Mancos Water Conservancy District Conveyance Act

Bill: 115-hr-6965
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Tipton, Scott  R. [R-CO-3]
Introduced: 2018-09-28
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Colorado

Congressional oversight

Dams and canals

Environmental regulatory procedures

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Government studies and investigations

Land transfers

Land use and conservation

State and local government operations

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

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-09-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Mancos Water Conservancy District Conveyance Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides for the conveyance of the Mancos Project features (e.g., canals, facilities, and water rights) from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Mancos Water  Conservancy District in Colorado.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6965 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 28, 2018 Mr. Tipton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Mancos Project features to the Mancos Water Conservancy District in the State of Colorado.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mancos Water Conservancy District Conveyance Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Contract (A) In general The term Contract means the contract providing for the repayment of construction and operation and maintenance costs of the Mancos Project entered into by the United States and the District numbered I1r–1384 and dated July 20, 1942. (B) Inclusions The term Contract includes any amendment or supplement to the contract described in subparagraph (A). (2) District The term District means the Mancos Water Conservancy District, established on January 6, 1941, under the Water Conservancy Act (Colo. Rev. Stat. 37–45–101 et seq.). (3) Mancos Project The term Mancos Project means the project of the Bureau of Reclamation— (A) located in the State; and (B) authorized by the Act of August 11, 1939 (commonly known as the Water Conservation and Utilization Act ) ( 16 U.S.C. 590y et seq.). (4) Mancos Project feature (A) In general The term Mancos Project feature means the inlet canal, outlet canal, structures, facilities, land, easements, rights-of-way, buildings, and water rights associated with the Mancos Project. (B) Inclusion The term Mancos Project feature includes the Jackson Gulch Reservoir. (C) Exclusions The term Mancos Project feature does not include— (i) the Jackson Gulch Dam; or (ii) any structure, facility, or other improvement associated with the Mancos Project paid for by the State. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation. (6) State The term State means the State of Colorado. (7) Transfer Agreement The term Transfer Agreement means the agreement between the United States and the District establishing the terms and conditions of the conveyance of the Mancos Project features from the United States to the District. 3. Mancos Project features conveyance, Colorado (a) Conveyance of Mancos Project features and easement (1) Finding relating to contract repayment Congress finds that the District has completed the obligation of the District under the Contract to repay the capital costs of the Mancos Project. (2) Conveyances (A) Mancos project features (i) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, in accordance with applicable law (including regulations), the Secretary shall convey to the District all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Mancos Project features, in accordance with the terms and conditions established in the Transfer Agreement. (ii) No additional consideration required The District shall not be required to provide to the Secretary additional consideration for the conveyance of the Mancos Project features under clause (i). (B) Easement (i) In general The Secretary shall convey to the State an easement for access to the Mancos Project features that make up Mancos State Park for the benefit of the public for recreation and related management uses. (ii) No consideration required The State shall not be required to provide consideration to the Secretary for the conveyance of the easement under clause (i). (iii) Effect Nothing in this subparagraph— (I) affects the jurisdiction of the State with respect to the management and maintenance of Mancos State Park; or (II) authorizes the District to manage or maintain Mancos State Park. (iv) Termination (I) Notice If the State permanently closes Mancos State Park, the State shall terminate the easement conveyed under clause (i) by written notice to the Secretary and the District. (II) Effect On the termination of the easement under subclause (I), all affixed structures, facilities, or other improvements paid for by the State within Mancos State Park shall become the property of the District at no cost to the District. (3) Compliance with environmental laws (A) In general Before completing any conveyance under paragraph (2)(A)(i), the Secretary shall carry out all actions required under— (i) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); (ii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or (iii) any other law applicable to the property conveyed. (B) Effect Nothing in this Act modifies or alters any obligation of the United States under— (i) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or (ii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). (4) Jackson Gulch Dam (A) Possession The United States shall retain possession of the Jackson Gulch Dam. (B) No effect on transferred works agreement The District shall continue in effect the operations and maintenance of the Jackson Gulch Dam and associated outlet works in accordance with— (i) article 11 of the Contract; and (ii) the transferred works agreement dated December 12, 1962. (b) Limitation (1) In general Notwithstanding any provision of the Contract or any other provision of law (including any law described in paragraph (2)), effective beginning on the date of the conveyance under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i), the Secretary may not assess any additional fee or charge or incur any additional costs relating to any outlet works that is a Mancos Project feature (based on the historical use of the applicable outlet works). (2) Description of laws The laws referred to in paragraph (1) are— (A) section 9 of the Act of August 11, 1939 (commonly known as the Water Conservation and Utilization Act ) ( 16 U.S.C. 590z–7 ); (B) the Mancos Project Private Power Development Authorization Act of 1994 ( Public Law 103–434 ; 108 Stat. 4549); (C) Public Law 106–549 (114 Stat. 2743); and (D) section 9105 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 ( Public Law 111–11 ; 123 Stat. 1303). (3) Valid existing rights The conveyance under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) shall be subject to all valid existing leases, permits, rights-of-way, easements, and other rights appurtenant to the Mancos Project features. (c) No liability Except as otherwise provided by law, effective on the date of conveyance to the District of the Mancos Project features under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i), the United States shall not be liable for any damages arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence based on any prior ownership or operation by the United States of any Mancos Project feature. (d) Reports (1) Initial report on conveyance delay If the Secretary is unable to convey to the District the Mancos Project features under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) by the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, by not later than 30 days after that date, a report that describes— (A) the reasons for the delay; and (B) a schedule for completing the conveyance as soon as practicable. (2) Subsequent annual reports Not less frequently than once each year during the period beginning on the date of submission of the report under paragraph (1), if applicable, and ending on the date on which the Mancos Project features are conveyed in accordance with this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives reports that provides the information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1). (e) Effect Nothing in this Act, or any action carried out by the Secretary pursuant to this Act affects, impacts, or establishes any additional burden or obligation on the District in the exercise of any right of the District relating to— (1) water; (2) real property; or (3) the use of any Mancos Project feature.