jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-04-11 00:00:00

Dam Safety Act of 2013 - Amends the National Dam Safety Program Act to authorize appropriations for the national dam safety program for FY2013-FY2016.

Requires the head of a federal agency, at the request of a state dam safety agency with respect to any dam the failure of which would affect the state, to provide information to that agency on the dam's condition and on its provisions for emergency operations.

Includes as a program objective to develop and implement a comprehensive dam safety hazard education and public awareness program to assist the public in mitigating against, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from dam incidents.

Permits the Administrator, in consultation with the National Dam Safety Review Board, to invite representatives from nongovernmental organizations to participate in Board meetings.

Prohibits the amount of funds allocated to a state to carry out the dam safety program from exceeding the amount committed by the state to implement program activities (currently, 50% of the reasonable cost of implementing the state dam safety program).
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-04-12 00:00:00

Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of, and land acquisition for, a project to reclaim and reuse wastewater in Sacramento County, California.

Requires the project to consist of three phases, the first of which shall include the planning, design, and construction of water conveyance and related infrastructure to provide recycled water to irrigate approximately 4,500 acres of land in southern Sacramento County.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Energy
Date: 2013-04-18 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 6, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act - Title I: Amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act - (Sec. 101) Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to implement any agreement for the management of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs entered into by the President and approved by Congress.

Prescribes procedures for submission of such agreements to Congress.

Authorizes the Secretary to implement the terms of the Agreement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico, signed at Los Cabos, February 20, 2012 (the Agreement), including: (1) approving unitization agreements and related arrangements for the exploration, development, or production of oil and natural gas from transboundary reservoirs or geological structures; (2) making available, subject to the agreement's confidentiality protections, information pertaining to such activities that may be considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary; and (3) ensuring that only the operator, lessee, or inspection staff at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement have authority to stop work on such activities on any production site attached to the U.S. seabed.

Exempts from resources extraction reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 any actions taken by a public company in accordance with a transboundary hydrocarbon agreement.

Prohibits this Act from being construed as: (1) authorizing the Secretary to participate in any negotiations, conferences, or consultations with Cuba regarding exploration, development, or production of hydrocarbon resources in the Gulf of Mexico along the U.S. maritime border with Cuba (including the area known as the "Eastern Gap"); or (2) affecting U.S. sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the outer Continental Shelf which appertains to it.

Title II: Approval of Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement - (Sec. 201) Approves the Agreement.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-04-18 00:00:00

Fort Sumner Project Title Conveyance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Fort Sumner Irrigation District, located in De Baca County, New Mexico, all works, land, and facilities of the Fort Sumner reclamation project in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement between the United States and the Fort Sumner Irrigation District Concerning Principles and Elements of Proposed Transfer of Title to Fort Sumner Irrigation District Facilities.

Requires the Secretary, before carrying out such conveyance, to assure compliance with all applicable requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and any other law applicable to the property conveyed. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress if such conveyance isn't completed within two years after such requirements are met.

Terminates, on the date of such conveyance: (1) U.S. interest in and responsibility for the project and liability relating to the conveyed property; (2) a specified repayment contract between the United States and the District dated November 5, 1948; and (3) a specified payment obligation of the United States under the contract between the United States and the District for the forbearance of exercising priority water rights, dated August 21, 2009. Provides that all other terms of such forbearance agreement shall remain in effect for not less than 10 years after this Act's enactment.

Provides that after conveyance of title under this Act: (1) the conveyed property shall not be considered to be a part of a federal reclamation project; and (2) the entity to which the property is conveyed shall not be eligible to receive any benefits, including federal project power, with respect to the conveyed property, except for benefits that would be available to a similarly situated entity with respect to property that is not part of a federal reclamation project.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2013-04-19 00:00:00

Army Corps Accountability Act of 2013 - Amends the federal judicial code and the Federal Flood Control Act of 1928 to provide for the liability of the Army Corps of Engineers in the case of a tort claim arising out of damage caused by the gross negligence of an officer or employee of the Corps (thereby removing the Corps from an exception under the Federal Tort Claims Act that protects federal agencies from liability for certain discretionary functions).

Applies such liability to the Corps in the case of damage that occurred on or after August 29, 2005.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2013-05-07 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress regarding: (1) efforts by Mexico to meet its deliveries of water to the Rio Grande in accordance with the Treaty between the United States and Mexico Respecting Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande; and (2) benefits to the United States of the Interim International Cooperative Measures in the Colorado River Basin through 2017 and Extension of Minute 318 Cooperative Measures to Address the Continued Effects of the April 2010 Earthquake in the Mexicali Valley, Baja, California.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2013-05-23 00:00:00

Groundwork USA Trust Act of 2013 - Establishes the Groundwork USA Trust Program.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to: (1) facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments, remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, or site preparation; (2) reclaim vacant and derelict lands; (3) cleanup and care for neglected areas; (4) return brownfields to productive use; (5) integrate environmental education, food security, health and fitness, resource management, and job training; (6) encourage and support business, local government, nonprofit, and community cooperation in sustainable environmental care and enhancement; (7) acquire, rehabilitate, and improve real property and buildings; and (8) develop programs that encourage partnering with other environmental organizations.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2013-05-24 00:00:00

Border Communities Economic Security and Sustainability Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to coordinate to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to accommodate preexisting and border location-dependent businesses into the design and construction of reconfigured and new ports of entry.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2013-06-10 00:00:00

Working to Address Treaty Enforcement Rapidly for Texas Act - Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) report quarterly to Congress describing efforts by Mexico to meet the treaty obligations of Mexico to deliver water to the Rio Grande, in accordance with the 1944 treaty between the United States and Mexico entitled "Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande"; and (2) report annually to Congress describing the benefits to the United States of the 2012 document entitled "Interim International Cooperative Measures in the Colorado River Basin through 2017 and Extension of Minute 318 Cooperative Measures to Address the Continued Effects of the April 2010 Earthquake in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California."
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2013-06-18 00:00:00

Amends the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area Act of 1996 to extend through FY2022 the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to make grants or provide assistance for the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in New York.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-06-19 00:00:00

San Gabriel Watershed Restoration Act - Directs the Chief of Engineers, in coordination with Los Angeles County, California, to: (1) prepare a feasibility study for environmental ecosystem restoration, flood control, water quality control, water supply storage, outdoor recreation enhancements, and other aspects of the San Gabriel River Watershed revitalization that is consistent with the goals of the San Gabriel River master plan published by that County; and (2) identify demonstration projects for construction and restoration of the San Gabriel River Watershed.

Authorizes the Chief to construct demonstration projects to provide information to develop the study. Limits to 65% the federal share of the cost of any project under this Act.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-06-27 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop and offer to the Oakdale Irrigation District and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District in California a contract enabling the Districts to collectively impound and store up to 100,000 acre-feet of their superior Stanislaus River water rights in the New Melones Reservoir in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warren Act.

Requires any such contract to be for not less than 10 years and to expressly: (1) permit the Districts to use any water impounded and stored in such Reservoir for any legal purpose under California law, including use within the boundaries of either District, transfer to and reasonable and beneficial use by a person or entity not located within such boundaries, and for in stream use in the Stanislaus River, the San Joaquin River, or the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta; and (2) prohibit any water impounded and stored by either District from being released or withdrawn if the storage level of such Reservoir is below 1 million acre-feet and to require, in such event, that the impounded and stored water be retained for use by the Districts in the following year, subject to the same minimum storage requirement and without additional payment.

Excludes any water impounded and stored in such Reservoir by either District under such contract from water placed in the Districts' conservation account as defined in the August 30, 1988 Stipulation and Agreement entered into between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Districts.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2013-07-09 00:00:00

Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the Hudson River Valley in the state of New York to evaluate: (1) the national significance of the part of the Hudson River that flows from Rodgers Island at Fort Edward to the southernmost boundary of Westchester County, New York (the study area); and (2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-07-18 00:00:00

Declares it to be congressional policy that: (1) a state has authority to manage the waters of rivers located within its boundaries; and (2) a state in which a Missouri River mainstem reservoir of the Corps of Engineers is located maintains authority to allocate the quantity of water in the reservoir attributable to the natural flows of the Missouri River within its boundaries. Requires all policies and procedures for the operations of Missouri River mainstem reservoirs of the Corps to be consistent with such policy.

Defines "natural flows" to mean Missouri River waters that would be flowing in a state in the absence of a dam that forms a Missouri River mainstem reservoir of the Corps. Requires the quantity of natural flows to be determined based on average monthly flows (excluding depletions) and to be calculated for the entire period of record, including before, during, and after construction of any dams or reservoirs.

Requires the Secretary of the Army to determine the quantity of water in each Missouri River mainstem reservoir of the Corps that is attributable to the natural flows of the Missouri River within the state in which the reservoir is located. Authorizes a state to seek judicial review of such determination.

Prohibits the Secretary from charging a fee in connection with water of the Missouri River in a state, without the state's consent, until such quantity of the natural flows of the Missouri River within the state is determined.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-07-18 00:00:00

Army Corps of Engineers Communications Accountability Act of 2013 - Requires the Chief of Engineers: (1) to notify the public within seven days after determining that runoff conditions in the Missouri River System are likely to reach the upper quartile or upper decile scenarios specified for a year in an annual operating plan for such System; and (2) to meet with a state, local, or tribal government with jurisdiction over an area that will be affected by a flood occurring in the System within seven days after such government requests such a consultation regarding such an upper decile determination. Authorizes the Chief to provide in such consultation information regarding expected water levels, advice regarding preparedness actions, and technical assistance.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2013-07-23 00:00:00

Marina Operator Tax Obligation Relief Act of 2013 or the MOTOR Act of 2013 - Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from imposing a fee under a lease entered into with a concessionaire for the use of Army-controlled real property at a water resources development project if: (1) the lease is for the operation of a facility making restaurant, gasoline, or marine engine sales in connection with a marina; and (2) the fee exceeds 1% of the facility's gross revenues.

Requires appropriate modifications to leases entered into before enactment of this Act.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-07-24 00:00:00

Amends the Water Supply Act of 1958 to permit an interested state or local interest to submit to the Secretary of the Army by January 1, 2016, a plan for the utilization of future use water storage under such Act.

Requires such plan to include: (1) a 10-year timetable for conversion of future use storage to present use; and (2) a schedule of actions that the state or local interest agrees to carry out over a 10-year period, in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers, to seek new and alternative users of future water storage that is contracted to the state or local interest on the date of this Act's enactment.

Allows a state or local interest that the Secretary determines has carried out its obligations under such plan, for Corps projects for the period from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, to notify the Secretary that it seeks to release to the United States any right of the state or local interest to future water storage that was allocated for future use water supply prior to November 17, 1986, and that has not been allocated or used as of December 31, 2025. Provides that on receipt of such notification by the Secretary: (1) the request of the applicable state or local interest to release future water storage rights shall be considered to be approved, and (2) such interest shall not be responsible for the cost of any water storage rights released under such Act.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-08-01 00:00:00

Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act of 2013 - Directs the President to: (1) establish the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Commission, in cooperation with the governors of the states included in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin (New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut), to coordinate activities being undertaken by the states, advisory committees, local governments, institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations to address environmental, economic, and cultural issues associated with the management and use of resources in the Hudson-Mohawk Watershed; and (2) designate the Secretary of the Interior to serve as a member of the Commission and as coordinator of participation of relevant federal agencies in the Commission's activities.

Requires the Commission to: (1) develop and implement plans, policies, and projects relating to the Basin's water resources; (2) adopt and promote uniform and coordinated policies for management and conservation of such resources; (3) coordinate and direct the development, implementation, operation, and financing of water resources projects consistent with its plans and policies; and (4) develop and adopt a comprehensive plan for the development and use of such resources, which shall address all projects and facilities required for development, conservation, use, management, and control of the Basin's water resources to meet present and future needs.

Directs the Commission to adopt a water resources program on an annual basis, based upon the comprehensive plan, that identifies specific projects and facilities to be undertaken during the immediate five-year period in each of the Basin's five sub-basins.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-09-25 00:00:00

Amends the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 to extend the authorities and authorization of appropriations under such Act through FY2018.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2013-10-30 00:00:00

Sabine National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2013 - Requires a land exchange between the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) and the Sabine River Authority of Texas involving the Sabine National Forest, the Indian Mounds Wilderness Area, and the Toledo Bend Project in Texas.

Requires the costs of the land exchange to be shared equally by the Authority and the Secretary, and the land exchange to be conducted on an equal value basis.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-10-30 00:00:00

Fundamentally Improving Salmon Habitat Act or the FISH Act - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to revise requirements for studies and ecosystem restoration projects for the lower Columbia River and Tillamook Bay estuaries, Oregon and Washington. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) conduct studies and ecosystem restoration projects with total costs of $2 million or greater per project (designated as "large projects"); and (2) provide grants to the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, and the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership to conduct projects with total costs of less than $2 million per project ("small projects"). Revises and adds requirements relating to administration of such projects, including the provision of technical assistance to entities carrying out small projects, the determination of priority for large and small projects, and the allocation of funding for small projects.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2013-12-04 00:00:00

Extreme Weather Mitigation Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to give funding priority to authorized projects and studies with a primary purpose of hurricane and storm damage risk reduction that: (1) address an imminent threat to life and property, (2) prevent storm surge from inundating populated areas, (3) prevent the loss of coastal wetlands that help reduce the impact of storm surge, (4) protect emergency hurricane evacuation routes or shelters, (5) prevent adverse impacts to publicly-owned or funded infrastructure and assets, (6) minimize federal disaster relief costs, and (7) address hurricane and storm damage risk reduction in presidentially-declared major disaster areas.

Provides for expedited consideration of previously authorized water resources projects that meet such criteria.

 Sets forth criteria for prioritizing new studies for hurricane and storm damage reduction.
Topic: Public Lands — Water Resources
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2013-12-12 00:00:00

Public Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of the Army to approve or disapprove a covered permit application for a public safety project within two years after the application is submitted. Requires an application upon which the Secretary fails to act within such time to be considered under an expedited process, unless the governor of the state in which the project is to be located issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project. Defines "covered permit application" as an application for a permit to discharge dredge or fill material submitted by a state or municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act).

Directs the Secretary to establish such an expedited process, under which the Secretary shall: (1) prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement, (2) weigh the public safety aspects of the project as greater than the environmental costs, and (3) complete consultation with other agencies within six months. Provides that the Secretary, in issuing a permit under the expedited process: (1) may not require mitigation costs in an amount that exceeds 20% of the project's total cost, and (2) may relocate from the project any of the members of a threatened or endangered species of plant or animal that the relevant federal agencies determine would be taken in the course of the project.

 Authorizes the state or municipality that submitted a covered permit application for a project, if a governor issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project, to request that: (1) the application be considered under the expedited process; or (2) the Council on Environmental Quality approve the project or create an alternative, which must be done within 90 days or the application shall be deemed approved and the environmental requirements shall be deemed satisfied.