Projects Account, the amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7(a)(1). (2) In the Navajo OM&R Account, the amount made available pursuant to section 7(a)(2). (d) Management and interest (1) Management Upon receipt and deposit of the funds into the Trust Fund Accounts, the Secretary shall manage, invest, and distribute all amounts in the Trust Fund in a manner that is consistent with the investment authority of the Secretary under— (A) the first section of the Act of June 24, 1938 ( 25 U.S.C. 162a ); (B) the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.); and (C) this section. (2) Investment earnings In addition to the deposits under subsection (c), any investment earnings, including interest, credited to amounts held in the Trust Fund are authorized to be appropriated to be used in accordance with the uses described in subsection (h). (e) Availability of amounts Amounts appropriated to, and deposited in, the Trust Fund, including any investment earnings, shall be made available to the Nation by the Secretary beginning on the enforceability date and subject to the uses and restrictions set forth in this section. (f) Withdrawals (1) Withdrawals Under the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 The Nation may withdraw any portion of the funds in the Trust Fund on approval by the Secretary of a tribal management plan submitted by the Nation in accordance with the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.). (A) Requirements In addition to the requirements under the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), the tribal management plan under this paragraph shall require that the Nation shall spend all amounts withdrawn from the Trust Fund and any investment earnings accrued through the investments under the tribal management plan in accordance with this Act. (B) Enforcement The Secretary may carry out such judicial and administrative actions as the Secretary determines to be necessary to enforce the tribal management plan to ensure that amounts withdrawn by the Nation from the Trust Fund under this paragraph are used in accordance with this Act. (2) Withdrawals under expenditure plan The Nation may submit to the Secretary a request to withdraw funds from the Trust Fund pursuant to an approved expenditure plan. (A) Requirements To be eligible to withdraw funds under an expenditure plan under this paragraph, the Nation shall submit to the Secretary for approval an expenditure plan for any portion of the Trust Fund that the Nation elects to withdraw pursuant to this paragraph, subject to the condition that the funds shall be used for the purposes described in this Act. (B) Inclusions An expenditure plan under this paragraph shall include a description of the manner and purpose for which the amounts proposed to be withdrawn from the Trust Fund will be used by the Nation, in accordance with subsections (c) and (h). (C) Approval On receipt of an expenditure plan under this paragraph, the Secretary shall approve the plan, if the Secretary determines that the plan— (i) is reasonable; (ii) is consistent with, and will be used for, the purposes of this Act; and (iii) contains a schedule which described that tasks will be completed within 18 months of receipt of withdrawn amounts. (D) Enforcement The Secretary may carry out such judicial and administrative actions as the Secretary determines to be necessary to enforce an expenditure plan to ensure that amounts disbursed under this paragraph are used in accordance with this Act. (g) Effect of Act Nothing in this Act gives the Nation the right to judicial review of a determination of the Secretary regarding whether to approve a tribal management plan or an expenditure plan except under subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Administrative Procedure Act ). (h) Uses Amounts from the Trust Fund shall be used by the Nation for the following purposes: (1) The Navajo Water Development Projects Account shall be used to plan, design, and construct the Navajo water development projects and for the conduct of related activities, including to comply with Federal environmental laws. (2) The Navajo OM&R Account shall be used for the operation, maintenance, and replacement of the Navajo water development projects. (i) Liability The Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury shall not be liable for the expenditure or investment of any amounts withdrawn from the Trust Fund by the Nation under subsection (f). (j) No per capita distributions No portion of the Trust Fund shall be distributed on a per capita basis to any member of the Nation. (k) Expenditure reports The Navajo Nation shall submit to the Secretary annually an expenditure report describing accomplishments and amounts spent from the use of withdrawals under a tribal management plan or an expenditure plan as described in this Act. 7. Authorization of appropriations (a) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary— (1) for deposit in the Navajo Water Development Projects Account of the Trust Fund established under section 6(b)(1), $198,300,000, which funds shall be retained until expended, withdrawn, or reverted to the general fund of the Treasury; and (2) for deposit in the Navajo OM&R Account of the Trust Fund established under section 6(b)(2), $11,100,000, which funds shall be retained until expended, withdrawn, or reverted to the General Fund of the Treasury. (b) Implementation costs There are authorized to be appropriated non-trust funds in the amount of $1,000,000 to assist the United States with costs associated with the implementation of this Act, including the preparation of a hydrographic survey of historic and existing water uses on the Reservation and on allotments. (c) State cost share The State shall contribute $8,000,000 payable to the Secretary for deposit into the Navajo Water Development Projects Account of the Trust Fund established under section 6(b)(1) in installments in each of the 3 years following the execution of the agreement by the Secretary as provided for in subsection (b) of section 4. (d) Fluctuation in Costs (1) In general The amount authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate, by such amounts as may be justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations in costs occurring after the date of enactment of this Act as indicated by the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Index—Composite Trend. (2) Repetition The adjustment process under this subsection shall be repeated for each subsequent amount appropriated until the amount authorized, as adjusted, has been appropriated. (3) Period of indexing The period of indexing adjustment for any increment of funding shall end on the date on which funds are deposited into the Trust Fund. 8. Conditions precedent (a) In general The waivers and releases contained in section 9 shall become effective as of the date the Secretary causes to be published in the Federal Register a statement of findings that— (1) to the extent that the agreement conflicts with this Act, the agreement has been revised to conform with this Act; (2) the agreement, so revised, including waivers and releases of claims set forth in section 9, has been executed by the parties, including the United States; (3) Congress has fully appropriated, or the Secretary has provided from other authorized sources, all funds authorized under subsection (a) of section 7; (4) the State has enacted any necessary legislation and provided the funding required under the agreement and subsection (c) of section 7; and (5) the court has entered a final or interlocutory decree that— (A) confirms the Navajo water rights consistent with the agreement and this Act; and (B) with respect to the Navajo water rights, is final and nonappealable. (b) Expiration date If all the conditions precedent described in subsection (a) have not been fulfilled to allow the Secretary’s statement of findings to be published in the Federal Register by October 31, 2030— (1) the agreement and this Act, including waivers and releases of claims described in those documents, shall no longer be effective; (2) any funds that have been appropriated pursuant to section 7 but not expended, including any investment earnings on funds that have been appropriated pursuant to such section, shall immediately revert to the general fund of the Treasury; and (3) any funds contributed by the State pursuant to subsection (c) of section 7 but not expended shall be returned immediately to the State. (c) Extension The expiration date set forth in subsection (b) may be extended if the Navajo Nation, the State, and the United States (acting through the Secretary) agree that an extension is reasonably necessary. 9. Waivers and releases (a) In General (1) Waiver and release of claims by the Nation and the United States acting in its capacity as trustee for the Nation Subject to the retention of rights set forth in subsection (c), in return for confirmation of the Navajo water rights and other benefits set forth in the agreement and this Act, the Nation, on behalf of itself and the members of the Nation (other than members in their capacity as allottees), and the United States, acting as trustee for the Nation and members of the Nation (other than members in their capacity as allottees), are authorized and directed to execute a waiver and release of— (A) all claims for water rights within Utah based on any and all legal theories that the Navajo Nation or the United States acting in its trust capacity for the Nation, asserted, or could have asserted, at any time in any proceeding, including to the general stream adjudication, up to and including the enforceability date, except to the extent that such rights are recognized in the agreement and this Act; and (B) all claims for damages, losses, or injuries to water rights or claims of interference with, diversion, or taking of water rights (including claims for injury to lands resulting from such damages, losses, injuries, interference with, diversion, or taking of water rights) within Utah against the State, or any person, entity, corporation, or municipality, that accrued at any time up to and including the enforceability date. (b) Claims by the Navajo Nation against the United States The Navajo Nation, on behalf of itself and its members (other than members in their capacity as allottees), shall execute a waiver and release of— (1) all claims the Navajo Nation may have against the United States relating in any manner to claims for water rights in or water of Utah that the United States acting in its trust capacity for the Nation asserted, or could have asserted, in any proceeding, including the general stream adjudication; (2) all claims the Navajo Nation may have against the United States relating in any manner to damages, losses, or injuries to water, water rights, land, or other resources due to loss of water or water rights (including damages, losses, or injuries to hunting, fishing, gathering, or cultural rights due to loss of water or water rights; claims relating to interference with, diversion, or taking of water; or claims relating to failure to protect, acquire, replace, or develop water or water rights) within Utah that first accrued at any time up to and including the enforceability date; (3) all claims the Nation may have against the United States relating in any manner to the litigation of claims relating to the Nation’s water rights in proceedings in Utah; and (4) all claims the Nation may have against the United States relating in any manner to the negotiation, execution, or the adoption of the agreement or this Act. (c) Reservation of rights and retention of claims by the Navajo Nation and the United States Notwithstanding the waivers and releases authorized in this Act, the Navajo Nation, and the United States acting in its trust capacity for the Nation, retain— (1) all claims for injuries to and the enforcement of the agreement and the final or interlocutory decree entered in the general stream adjudication, through such legal and equitable remedies as may be available in the decree court or the Federal District Court for the District of Utah; (2) all rights to use and protect water rights acquired after the enforceability date; (3) all claims relating to activities affecting the quality of water, including any claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. (including claims for damages to natural resources)), the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), the regulations implementing those Acts, and the common law; (4) all claims for water rights, and claims for injury to water rights, in states other than the State of Utah; (5) all claims, including environmental claims, under any laws (including regulations and the common law) relating to human health, safety, or the environment; and (6) all rights, remedies, privileges, immunities, and powers not specifically waived and released pursuant to the agreement and this Act. (d) Effect Nothing in the agreement or this Act— (1) affects the ability of the United States acting in its sovereign capacity to take actions authorized by law, including any laws relating to health, safety, or the environment, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), the Solid Waste Disposal Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), and the regulations implementing those laws; (2) affects the ability of the United States to take actions in its capacity as trustee for any other Indian tribe or allottee; (3) confers jurisdiction on any State court to— (A) interpret Federal law regarding health, safety, or the environment or determine the duties of the United States or other parties pursuant to such Federal law; and (B) conduct judicial review of Federal agency action; or (4) modifies, conflicts with, preempts, or otherwise affects— (A) the Boulder Canyon Project Act ( 43 U.S.C. 617 et seq.); (B) the Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act (54 Stat. 774, chapter 643); (C) the Act of April 11, 1956 (commonly known as the Colorado River Storage Project Act ) ( 43 U.S.C. 620 et seq.); (D) the Act of September 30, 1968 (commonly known as the Colorado River Basin Project Act ) (82 Stat. 885); (E) the Treaty between the United States of America and Mexico respecting utilization of waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, signed at Washington February 3, 1944 (59 Stat. 1219); (F) the Colorado River Compact of 1922, as approved by the Presidential Proclamation of June 25, 1929 (46 Stat. 3000); and (G) the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact as consented to by the Act of April 6, 1949 (63 Stat. 31, chapter 48). (e) Tolling of claims (1) In general Each applicable period of limitation and time-based equitable defense relating to a claim waived by the Navajo Nation described in this section shall be tolled for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the enforceability date. (2) Effect of subsection Nothing in this subsection revives any claim or tolls any period of limitation or time-based equitable defense that expired before the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Limitation Nothing in this section precludes the tolling of any period of limitations or any time-based equitable defense under any other applicable law. 10. Miscellaneous provisions (a) Precedent Nothing in this Act establishes any standard for the quantification or litigation of Federal reserved water rights or any other Indian water claims of any other Indian tribe in any other judicial or administrative proceeding. (b) Other Indian tribes Nothing in the agreement or this Act shall be construed in any way to quantify or otherwise adversely affect the water rights, claims, or entitlements to water of any Indian tribe, band, or community, other than the Navajo Nation. 11. Relation to allottees (a) No effect on claims of allottees Nothing in the agreement of this Act shall affect the rights or claims of allottees, or the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for or on behalf of allottees, for water rights or damages related to lands allotted by the United States to allottees, except as provided in section 5(a)(2). (b) Relationship of decree to allottees Allottees, or the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for allottees, are not bound by any decree entered in the general stream adjudication confirming the Navajo Nation water rights and shall not be precluded from making claims to water rights in the general stream adjudication. Allottees, or the United States, acting in its capacity for allottees, may make claims, and such claims may be adjudicated, as individual water rights in the general stream adjudication. 12. Antideficiency The United States shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any obligation or activity authorized by this Act (including any obligation or activity under the agreement) if adequate appropriations are not provided expressly by Congress to carry out the purposes of this Act.