II
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2966
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2010
Mr. Risch (for himself and Mr. Crapo) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
A BILL
To authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Idaho Wilderness Water Facilities
Act
.
Treatment of existing water diversions in Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Idaho
Authorization for continued use
The
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to issue a special use authorization to
each of the 20 owners of a water storage, transport, or diversion facility (in
this section referred to as a facility
) located on National
Forest System land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness or the
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness (as identified on the map titled
Unauthorized Private Water Diversions located within the Frank Church
River of No Return Wilderness
, dated December 14, 2009, or the map
titled Unauthorized Private Water Diversions located within the
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
, dated December 11, 2009) for the
continued operation, maintenance, and reconstruction of the facility if the
Secretary determines that—
the facility was
in existence on the date on which the land upon which the facility is located
was designated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System (in this
section referred to as the date of designation
);
the facility has been in substantially continuous use to deliver water for the beneficial use on the owner’s non-Federal land since the date of designation;
the owner of the facility holds a valid water right for use of the water on the owner’s non-Federal land under Idaho State law, with a priority date that predates the date of designation; and
it is not practicable or feasible to relocate the facility to land outside of the wilderness and continue the beneficial use of water on the non-Federal land recognized under State law.
Terms and conditions
Equipment, transport, and use terms and conditions
In a special use authorization issued under subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to—
allow use of motorized equipment and mechanized transport for operation, maintenance, or reconstruction of a facility, if the Secretary determines that—
the use is necessary to allow the facility to continue delivery of water to the non-Federal land for the beneficial uses recognized by the water right held under Idaho State law; and
after conducting a minimum tool analysis for the facility, the use of nonmotorized equipment and nonmechanized transport is impracticable or infeasible; and
preclude use of the facility for the storage, diversion, or transport of water in excess of the water right recognized by the State of Idaho on the date of designation.
Additional terms and conditions
In a special use authorization issued under subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to—
require or allow modification or relocation of the facility in the wilderness, as the Secretary determines necessary, to reduce impacts to wilderness values set forth in section 2 of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131) if the beneficial use of water on the non-Federal land is not diminished; and
require that the owner provide a reciprocal right of access across the non-Federal property, in which case, the owner shall receive market value for any right-of-way or other interest in real property conveyed to the United States, and market value may be paid by the Secretary, in whole or in part, by the grant of a reciprocal right-of-way, or by reduction of fees or other costs that may accrue to the owner to obtain the authorization for water facilities.