[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Kyl):
  S. 201. 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 is 
being introduced today in the House by Congressman Paul Gosar 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 is 
clear that Congress intended to transfer jurisdiction of the Cragin 
Project to the Department of the 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 5 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. This bill represents a negotiated 
compromise between the agencies and our offices that appropriately 
clarifies each agency's role with respect to the Dam and the Federal 
lands surrounding it. A similar bill was introduced during the 111th 
Congress and was reported with an amendment by the Senate Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee. The version we are introducing today is 
identical to the Committee reported bill.
  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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