[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 3323 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 1022
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3323
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2008
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
September 16, 2008
Reported by Mr. Bingaman, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey a water
distribution system to the Goleta Water District, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Goleta Water Distribution System
Conveyance Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agreement.--The term ``Agreement'' means Agreement No.
07-LC-20-9387 between the United States and the District,
entitled ``Agreement Between the United States and the Goleta
Water District to Transfer Title of the Federally Owned
Distribution System to the Goleta Water District''.
(2) District.--The term ``District'' means the Goleta Water
District, located in Santa Barbara County, California.
(3) Goleta water distribution system.--The term ``Goleta
Water Distribution System'' means the facilities constructed by
the United States to enable the District to convey water to its
water users, and associated lands, as described in Appendix A
of the Agreement.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF THE GOLETA WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
The Secretary is authorized to convey to the District all right,
title, and interest of the United States in and to the Goleta Water
Distribution System of the Cachuma Project, California, subject to
valid existing rights and consistent with the terms and conditions set
forth in the Agreement.
SEC. 4. LIABILITY.
Effective upon the date of the conveyance authorized by section 3,
the United States shall not be held liable by any court for damages of
any kind arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to
the lands, buildings, or facilities conveyed under this Act, except for
damages caused by acts of negligence committed by the United States or
by its employees or agents prior to the date of conveyance. Nothing in
this section increases the liability of the United States beyond that
provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (popularly
known as the Federal Tort Claims Act).
SEC. 5. BENEFITS.
After conveyance of the Goleta Water Distribution System under this
Act--
(1) such distribution system shall not be considered to be
a part of a Federal reclamation project; and
(2) the District shall not be eligible to receive any
benefits with respect to any facility comprising the Goleta
Water Distribution System, except benefits that would be
available to a similarly situated entity with respect to
property that is not part of a Federal reclamation project.
SEC. 6. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS.
(a) Compliance With Environmental and Historic Preservation Laws.--
Prior to any conveyance under this Act, the Secretary shall complete
all actions required 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.), the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C.
470 et seq.), and all other applicable laws.
(b) Compliance by the District.--Upon the conveyance of the Goleta
Water Distribution System under this Act, the District shall comply
with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations in
its operation of the facilities that are transferred.
(c) Applicable Authority.--All provisions of Federal reclamation
law (the Act of June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.) and Acts
supplemental to and amendatory of that Act) shall continue to be
applicable to project water provided to the District.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
If, 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary has not completed the conveyance required under section 3,
the Secretary shall complete a report that states the reason the
conveyance has not been completed and the date by which the conveyance
shall be completed. The Secretary shall submit a report required under
this section to Congress not later than 14 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
Calendar No. 1022
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3323
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey a water
distribution system to the Goleta Water District, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 16, 2008
Reported without amendment