To amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes.

Bill: 118-hr-10114
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1]
Introduced: 2024-11-12
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Land use and conservation

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2024-11-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 10114 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 12, 2024 Mr. Fulcher (for himself and Mr. Simpson ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes.

1. Conveyance for aquifer recharge purposes (a) In general Subsection (c)(3) of the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act ( 43 U.S.C. 390g–9 ) is amended— (1) by striking The holder and inserting the following: (A) In general The holder ; (2) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking may transport water for aquifer recharge purposes without requiring additional authorization from the Secretary where the use does not expand or modify the operation and inserting may, acting for the holder or on behalf of a State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or public entity and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), use the existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization for the purpose of aquifer recharge and the transport and use of water rights for aquifer recharge without requiring additional authorization from the Secretary, which use shall not be considered an expansion, modification, major Federal action, or substantial deviation ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (B) Notice required (i) In general Not less than 30 days before using an existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization for the purpose of aquifer recharge under subparagraph (A), the holder of the right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization shall submit to the Bureau of Land Management notice of the intended use, in accordance with clause (ii). (ii) Requirements A notice submitted under clause (i) shall— (I) identify the State, political subdivision of the State, Indian Tribe, or public entity intending to use the existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization for the purpose of aquifer recharge; (II) identify the existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization intended to be used; (III) provide details on the intended use and scope of use for the purpose of aquifer recharge of the existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization; and (IV) provide the agreement between the State, political subdivision of the State, Indian Tribe, or public entity and the holder of the right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization to use the existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization for the purpose of aquifer recharge. (C) Exemption from payment of additional rent Any use of an existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization for the purpose of aquifer recharge under subparagraph (A) shall be exempt from the payment of additional rent to the Bureau of Land Management. . (b) Effect Subsection (c)(4) of the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act ( 43 U.S.C. 390g–9 ) is amended— (1) by striking Act creates and inserting section— (A) creates ; (2) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end of the following: (B) waives the obligation of the holder of a right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization described in paragraph (3)(A) to comply with— (i) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. ); (ii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ); or (iii) the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq. ); or (C) provides authority to construct, modify, or expand any existing infrastructure covered under subsection (c)(3). . (c) Technical amendments The Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act ( 43 U.S.C. 390g–9 ) is amended in each of subsections (a) and (c)(5) by striking Act each place it appears and inserting section .