[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4679-4680]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3189

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 21, 2014

  Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following:

                                                   Aspen Snowmass,


                                         Aspen Skiing Company,

                                      Aspen, CO, October 11, 2013.
     Re Support for H.R. 3189, the Water Rights Protection Act

     Hon. Doc Hastings,
     Chairman, House Natural Resources Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman: I am writing on behalf of Aspen Skiing 
     Company, a four-season resort in Aspen and Snowmass Village, 
     Colorado. We employ 3,600 people in winter and host 1.3 
     million visitors at our four ski mountains, 18 restaurants 
     and two hotels. Most of our operations take place on National 
     Forest System lands under a special use permit from the U.S. 
     Forest Service.
       As you are likely aware, the USFS is trying to require the 
     transfer of privately held water rights to the federal 
     government as a permit condition on National Forest lands. 
     There is no compensation for the transfer of these privately 
     held rights despite the fact that many stakeholders have 
     invested millions of their own capital in developing the 
     rights.
       I'm writing in support of H.R. 3189, the Water Rights 
     Protection Act, to address this unfair situation. This bill 
     would prevent the federal government from making an end run 
     around state law by taking water rights that it does not own 
     through its permitting authority.
       Thank you for scheduling a hearing on H.R. 3189 and for 
     your leadership on this issue. It means a great deal to Aspen 
     Skiing Company and other Colorado ski resorts operating on 
     federal lands.
           Best Regards,
                                                      David Perry,
                                            Senior Vice President.
                                  ____
                                  
                                                    Truckee-Carson


                                          Irrigation District,

                                       Fallon, NE, March 13, 2014.
     Re Support for ``Water Rights Protection Act'' (H.R. 3189)

     Hon. Scott Tipton,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Tipton; On behalf of the Truckee-Carson 
     Irrigation District (a political subdivision of the State of 
     Nevada),

[[Page 4680]]

     we here express our formal and strong support for your 
     ``Water Rights Protection Act'' with amendments thereto 
     proposed by you and the Honorable Markwayne Mullin of 
     Oklahoma. This legislation signals important recognition and 
     protection to that very special form of property right which 
     allows the use and control of waters for beneficial uses by 
     water right holders. This legislation will prohibit the 
     conditioning of any permit, lease, or other use agreement on 
     the transfer, relinquishment, or other impairment of any 
     water right to the United States by the Secretaries of the 
     Interior and Agriculture. We applaud this measure.
       Moreover, this Act protects communities, businesses, 
     recreation, farmers and ranchers, and others who rely on 
     privately held water rights for their livelihood from what 
     constitutes a taking without compensation. Our District 
     serves only water users that directly hold their water 
     rights. To all such, these rights are not just important; 
     rather, they are sacred. No justification may be made, no 
     matter how decorative may appear its veneer, for essentially 
     condemning a private property interest, without compensation, 
     for expanded uses by the federal government.
       Thank you for your efforts to protect water rights. If you 
     have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
           Sincerely,

                                       Rusty D. Jardine, Esq.,

                                                 District Manager,
                               Truckee-Carson Irrigation District.