[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 89 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 89

     To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey a water 
    distribution system to the Goleta Water District, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2009

  Mrs. Capps introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey a water 
    distribution system to the Goleta Water District, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Goleta Water Distribution System 
Conveyance Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agreement.--The term ``Agreement'' means Agreement No. 
        07-LC-20-9387 between the United States and the District, 
        entitled ``Agreement Between the United States and the Goleta 
        Water District to Transfer Title of the Federally Owned 
        Distribution System to the Goleta Water District''.
            (2) District.--The term ``District'' means the Goleta Water 
        District, located in Santa Barbara County, California.
            (3) Goleta water distribution system.--The term ``Goleta 
        Water Distribution System'' means the facilities constructed by 
        the United States to enable the District to convey water to its 
        water users, and associated lands, as described in Appendix A 
        of the Agreement.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF THE GOLETA WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

    The Secretary is authorized to convey to the District all right, 
title, and interest of the United States in and to the Goleta Water 
Distribution System of the Cachuma Project, California, subject to 
valid existing rights and consistent with the terms and conditions set 
forth in the Agreement.

SEC. 4. LIABILITY.

    Effective upon the date of the conveyance authorized by section 3, 
the United States shall not be held liable by any court for damages of 
any kind arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to 
the lands, buildings, or facilities conveyed under this Act, except for 
damages caused by acts of negligence committed by the United States or 
by its employees or agents prior to the date of conveyance. Nothing in 
this section increases the liability of the United States beyond that 
provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (popularly 
known as the Federal Tort Claims Act).

SEC. 5. BENEFITS.

    After conveyance of the Goleta Water Distribution System under this 
Act--
            (1) such distribution system shall not be considered to be 
        a part of a Federal reclamation project; and
            (2) the District shall not be eligible to receive any 
        benefits with respect to any facility comprising the Goleta 
        Water Distribution System, except benefits that would be 
        available to a similarly situated entity with respect to 
        property that is not part of a Federal reclamation project.

SEC. 6. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS.

    (a) Compliance With Environmental and Historic Preservation Laws.--
Prior to any conveyance under this Act, the Secretary shall complete 
all actions required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
470 et seq.), and all other applicable laws.
    (b) Compliance by the District.--Upon the conveyance of the Goleta 
Water Distribution System under this Act, the District shall comply 
with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations in 
its operation of the facilities that are transferred.
    (c) Applicable Authority.--All provisions of Federal reclamation 
law (the Act of June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.) and Acts 
supplemental to and amendatory of that Act) shall continue to be 
applicable to project water provided to the District.

SEC. 7. REPORT.

    If, 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary has not completed the conveyance required under section 3, 
the Secretary shall complete a report that states the reason the 
conveyance has not been completed and the date by which the conveyance 
shall be completed. The Secretary shall submit a report required under 
this section to Congress not later than 14 months after the date of the 
enactment the of this Act.
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