[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 145 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H11846-H11847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CARRIAGE OF NONPROJECT WATER BY MANCOS PROJECT, COLORADO

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2594) to authorize the

[[Page H11847]]

 Secretary of the Interior to contract with the Mancos Water 
Conservancy District to use the Mancos Project facilities for 
impounding, storage, diverting, and carriage of nonproject water for 
the purpose of irrigation, domestic, municipal, industrial, and any 
other beneficial purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2594

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CARRIAGE OF NONPROJECT WATER BY THE MANCOS 
                   PROJECT, COLORADO.

       (a) Sale of Excess Water.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the Act of August 11, 1939 
     (commonly known as the ``Water Conservation and Utilization 
     Act'') (16 U.S.C. 590y et seq.), if storage or carrying 
     capacity has been or may be provided in excess of the 
     requirements of the land to be irrigated under the Mancos 
     Project, Colorado (referred to in this Act as the 
     ``project''), the Secretary of the Interior may, on such 
     terms as the Secretary determines to be just and equitable, 
     contract with the Mancos Water Conservancy District and any 
     of its member unit contractors for impounding, storage, 
     diverting, or carriage of nonproject water for irrigation, 
     domestic, municipal, industrial, and any other beneficial 
     purposes, to an extent not exceeding the excess capacity.
       (2) Interference.--A contract under paragraph (1) shall not 
     impair or otherwise interfere with any authorized purpose of 
     the project.
       (3) Cost considerations.--In fixing the charges under a 
     contract under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into 
     consideration--
       (A) the cost of construction and maintenance of the 
     project, by which the nonproject water is to be diverted, 
     impounded, stored, or carried; and
       (B) the canal by which the water is to be carried.
       (4) No additional charges.--The Mancos Water Conservancy 
     District shall not impose a charge for the storage, carriage, 
     or delivery of the nonproject water in excess of the charge 
     paid to the United States, except to such extent as may be 
     reasonably necessary to cover--
       (A) a proportionate share of the project cost; and
       (B) the cost of carriage and delivery of the nonproject 
     water through the facilities of the Mancos Water Conservancy 
     District.
       (b) Water Rights of United States Not Enlarged.--Nothing in 
     this Act enlarges or attempts to enlarge the right of the 
     United States, under existing law, to control any water in 
     any State.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Doolittle) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle).
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to enter into contracts with the Mancos Water Conservancy 
District and its member unit contractors to transfer nonproject water 
for any beneficial purpose, up to the extent of any excess capacity. 
Legislation such as this has passed Congress on several occasions since 
the Bureau of Reclamation does not have the authority to move 
nonproject water administratively, unless it is for irrigation 
purposes. The increased growth and resulting need to use water 
facilities more efficiently in the western United States have been the 
basis for Congress to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter 
into these contracts.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2594 authorizes the use of Mancos Project facilities 
for the storage, diversion, or carriage of nonproject water.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not controversial, so we have no 
objection to its enactment.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2594.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds have 
voted in the affirmative.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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