[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 55 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H2188-H2189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        AMERICAN RIVER PUMP STATION PROJECT TRANSFER ACT OF 2006

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4204) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer 
ownership of the American River Pump Station Project, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4204

       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 ``American River Pump Station 
     Project Transfer Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER.

       The Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this Act 
     referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall transfer ownership of 
     the American River Pump Station Project located at Auburn, 
     California, which includes the Pumping Plant, associated 
     facilities, and easements necessary for permanent operation 
     of the facilities, to the Placer County Water Agency, in 
     accordance with the terms of Contract No. 02-LC-20-7790 
     between the United States and Placer County Water Agency and 
     the terms and conditions established in this Act.

     SEC. 3. FEDERAL COSTS NONREIMBURSABLE.

       Federal costs associated with construction of the American 
     River Pump Station Project located at Auburn, California, are 
     nonreimbursable.

     SEC. 4. GRANT OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST.

       The Secretary is authorized to grant title to Placer County 
     Water Agency as provided in section 2 in full satisfaction of 
     the United States' obligations under Land Purchase Contract 
     14-06-859-308 to provide a water supply to the Placer County 
     Water Agency.

     SEC. 5. COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

       (a) In General.--Before conveying land and facilities 
     pursuant to this Act, the Secretary shall comply with all 
     applicable requirements under--
       (1) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
     U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
       (2) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
     seq.); and
       (3) any other law applicable to the land and facilities.
       (b) Effect.--Nothing in this Act modifies or alters any 
     obligations under--
       (1) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
     U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or
       (2) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
     seq.).

     SEC. 6. RELEASE FROM LIABILITY.

       Effective on the date of transfer to the Placer County 
     Water Agency of any land or facility under this Act, the 
     United States shall not be liable for damages arising out of 
     any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the land and 
     facilities, consistent with Article 9 of Contract No. 02-LC-
     20-7790 between the United States and Placer County Water 
     Agency.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4204, introduced by our distinguished colleague, 
John Doolittle, directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer 
ownership of the American River Pump Station Project to the Placer 
County Water Agency in northern California.
  To facilitate construction of the Auburn Dam nearly 40 years ago, the 
Federal Government removed a locally

[[Page H2189]]

owned pump station located at the dam site. The dam was never built, 
and now the Federal Government is building a permanent pump station to 
replace the one it removed years earlier. Under an agreement, the 
Federal Government must transfer the pump station to the local water 
users once construction is complete. Before transfer can take place, 
congressional authorization is needed, and this legislation achieves 
that objective. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  We on this side of the aisle have reviewed the legislation and have 
no objection to the passage of H.R. 4204. The bill would fulfill the 
legal commitment of the United States Government to replace the water 
supply for the Placer County Water Agency.
  The majority has already correctly characterized and explained the 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. 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. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4204, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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