Perkins County Rural Water System Act of 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Perkins County Rural Water System Act of 1998

Title II: Pine River Project Conveyance Act

Title III: Wellton-Mohawk Transfer Act

Title IV: Sly Park Dam and Reservoir, California

Title V: Clear Creek Distribution System Conveyance

Title VI: Colusa Basin Watershed Integrated Resources

Management

Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions

Title VIII: Carlsbad Irrigation Project Title Conveyance

Title IX: Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Title X: Reauthorization of Historic Preservation Fund and

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

Title XI: El Camino Real De Tierra Adentro National Historic

Trail

Title XII: El Camino Real De Los Tejas National Historic

Trail

Title XIII: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Title XIV: Commercial Filming

Title XV: Bandelier National Monument Addition

Title XVI: Miscellaneous Territories Provisions

Title XVII: Miscellaneous New Mexico Land Transfers

Title I: Perkins County Rural Water System Act of 1998 - Perkins County Rural Water System Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to make grants to the Perkins County Rural Water System, Inc., for the Federal share of the costs of: (1) planning and construction of the System; and (2) repairs to existing public water distribution systems to ensure conservation of resources and to make such systems functional under the new System. Prohibits the obligation of System construction funds until: (1) Federal environmental compliance requirements have been met; and (2) a final System engineering report and plan has been prepared and submitted to the Congress for at least a 90-day period.

Requires the mitigation of fish and wildlife losses during System construction and operation on an acre-for-acre basis, based on ecological equivalency, and concurrent with project construction.

Directs the Western Area Power Administration to make available, from power produced under the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program, the capacity and energy required to meet the pumping and incidental operational requirements of the System from May 1 to October 31 of each year. Provides power use conditions.

Provides the Federal share (75 percent) of System costs.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide construction oversight to a specified service area within the System, limiting oversight costs.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title II: Pine River Project Conveyance Act - Pine River Project Conveyance Act - Authorizes the Secretary to convey to the Pine River Irrigation District, Colorado, a specified interest of the Pine River Project (a water facilities project which includes the Vallecito Dam and Reservoir in Colorado, along with related easements and appurtenances). Authorizes the Secretary to convey a remaining fractional interest in such Project to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of Colorado, pursuant to a specified memorandum of understanding.

Provides for: (1) the transfer of certain innundated lands along the Dam and Reservoir; and (2) appropriate administrative jurisdiction over such lands after such transfer.

Requires such conveyance to occur promptly after the completion of specified events, including compliance with applicable environmental laws, issuance of a statement by the Ute Tribe that their trust assets have been protected, and development of a flood control plan by the Secretary of the Army which shall direct the District in the operation of the Vallecito Dam for such purpose. Directs the Secretary, if the transfer is not substantially completed within 18 months after the enactment of this Act, to report to specified congressional committees on the transfer's status, obstacles, and anticipated completion date.

Title III: Wellton-Mohawk Transfer Act - Wellton-Mohawk Transfer Act - Authorizes the Secretary to carry out the terms of a memorandum of agreement providing for the transfer of certain works, facilities, and lands to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District.

Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy to provide for and deliver Colorado River water and Parker-Davis Project Priority Use Power in accordance with existing contracts with the District.

Requires the Secretary to submit a status report if such transfer has not occurred by July 1, 2000.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title IV: Sly Park Dam and Reservoir, California - Sly Park Unit Conveyance Act - Authorizes the Secretary to convey the Sly Park Dam and Reservoir, Camp Creek Diversion Dam and Tunnel, and conduits and canals held by the United States (the project) to the El Dorado Irrigation District, California.

Requires the Secretary to submit a status report if such transfer has not been completed within one year after enactment of this Act.

Exempts the project from application of the Reclamation Act of 1902 upon such conveyance, except that the District is required to make specified payments into the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund as satisfaction of its obligation under prior law.

Title V: Clear Creek Distribution System Conveyance - Clear Creek Distribution System Conveyance Act - Authorizes the Secretary to convey title to the Clear Creek Distribution System in California to the Clear Creek Community Services District, in consideration of the District accepting the Government's obligations for the System. Directs the Secretary to ensure that any trust responsibilities to any Native American Indian tribes that may be affected by such transfer are protected and fulfilled.

Deauthorizes the System as a Federal reclamation project facility upon the date of such conveyance.

Title VI: Colusa Basin Watershed Integrated Resources Management - Colusa Basin Watershed Integrated Resources Management Act - Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance for use by the Colusa Basin Drainage District, California, or by local agencies for planning, design, environmental compliance, and construction required to carry out eligible projects in the Colusa Basin Watershed to: (1) reduce the risk of damage to urban and agricultural areas from flooding or the discharge of drainage water or tailwater; (2) assist in groundwater recharge efforts; (3) construct, restore, or preserve wetland and riparian habitat; and (4) capture surface or stormwater for conservation, conjunctive use, and increased water supplies. Requires the Secretary to ensure that funded projects are not inconsistent with watershed protection and environmental restoration efforts being carried out under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act or the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. Directs the Secretary to require that the District and cooperating non-Federal agencies or organizations pay: (1) 25 percent of project costs; and (2) 100 percent of project operation, maintenance, replacement and rehabilitation costs.

Permits funds appropriated pursuant to this title to be made available: (1) to fund all costs incurred for planning, design, and environmental compliance activities by the District or by local agencies in accordance with agreements with the Secretary; and (2) only to a District or local agency that has entered into a binding agreement with the Secretary under which the District or agency is required to pay the non-Federal share of construction costs and which governs the funding of planning, design, and compliance activities costs.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to reduce (from 60 to 30 days after the Secretary has transmitted a report on an existing dam to the Congress) the required waiting period before the obligation of reclamation funds provided under such Act. Amends the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary to participate in the planning, design, and construction of the: (1) Albuquerque Metropolitan Area Water Reclamation and Reuse Project; and (2) Phoenix Metropolitan Water Reclamation and Reuse Project.

Directs the Secretary to refund all amounts received by the United States as collections under the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 for charges assessed for the failure to file certain certification or reporting forms. Allows certain administrative fees to be retained. Authorizes appropriations.

Amends the Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1996 to extend the period of contract repayment for: (1) the city of Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Nueces River Authority under the Nueces River reclamation project, Texas; and (2) the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority under the Canadian River reclamation project, Texas.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts with the Solano County Water Agency or any of its member unit contractors for water from the Solano Project, California, pursuant to the Act of February 21, 1911, (subject to a limitation on the portion of the Project that may be used) for the impounding, storage, and carriage of nonproject water, or for the exchange of water among Project contractors, for domestic, municipal, industrial, and other beneficial purposes, using any facilities associated with the Project.

Authorizes the Secretary to use otherwise available amounts to provide up to $2 million in financial assistance to the Medford Irrigation District and Rogue River Valley Irrigation District for the design of fish passage and protective facilities at North Fork Little Butte Creek Diversion Dam and South Fork Little Butte Creek Diversion Dam in the Rogue River basin, Oregon, if the Secretary determines in writing that these facilities will enhance the fish recovery efforts currently underway at the Rogue River Project, Oregon.

(Sec. 702) Directs the Secretary to waive scheduled annual payments for FY 1998 and 1999 by the city of Dickenson, North Dakota, which represent operation, maintenance, and replacement costs of a bascule gate project authorized under the Reclamation Authorization Act of 1975.

Title VIII: Carlsbad Irrigation Project Title Conveyance - Carlsbad Irrigation Project Acquired Land Transfer Act - Authorizes the Secretary to convey to the Carlsbad Irrigation District, New Mexico, specified real property within the Carlsbad Project in New Mexico, all U.S. interests in Project irrigation and drainage system and related ditch rider houses, the maintenance shop and buildings, and Pecos River Flume. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress if such transfer has not been completed within 180 days after the enactment of this title.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide a written identification of all mineral and grazing leases in effect on Project lands; and (2) notify all leaseholders of the conveyance authorized by this title. Requires the District to assume all U.S. rights and obligations under existing mineral and grazing leases, licenses, and permits and entitles the District to any associated receipts.

Requires receipts paid into the reclamation fund as Project credits to be made available for: (1) implementing this title; and (2) Federal deficit reduction or retirement of the Federal debt.

Title IX: Thomas Cole National Historic Site - Thomas Cole National Historic Site Act - Establishes the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in New York State as an affiliated area of the National Park System. Requires the Greene County Historical Society to continue to own, manage, and operate the Site.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with:

(1) the Society for the preservation of Thomas Cole House and associated structures as well as related education, research, and interpretation activities; and (2) the State of New York, the Society, the Thomas Cole Foundation, and other entities to facilitate public understanding and enjoyment of the lives and works of the Hudson River artists.

Directs the Secretary to develop and submit to specified congressional committees a general management plan for the Site.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title X: Reauthorization of Historic Preservation Fund and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to authorize appropriations for the Historic Preservation Fund through FY 2004. Extends through FY 2004 the budget authority for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Title XI: El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail - El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail Act - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a 404-mile long trail from the Rio Grande River near El Paso, Texas, to San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, as a component of the National Trails System.

Directs the Secretary to administer the trail. Requires owner consent for any Federal land acquisition along the trail.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) encourage volunteer groups to develop and maintain the trail; and (2) consult with affected Federal, State, and tribal agencies in its administration. Authorizes the Secretary to coordinate trail activities and programs with the Government of Mexico and U.S. and Mexican non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

Title XII: El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail - El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail Act of 1998 - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate El Camino Real de Los Tejas, a combination of routes extending from the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass and Laredo, Texas, to Natchitoches, Louisiana, and including the Old San Antonio Road, as a component of the National Trails System. Authorizes the Secretary to coordinate trail activities and programs with the Government of Mexico and U.S. and Mexican non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

Title XIII: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site - Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1998 - Establishes the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in South Dakota. Directs the Secretary, within three years after funds are made available, to prepare a general management plan for the Site.

Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to transfer to the Secretary any funds specifically appropriated to the Air Force in FY 1999 for the maintenance, preservation, or protection of Site facilities.

Title XIV: Commercial Filming - Authorizes the Secretary to permit the use of Interior Department lands and facilities for the making of any motion picture, television production, soundtrack, or similar project if such use is appropriate and will not impair the values and resources of such lands and facilities. Requires the payment of a fee for such use in an amount determined to provide a sufficient return to the Government, including permit processing costs and costs of site cleanup and restoration. Allows a lower fee to be charged if the activity provides clear educational or interpretive benefits for the Department.

Title XV: Bandelier National Monument Addition - Bandelier National Monument Administrative Improvement and Watershed Protection Act of 1998 - Modifies the boundaries of the Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, to include an additional 935 acres within the Monument's upper watershed. Directs the Secretary to administer such lands. Authorizes appropriations.

Title XVI: Miscellaneous Territories Provisions - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to consider American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as two separate U.S. territories for purposes of certain allotments made under such Act. (Currently, such entities are considered one territory, with American Samoa receiving 67 percent of any such allotments and the Northern Mariana Islands receiving the remaining 33 percent.)

(Sec. 1602) Amends the Housing Community Development Act of 1980 to authorize housing assistance to certain lawful resident aliens, provided that, within Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, any such alien shall not be entitled to a preference in receiving such assistance over any eligible U.S. citizen or national resident.

Title XVII: Miscellaneous New Mexico Land Transfers - Directs the Secretary to convey to Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, specified real property in Coyote, New Mexico, known as the Old Coyote Administrative Site, to be used for public purposes.

(Sec. 1702) Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to convey to San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico, certain lands in San Juan County, New Mexico, known as the Old Jicarilla, to be used for educational and recreational purposes. Revokes a specified Public Land Order as it pertains to such land upon such conveyance.