A bill to amend Public Law 89-108 to increase authorization levels for State and Indian tribal, municipal, rural, and industrial water supplies, to meet current and future water quantity and quality needs of the Red River Valley, to deauthorize certain project features and irrigation service areas, to enhance natural resources and fish and wildlife habitat, and for other purposes.
(Sec. 3) Revises provisions concerning unit operational costs to make nonreimbursable: (1) all fish and wildlife enhancement costs incurred in connection with waterfowl refuges or production areas, as well as wildlife conservation areas proposed for Federal or State administration; and (2) 50 percent of recreation area costs, if non-Federal public bodies assume the remainder of such costs. Provides for the determination of such non-Federal share.
Deauthorizes Taayer Reservoir and Lonetree Dam and Reservoir as project features.
(Sec. 4) Allows the calculation of interest during construction of a feature only until such feature is substantially complete, and regardless of whether it is placed into service.
(Sec. 5) Includes certain areas of North Dakota within the area in which the Secretary is authorized to develop irrigation facilities, but prohibits the development of any such facility in the Hudson Bay-Devils Lake Basin. Allows such developed irrigation to receive Pick-Sloan pumping power. Directs the Secretary to: (1) maintain the Snake Creek Pumping Plant, New Rockford Canal, and McClusky Canal features of the principal supply works; and (2) select a preferred alternative to implement this Act after considering connecting the existing principal supply works. Directs the Secretary to investigate and report on an undesignated 28,000 acres of irrigation areas in North Dakota.
(Sec. 6) Prohibits any reallocation of project costs to Pick-Sloan customers.
(Sec. 7) Revises provisions authorizing the construction of municipal, rural, and industrial water systems in North Dakota to: (1) authorize the State to use Federal and non-Federal funds for grants or loans for such systems (requiring proceeds from loan repayments and interest thereon to be treated as Federal funds); (2) make additional projects eligible for such funding; (3) authorize the State to develop and implement a water conservation program; (4) make nonreimbursable the costs of features constructed on the Missouri River by the Secretary of the Army before the date of enactment of this Act; and (5) add Turtle Mountain to the areas in which the Secretary is required to maintain necessary water systems.
(Sec. 8) Deauthorizes the Sykeston Canal. Directs the Secretary to select and construct a feature or features to deliver water to the Sheyenne River water supply and release facility. Requires the Secretary, if selecting a feature under which Missouri River water is used to provide water to such facility, to transmit to Congress a comprehensive report. Prohibits the latter feature from being constructed unless it is specifically authorized by an Act of Congress. Authorizes without further congressional action a feature which uses only in-basin sources to meet Sheyenne River water needs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a comprehensive study of the water quality and quantity needs of the Red River Valley and possible options in meeting those needs; (2) solicit input from affected entities and designees; and (3) provide a study draft to affected States and Federal agencies. Allows such States and Federal agencies to review and comment on draft proposals, and requires the Secretary to take such comments into consideration when producing a final report and submitting such to Congress. Directs the Secretary and the State to jointly report to Congress on the comprehensive water quality needs of the Red River Valley and options for meeting those needs. Requires environmental impact statements to be provided. Directs the Secretary to construct, operate, and maintain a Sheyenne River water supply and release feature capable of delivering a specified water supply for the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks and surrounding communities. Prohibits funds from this Act from being used for carrying out a lake control feasibility study of the Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota, or to study any facility to carry out an activity that would permit the transfer of water from the Missouri River drainage basin into Devils Lake.
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the State to convey U.S. rights and interests in the Oakes Test Area.
(Sec. 10) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out provisions added by this Act.
(Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary, from funds authorized under this Act, to make an annual Federal contribution to the Natural Resources Trust (previously named the Wetlands Trust), limiting such annual contribution to $12 million. Directs the Secretary to make additional annual contributions equal to five percent of the total amount appropriated for such Trust in a fiscal year. Adds to authorized Trust uses the enhancement, restoration, and management of grassland conservation and riparian areas. Adds to Trust authority the power to fund incentives for conservation practices by landowners.
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2733-2734)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Referred to Subcommittee on Water and Power.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Department of the Interior, OMB.
Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 106-208.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with amendments. With written report No. 106-203.
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Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with amendments. With written report No. 106-203.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 359.
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S10530-10538; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S10530-10535)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S10535-10538)
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S10535-10538)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Held at the desk.