[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22723]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   NAMPA AND MERIDIAN CONVEYANCE ACT

  The Senate proceeded to consider a bill (S. 3022) to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey certain irrigation facilities to 
the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District, which had been reported 
from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with an amendment, 
as follows:
  [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
in italic.]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nampa and Meridian 
     Conveyance Act''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF FACILITIES.

       The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act referred to as 
     the ``Secretary'') shall, as soon as practicable after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, convey facilities to the Nampa 
     and Meridian Irrigation District (in this Act referred to as 
     the ``District'') in accordance with all applicable laws and 
     pursuant to the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement 
     (contract No. 1425-99MA102500, dated 7 July 1999) between the 
     Secretary and the District. The conveyance of facilities 
     shall include all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to any portion of the canals, laterals, drains, 
     and any other portion of the water distribution and drainage 
     system that is operated or maintained by the District for 
     delivery of water to and drainage of water from lands within 
     the boundaries of the District.

     SEC. 3. LIABILITY.

       Except as otherwise provided by law, effective on the date 
     of conveyance of facilities under this Act, the United States 
     shall not be liable for damages of any kind arising out of 
     any act, omission, or occurrence based on its prior ownership 
     or operation of the conveyed property.

     SEC. 4. EXISTING RIGHTS NOT AFFECTED.

       Nothing in this Act affects the rights of any person except 
     as provided in this Act. No water rights shall be 
     transferred, modified, or otherwise affected by the 
     conveyance of facilities and interests to the Nampa and 
     Meridian Irrigation District under this Act. Such conveyance 
     shall not affect or abrogate any provision of any contract 
     executed by the United States or State law regarding any 
     irrigation district's right to use water developed in the 
     facilities conveyed.

  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 3022), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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