To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-hr-1607
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]
Introduced: 2023-03-14
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Arizona

Electric power generation and transmission

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Land transfers
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 118-162.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-03-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill transfers National Forest System land near the Salt River in Arizona to the Bureau of Reclamation to expand the area used for generating electric power for the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project. Any facilities on the covered land constructed by the Salt River Project are owned by Reclamation, but the Salt River Project is responsible for the facilities' operation and maintenance.</p>

action_date: 2023-11-03
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p>This bill transfers National Forest System land near the Salt River in Arizona to the Bureau of Reclamation to expand the area used for generating hydropower for the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project. Any facilities on the covered land constructed by the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District or the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association must conform to Reclamation's standards. Once the facilities are substantially completed, Reclamation must take ownership of them. The district and the association must take responsibility for the facilities' operation and maintenance.&nbsp;</p>

action_date: 2024-12-23
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p>This act transfers National Forest System land near the Salt River in Arizona to the Bureau of Reclamation to expand the area used for generating hydropower for the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project. Any facilities on the covered land constructed by the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District or the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association must conform to Reclamation's standards. Once the facilities are substantially completed, Reclamation must take ownership of them. The district and the association must take responsibility for the facilities' operation and maintenance.&nbsp;</p><p>The act also exempts the land transfer from review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It also directs the&nbsp;Bureau of Reclamation to serve as the lead agency with respect to environmental compliance.</p>

tv_txt: IB One Hundred Eighteenth Congress of the United States of America At the Second Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four H. R. 1607 AN ACT To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other purposes.

1. Land withdrawal and reservation (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agreement The term Agreement means the agreement between the United States and the Association dated September 6, 1917, as amended. (2) Association The term Association means the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association. (3) Covered land The term covered land means the portion of the National Forest System land located on the south side of the Salt River from the March 9, 1903, 1-mile withdrawal area for the Bureau of Reclamation purposes extending an additional 2 miles from the Salt River at Roosevelt Dam to 18.25 river miles downstream, in the State of Arizona, not including the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area and the Tonto National Monument, as depicted on the Map. (4) District The term District means the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District. (5) Map The term Map means the map prepared under subsection (e)(1). (6) SRP The term SRP means— (A) the District; and (B) the Association. (b) Reservation of covered land Subject to valid existing rights, the covered land is reserved to the United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, for the exclusive right to use the covered land and interests in the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy for the use and benefit of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to the Agreement. (c) Withdrawal of covered land The covered land is permanently withdrawn from— (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (d) Facilities With respect to facilities constructed by SRP on the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy— (1) the design and specifications shall conform to Bureau of Reclamation standards, and final designs shall be subject to review and approval by the Secretary of the Interior; (2) all construction work shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Secretary of the Interior; (3) upon a determination of substantial completion of such facilities, the Secretary of the Interior shall accept title on behalf of the United States as part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to— (A) section 6 of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 389, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 498 ); and (B) the Agreement; and (4) SRP shall be responsible for the care, operation, and maintenance pursuant to the Agreement. (e) Map (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare a map depicting the boundary of the covered land. (2) Availability The Map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. (f) Management of covered land Management of the covered lands shall be in accordance with the Management Memorandum among the District, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation, dated April 27, 1979, as amended. (g) Relation to other law (1) Compliance with environmental laws The Secretary of the Interior is directed to carry out all necessary environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 , et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 , et seq.), and all other applicable environmental laws and regulations, prior to construction of facilities on the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy. (2) Lead agency The Bureau of Reclamation shall be the lead agency with respect to environmental compliance. (3) Withdrawal not major Federal action The withdrawal of the covered land shall not constitute a major Federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 , et seq.). (4) Antideficiency The United States shall not be liable for failure to carry out any obligation or activity authorized to be carried out under this title (including any such obligation or activity under the Agreement) if adequate appropriations are not provided by Congress expressly to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

tv_txt: IB 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1607 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other purposes.

1. Land withdrawal and reservation (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agreement The term Agreement means the agreement between the United States and the Association dated September 6, 1917, as amended. (2) Association The term Association means the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association. (3) Covered land The term covered land means the portion of the National Forest System land located on the south side of the Salt River from the March 9, 1903, 1-mile withdrawal area for the Bureau of Reclamation purposes extending an additional 2 miles from the Salt River at Roosevelt Dam to 18.25 river miles downstream, in the State of Arizona, not including the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area and the Tonto National Monument, as depicted on the Map. (4) District The term District means the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District. (5) Map The term Map means the map prepared under subsection (e)(1). (6) SRP The term SRP means— (A) the District; and (B) the Association. (b) Reservation of covered land Subject to valid existing rights, the covered land is reserved to the United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, for the exclusive right to use the covered land and interests in the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy for the use and benefit of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to the Agreement. (c) Withdrawal of covered land The covered land is permanently withdrawn from— (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (d) Facilities With respect to facilities constructed by SRP on the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy— (1) the design and specifications shall conform to Bureau of Reclamation standards, and final designs shall be subject to review and approval by the Secretary of the Interior; (2) all construction work shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Secretary of the Interior; (3) upon a determination of substantial completion of such facilities, the Secretary of the Interior shall accept title on behalf of the United States as part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to— (A) section 6 of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 389, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 498 ); and (B) the Agreement; and (4) SRP shall be responsible for the care, operation, and maintenance pursuant to the Agreement. (e) Map (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare a map depicting the boundary of the covered land. (2) Availability The Map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. (f) Management of covered land Management of the covered lands shall be in accordance with the Management Memorandum among the District, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation, dated April 27, 1979, as amended. (g) Relation to other law (1) Compliance with environmental laws The Secretary of the Interior is directed to carry out all necessary environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 , et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 , et seq.), and all other applicable environmental laws and regulations, prior to construction of facilities on the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy. (2) Lead agency The Bureau of Reclamation shall be the lead agency with respect to environmental compliance. (3) Withdrawal not major Federal action The withdrawal of the covered land shall not constitute a major Federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 , et seq.). (4) Antideficiency The United States shall not be liable for failure to carry out any obligation or activity authorized to be carried out under this title (including any such obligation or activity under the Agreement) if adequate appropriations are not provided by Congress expressly to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives November 6, 2023. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 213 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1607 [Report No. 118–264] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 14, 2023 Mr. Schweikert (for himself and Mr. Stanton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources November 3, 2023 Additional sponsors: Mrs. Lesko , Mr. Gallego , and Mr. Ciscomani November 3, 2023 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 14, 2023 A BILL To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other purposes.

1. Land withdrawal and reservation (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agreement The term Agreement means the agreement between the United States and the Association dated September 6, 1917, as amended. (2) Association The term Association means the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association. (3) Covered land The term covered land means the portion of the National Forest System land located on the south side of the Salt River from the March 9, 1903, 1-mile withdrawal area for the Bureau of Reclamation purposes extending an additional 2 miles from the Salt River at Roosevelt Dam to 18.25 river miles downstream, in the State of Arizona, not including the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area and the Tonto National Monument, as depicted on the Map. (4) District The term District means the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District. (5) Map The term Map means the map prepared under subsection (e)(1). (6) SRP The term SRP means— (A) the District; and (B) the Association. (b) Reservation of covered land Subject to valid existing rights, the covered land is reserved to the United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, for the exclusive right to use the covered land and interests in the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy for the use and benefit of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to the Agreement. (c) Withdrawal of covered land The covered land is permanently withdrawn from— (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (d) Facilities With respect to facilities constructed by SRP on the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy— (1) the design and specifications shall conform to Bureau of Reclamation standards, and final designs shall be subject to review and approval by the Secretary of the Interior; (2) all construction work shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Secretary of the Interior; (3) upon a determination of substantial completion of such facilities, the Secretary of the Interior shall accept title on behalf of the United States as part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to— (A) section 6 of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 389, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 498 ); and (B) the Agreement; and (4) SRP shall be responsible for the care, operation, and maintenance pursuant to the Agreement. (e) Map (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare a map depicting the boundary of the covered land. (2) Availability The Map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. (f) Management of covered land Management of the covered lands shall be in accordance with the Management Memorandum among the District, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation, dated April 27, 1979, as amended. (g) Relation to other law (1) Compliance with environmental laws The Secretary of the Interior is directed to carry out all necessary environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 , et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 , et seq.), and all other applicable environmental laws and regulations, prior to construction of facilities on the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy. (2) Lead agency The Bureau of Reclamation shall be the lead agency with respect to environmental compliance. (3) Withdrawal not major Federal action The withdrawal of the covered land shall not constitute a major Federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 , et seq.). (4) Antideficiency The United States shall not be liable for failure to carry out any obligation or activity authorized to be carried out under this title (including any such obligation or activity under the Agreement) if adequate appropriations are not provided by Congress expressly to carry out the purposes of this Act.

November 3, 2023 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1607 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 14, 2023 Mr. Schweikert (for himself and Mr. Stanton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other purposes.

1. Land withdrawal and reservation (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agreement The term Agreement means the agreement between the United States and the Association dated September 6, 1917. (2) Association The term Association means the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association. (3) Covered land The term covered land means the portion of the National Forest System land located on the south side of the Salt River from the March 9, 1903, 1-mile withdrawal area for Reclamation purposes extending an additional 2 miles from the Salt River at Roosevelt Dam to 18.25 river miles downstream, not including the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area and the Tonto National Monument, as depicted on the Map. (4) District The term District means the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District. (5) Map The term Map means the map prepared under subsection (e)(1). (6) SRP The term SRP means— (A) the District; and (B) the Association. (b) Reservation of covered land Subject to valid existing rights, the covered land is reserved to the United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, for the exclusive right to use the covered land and interests in the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy for the use and benefit of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to the Agreement. (c) Withdrawal of covered land The covered land is permanently withdrawn from— (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (d) Title to facilities With respect to facilities constructed by SRP on the covered land for the development, generation, and transmission of electrical power and energy— (1) title shall be held by the United States as part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to— (A) section 6 of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 389, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 498 ); and (B) the Agreement; and (2) SRP shall be responsible for the care, operation, and maintenance pursuant to the Agreement. (e) Map (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare a map depicting the boundary of the covered land. (2) Availability The Map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation.