[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Kyl):
  S. 1080. A bill to clarify the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the 
Interior with respect to the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by my colleague, 
Senator Kyl, in introducing a bill that would clarify the jurisdiction 
of the Bureau of Reclamation over program activities associated with 
the C.C. Cragin Project in northern Arizona. A companion measure was 
introduced last month by Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick from Arizona.
  Pursuant to the Arizona Water Settlements Act of 2004, AWSA, Congress 
authorized the Secretary of the Interior to accept from the Salt River 
Project, SRP, title of the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir for the 
express use of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project. While it's 
clear that Congress intended to transfer jurisdiction of the Cragin 
Project to the Department of Interior, and in particular, the Bureau of 
Reclamation, the lands underlying the Project are technically located 
within the Coconino National Forest and the Tonto National Forest. This 
has resulted in a disagreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and 
the National Forest Service concerning jurisdiction over the operation 
and management activities of the Cragin Project.
  For more than two years, SRP and Reclamation have attempted to reach 
an agreement with the Forest Service that recognizes Reclamation's 
paramount jurisdiction over the Cragin Project. Unfortunately, the 
Forest Service maintains that this technical ambiguity under the AWSA 
implies they have a regulatory role in approving Cragin Project 
operations and maintenance.
  Speedy resolution of this jurisdictional issue is urgently needed in 
order to address repairs and other operational needs of the Cragin 
Project, including planning for the future water needs of the City of 
Payson and other northern Arizona communities. This clarification would 
simply provide Reclamation with the oversight responsibility that 
Congress originally intended. I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.

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