[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1696 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1696

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Griffith Project 
                to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 1999

 Mr. Gibbons introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Griffith Project 
                to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

    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 ``Griffith Project Prepayment and 
Conveyance Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Authority.--The term ``Authority'' means the Southern 
        Nevada Water Authority, organized under the laws of the State 
        of Nevada.
            (2) Griffith project.--The term ``Griffith Project'' means 
        the Robert B. Griffith Water Project, authorized by Public Law 
        89-292 (commonly known as the ``Southern Nevada Water Project 
        Act'') (79 Stat. 1068), including all pipelines, conduits, 
        pumping plants, intake facilities, electric substations, and 
        related works constructed and all interests in land acquired 
        under Public Law 89-292.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF GRIFFITH PROJECT.

    (a) In General.--In consideration of the assumption by the 
Authority from the United States of all liability for administration, 
operation, and maintenance of the Griffith Project and subject to the 
payment by the Authority of the net present value of the remaining 
repayment obligation (as determined in accordance with Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A-129, as in effect on the date of 
payment and conveyance), the Secretary shall convey and assign to the 
Authority all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
the Griffith Project.
    (b) Right To Use and Occupy Public Land.--On and after the date of 
the conveyance under subsection (a), the Authority shall have the right 
to use and occupy without charge all public land, including withdrawn 
public land--
            (1) on which the Griffith Project is situated; or
            (2) that is used for the purposes of the Griffith Project 
        as of that date.
    (c) Report.--If the conveyance has not occurred by July 1, 2000, 
the Secretary shall report to the Congress on the status of the 
transfer.

SEC. 4. RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING OPERATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act expands or changes the use or 
operation of the Griffith Project from its use and operation as of the 
day before the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Future Alterations.--If the Authority alters the operations or 
uses of the Griffith Project, it shall comply with all applicable laws 
or regulations governing such changes at that time.

SEC. 5. RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING CONTRACTS.

    The Secretary and the Authority may modify Contract No. 7-07-30-
W004 as necessary to conform the contract to this Act.

SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

    On conveyance of the Griffith Project under section 3, the Act of 
June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 391 et seq.), and all Acts amendatory of that 
Act or supplemental to that Act shall not apply to the Griffith 
Project.
                                 <all>