[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3051 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 3051


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 18, 1999

                                Received

                           November 19, 1999

       Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior, the Bureau of Reclamation, to 
conduct a feasibility study on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in the 
              State of New Mexico, 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. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) there are major deficiencies with regard to adequate 
        and sufficient water supplies available to residents of the 
        Jicarilla Apache Reservation in the State of New Mexico;
            (2) the existing municipal water system that serves the 
        Jicarilla Apache Reservation is under the ownership and control 
        of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is outdated, dilapidated, 
        and cannot adequately and safely serve the existing and future 
        growth needs of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe;
            (3) the federally owned municipal water system on the 
        Jicarilla Apache Reservation has been unable to meet the 
        minimum Federal water requirements necessary for discharging 
        wastewater into a public watercourse and has been operating 
        without a Federal discharge permit;
            (4) the federally owned municipal water system that serves 
        the Jicarilla Apache Reservation has been cited by the United 
        States Environmental Protection Agency for violations of 
        Federal safe drinking water standards and poses a threat to 
        public health and safety both on and off the Jicarilla Apache 
        Reservation;
            (5) the lack of reliable supplies of potable water impedes 
        economic development and has detrimental effects on the quality 
        of life and economic self-sufficiency of the Jicarilla Apache 
        Tribe;
            (6) due to the severe health threats and impediments to 
        economic development, the Jicarilla Apache Tribe has authorized 
        and expended $4,500,000 of tribal funds for the repair and 
        replacement of the municipal water system on the Jicarilla 
        Apache Reservation; and
            (7) the United States has a trust responsibility to ensure 
        that adequate and safe water supplies are available to meet the 
        economic, environmental, water supply, and public health needs 
        of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION.

    (a) Authorization.--Pursuant to reclamation laws, the Secretary of 
the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation and in consultation and 
cooperation with the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, shall conduct a 
feasibility study to determine the most feasible method of developing a 
safe and adequate municipal, rural, and industrial water supply for the 
residents of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in the State of 
New Mexico.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after funds are appropriated to 
carry out this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall transmit to 
Congress a report containing the results of the feasibility study 
required by subsection (a).

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $200,000 to carry out this 
Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 17, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.