[House Report 105-811]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-811
_______________________________________________________________________


 
 A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR OUTLET MODIFICATIONS TO FOLSOM DAM, CALIFORNIA, 
   RECONSTRUCTION OF NORTHFORK AMERICAN RIVER COFFERDAM, TRANSFER OF 
                AUBURN DAM SITE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

October 12, 1998.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            DISSENTING VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 4111]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 4111) to provide for outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, 
a study for reconstruction of the Northfork American River 
Cofferdam, and the transfer to the State of California all 
right, title, and interest in and to the Auburn Dam, and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as 
amended do pass.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

SECTION 1. OUTLET MODIFICATIONS TO FOLSOM DAM.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out the new outlets plan 
for modifications of Folsom Dam, California, substantially in 
accordance with the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency report 
entitled ``Folsom Dam Modification Report, New Outlets Plan'', dated 
March, 1998.
  (b) Variable Storage Space.--Upon completion of the project 
authorized by this section, the Secretary shall operate the Folsom Dam 
and Reservoir to the variable 400,000/600,000 acre-feet of flood 
control storage capacity.
  (c) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the project 
authorized by this section shall be 65 percent and the non-Federal 
share of the cost of such project shall be 35 percent.

SEC. 2. RECONSTRUCTION OF NORTHFORK AMERICAN RIVER COFFERDAM.

  (a) Study.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a study to determine the 
feasibility of a project to reconstruct and make safety improvements 
(including construction of a spillway or other overflow or outlet 
structure) to Northfork American River Cofferdam, for the purpose of 
enabling such Cofferdam to impound safely a minimum of 180,000 acre/
feet of water.
  (b) Determination; Construction.--If, after conducting the study 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary determines that such a 
project, when combined with the modifications to Folsom dam identified 
under section 1, would provide greater flood control benefits at a 
lower cost and with fewer downstream impacts than the Stepped Release 
Plan described in the Army Corps of Engineers' report entitled ``March 
1996 Supplemental Information Report of the Chief of Engineers'', the 
Secretary shall carry out the Northfork American River Cofferdam 
project referred to in subsection (a).
  (c) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the project 
authorized by this section shall be 65 percent and the non-Federal 
share of the cost of such project shall be 35 percent.

SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF AUBURN DAM SITE.

  (a) Project Defined.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
``Auburn Project'' means the Auburn Dam and Reservoir portion of the 
Auburn-Folsom South Unit, Central Valley Project.
  (b) Transfer.--At the request of the Governor of California, in 
consideration of the State of California accepting the obligations of 
the United States related to the Auburn Project, the Secretary shall 
transfer to the State of California all right, title, and interest of 
the United States to the Auburn Project not later than 1 year after 
completion of the projects authorized by sections 1 and 2.
  (c) Reservation.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), the United States 
shall reserve sufficient interests in the lands, rights-of-way, water 
rights, and facilities described in subsection (a) to enable the United 
States--
          (1) to perform the contractual obligations of the United 
        States to the Placer County Water Agency, as set forth in the 
        contracts which provide for pumping facilities for, and the 
        delivery of water to, the Placer County Water Agency and are 
        numbered 14-06-200-5082(A), 14-06-859-308, and 14-06-859-
        308(a); and
          (2) to grant to Georgetown Divide Public Utility District 
        real property rights sufficient to enable such utility district 
        to construct and operate facilities necessary to divert, treat, 
        and store water supplies from American River, and to treat and 
        dispose of sewage and wastewater.
  (d) Reversionary Interest.--All right, title, and interest in and to 
all property and interests transferred under subsection (b) shall 
revert to the United States on the date on which the State of 
California uses any of such property or interests for other than a 
purpose that is for both water resources development and flood control.
  (e) Liability.--On and after the date of the transfer of the Project 
to the State of California pursuant to subsection (b), the United 
States shall not be liable under any law for damages of any kind 
arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the 
Project.

SEC. 4. SECRETARY DEFINED AND CLARIFIED.

  For the purposes of this Act, the term ``Secretary'' shall mean the 
Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary shall carry out this Act 
through the Bureau of Reclamation.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) Folsom Dam Modifications.--There is hereby authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the project 
authorized by section 1 the sum of $101,100,000.
  (b) Northfork American River Cofferdam.--There is hereby authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the 
project authorized by section 2 the sum of $130,000,000.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 4111 is to authorize the Secretary of 
Interior to provide for outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, a 
study for reconstruction of the Northfork American River 
Cofferdam, and the transfer to the State of California all 
right, title, and interest in and to the Auburn Dam.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The American River descends from the Sierra Nevada crest to 
the largest river in California, the Sacramento. A 115,000-acre 
floodplain lies at the confluence, encompassing much of 
Sacramento. Historically, this region has been prone to 
flooding. Approximately 400,000 people and 165,000 structures, 
including the State Capitol, are contained within the 400-year 
floodplain.
    Congress authorized the Bureau of Reclamation of the 
Department of the Interior to construct the Auburn Dam on the 
Northfork of the American River in 1965. Reclamation intended 
Auburn Dam to be the largest in the Central Valley Project. 
Construction began in 1967. An earthquake in 1975 caused the 
Bureau to evaluate the dam's quake-resistance and halted 
construction which has not been resumed. In 1986, severe 
flooding raised the issue of whether the region had sufficient 
flood protection. At the direction of Congress, the Army Corps 
of Engineers, along with the State of California Reclamation 
Board, and later the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency 
proceeded to study the issue.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 4111 was introduced by Congressman John T. Doolittle 
(R-CA) on June 23, 1998. The bill was referred to the Committee 
on Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 
Water and Power. On June 25, 1998, the Subcommittee held a 
hearing on the bill. After the hearing concluded, the 
Subcommittee met to consider H.R. 4111 that same day. 
Congressman Doolittle offered an amendment en bloc which 
required that the transfer be initiated at the request of the 
Governor of California; the amendment was adopted by voice 
vote. No other amendments were offered and the bill was ordered 
favorably reported to the Full Resources Committee by a roll 
call vote of 10 to 4, as follows:

            subcommittee on water and power--recorded votes

    Date: June 25, 1998.
    Bill No./subject matter: H.R. 4111/Auburn Dam site final 
passage.
    Rollcall: Passed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Republicans               Yea       Nay     Present       Democrats         Yea       Nay     Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doolittle......................        X   ........  .........  DeFazio..........  ........        X   .........
Calvert........................        X   ........  .........  Miller...........  ........        X   .........
Pombo..........................        X   ........  .........  Pickett..........  ........  ........  .........
Chenoweth......................        X   ........  .........  Dooley...........  ........        X   .........
Smith, Linda...................        X   ........  .........  Farr.............  ........        X   .........
Radanovich.....................        X   ........  .........  Smith, Adam......  ........  ........  .........
Thornberry.....................        X   ........  .........  Kind.............  ........  ........  .........
Shadegg........................  ........  ........  .........  Doggett..........  ........  ........  .........
Ensign.........................        X   ........  .........  .................  ........  ........  .........
Smith, Bob.....................  ........  ........  .........  .................  ........  ........  .........
Cannon.........................        X   ........  .........  .................  ........  ........  .........
Crapo..........................        X   ........  .........  .................  ........  ........  .........
                                -------------------------------                   ------------------------------
      Total Republicans........       10   ........  .........        Total        ........        4   .........
                                                                 Democrats.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On July 15, 1998, the Full Resources Committee met to 
consider H.R. 4111. No further amendments were offered and the 
bill as amended was ordered favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives by a bipartisan roll call vote of 24-8, as 
follows:
    Bill No. H.R. 4111, short title Auburn Dam.
    Amendment or matter voted on: Final passage.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Member                 Yea       Nay     Present         Member          Yea       Nay     Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Young (Chairman)...........        X   ........  .........  Mr. Miller.......  ........        X   .........
Mr. Tauzin.....................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Markey.......  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Hansen.....................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Rahall.......  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Saxton.....................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Vento........  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Gallegly...................  ........  ........  .........  Mr. Kildee.......  ........        X   .........
Mr. Duncan.....................  ........  ........  .........  Mr. DeFazio......  ........        X   .........
Mr. Hefley.....................  ........  ........  .........  Mr. Faleomavaega.  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Doolittle..................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Abercrombie..  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Gilchrest..................  ........  ........  .........  Mr. Ortiz........        X   ........  .........
Mr. Calvert....................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Pickett......        X   ........  .........
Mr. Pombo......................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Pallone......  ........  ........  .........
Mrs. Cubin.....................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Dooley.......  ........        X   .........
Mrs. Chenoweth.................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Romero-        ........  ........  .........
                                                                 Barcelo.
Mrs. Linda Smith...............        X   ........  .........  Mr. Hinchey......  ........        X   .........
Mr. Radanovich.................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Underwood....  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Jones......................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Farr.........  ........        X   .........
Mr. Thornberry.................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Kennedy......  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Shadegg....................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Adam Smith...  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Ensign.....................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Delahunt.....  ........        X   .........
Mr. Bob Smith..................        X   ........  .........  Mr. John.........  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Cannon.....................        X   ........  .........  Ms. Green........  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Brady......................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Kind.........  ........        X   .........
Mr. Peterson...................        X   ........  .........  Mr. Doggett......  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Hill.......................        X   ........  .........
Mr. Schaffer...................  ........  ........  .........
Mr. Gibbons....................        X   ........  .........
Mr. Crapo......................        X   ........  .........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8, and Article IV, section 3 of the 
Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority 
to enact H.R. 4111.

                        COST OF THE LEGISLATION

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 4111. However, clause 7(d) of that rule provides that this 
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in 
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 
4111 does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures. According to the Congressional 
Budget Office, enactment of H.R. 4111 would require new 
spending subject to appropriation and increase offsetting 
receipts by less than $7,500 per year beginning in 2004.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 4111.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 
4111 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                   Washington, DC, August 20, 1998.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4111, a bill to 
provide for outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, a study for 
reconstruction of the Northfork American River Cofferdam, and 
the transfer to the state of California of all right, title, 
and interest in and to the Auburn Dam, and for other purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Gary Brown.
            Sincerely,
                                              James L. Blum
                                   (For June E. O'Neill, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 4111--A bill to provide for outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, a 
        study for reconstruction of the Northfork American River 
        Cofferdam, and the transfer to the state of California all 
        right, title, and interest in and to the Auburn Dam, and for 
        other purposes

    Summary: H.R. 4111 would authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), to 
modify Folsom Dam and construct a dam on the American River. It 
would authorize the appropriation of $231 million for these 
purposes and such sums as necessary for operating and 
maintaining these projects and for related expenses. The bill 
also would authorize the Secretary to transfer the Auburn 
Project to the state of California.
    CBO estimates that implementing the bill would require new 
spending subject to appropriation totaling $196 million over 
the 1999-2003 period. (The remaining amounts authorized by the 
bill would be spent after 2003.) Enacting H.R. 4111 would not 
affect direct spending or receipts for the next five years; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The 
legislation contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
    The proposed modifications to Folsom Dam, the dam proposed 
for the American River, and the Auburn Project are intended 
primarily for controlling flooding in and around Sacramento, 
California. The Auburn Project is only partially complete. BOR 
ceased construction of the Auburn Dam in 1975 after an 
earthquake raised concerns about its quake resistance. Although 
most experts now concur that a seismically safe dam can be 
built, environmental and cost sharing concerns have prevented 
the bureau from resuming construction. The state of California 
has expressed interest in obtaining title to and completing the 
project.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 4111 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 
(natural resources and environment).

                                    [By fiscal year, in millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              1998     1999     2000     2001     2002     2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Spending under current law:
    Estimated authorization level \1\.....................        2        2        2        2        2        2
    Estimated outlays.....................................        2        2        2        2        2        2
Proposed changes:
    Estimated authorization level.........................        0       12       12       69       69       69
    Estimated outlays.....................................        0        8       10       49       61       69
Spending under H.R. 4111:
    Estimated authorization level \1\.....................        2       14       14       71       71       71
    Estimated outlays.....................................        2       10       12       51       63       71
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 1998 level is the amount appropriated for that year for operating and maintaining Folsom Dam and the
  Auburn Project. Continuation of these annual expenses is authorized under current law.
 Note: H.R. 4111 also would affect direct spending by increasing offsetting receipts, but the receipts would be
  less than $7,500 a year and would not begin until 2004.


    Basis of estimate: For purposes of this estimate, CBO 
assumes that:
          H.R. 4111 will be enacted by the beginning of fiscal 
        year 1999,
          nonfederal parties will pay those costs identified in 
        the bill as nonfederal,
          the amounts authorized are for construction costs 
        only, and additional amounts subject to appropriation 
        will be needed for studies, operations, maintenance, 
        and related expenses, and
          the amounts needed for implementing the bill will be 
        appropriated for each year.
    Amounts of annual appropriations needed to meet anticipated 
construction schedules were estimated by CBO based on 
information provided by BOR. Estimated outlays are based on 
historical rates of spending for the activities authorized by 
the bill.

Spending subject to appropriation

    Modifying Folsom Dam.--The bill would authorize the 
appropriation of $101 million for modifying Folsom Dam. 
Additional amounts totaling about $54 million would be paid by 
nonfederal sponsors. Based on information provided by BOR, we 
expect that the agency would begin designing the improvements 
in 1999, that construction would begin in fiscal year 2001, and 
that the modifications would be completed by the end of 2003. 
In addition, an average of less than $2 million a year would be 
needed beginning in 2004, the year after the modifications are 
complete, to pay for new operational requirements.
    Constructing an additional dam.--The bill would authorize 
$130 million for constructing a dam on the American River. 
Additional amounts totaling $70 million would be paid by 
nonfederal sponsors. The dam would be constructed only if a 
feasibility study indicates that the project compares favorably 
to an alternative flood control project that has been proposed 
for the area. For purposes of this estimate, CBO assumes that 
the dam would be constructed and that design and construction 
would follow roughly the same schedule as the modifications 
proposed for Folsom Dam. Based on information provided by BOR, 
CBO estimates that, in addition to the amounts authorized for 
constructing the project, less than $100,000 would be needed in 
1999 for conducting the feasibility study and less than 
$100,000 would be needed each year beginning in 2004 for 
operating and maintaining the project.
    Auburn project.--CBO estimates that transferring the Auburn 
Project to the state of California would reduce future spending 
subject to appropriation by about $1 million per year beginning 
in 2004, assuming appropriations are reduced to reflect lower 
federal obligations related to the project. The bill would 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior, at the request of the 
governor of California, to transfer the Auburn Project to the 
state within one year after completing the other projects 
authorized by the bill. In exchange, the state of California 
would accept certain obligations of the United States related 
to the project, including the federal share of the cost of 
managing the project site.
    Under current law, BOR pays the state of California about 
$1 million annually for managing the project site. These costs 
would be borne by the state if transferred. Because the 
transfer would not take place until the other projects 
authorized by the bill are completed, CBO expects that any 
transfer could not occur until 2004.

Direct spending

    Enacting the bill would increase offsetting receipts by 
less than $7,500 per year beginning in 2004. Nonfederal 
entities are required under current law to pay a share of the 
cost of operating and maintaining Folsom Dam. The modifications 
to Folsom Dam that are proposed in H.R. 4111 would increase the 
cost of operating and maintaining the dam by less than $10,000 
a year. Based on information provided by BOR, CBO estimates 
that up to 75 percent of the estimated increase in the cost of 
operating and maintaining the dam would be repaid.
    Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
    Estimated impact on State, local, and tribal governments: 
H.R. 4111 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in 
UMRA. Both the projects authorized by this bill--modification 
of the Folsom Dam and reconstruction of the Northfork American 
River Cofferdam--would be completed only if nonfederal partners 
agree to contribute 35 percent of total project costs. Assuming 
costs consistent with the amounts authorized by this bill, CBO 
estimates that nonfederal contributions would total $124 
million over fiscal years 1999 through 2003. In addition, CBO 
estimates that these nonfederal entities would contribute a 
small amount each year, beginning in 2004, towards operating 
and maintaining the Folsom Dam.
    The bill would authorize transfer of the Auburn Dam site to 
the state of California only if such a transfer were requested 
by the governor. Should the state accept this transfer, it 
would also assume responsibility for the cost of managing the 
site--about $1 million per year.
    Estimated impact on the private sector: This bill would 
impose no new private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Gary Brown and Impact 
on State, local, and tribal governments: Marjorie Miller.
    Estimate approved by: Paul N. Van de Water, Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                    compliance with public law 104-4

    H.R. 4111 contains no unfunded mandates.

                        changes in existing law

    If enacted, H.R. 4111 would make no changes in existing 
law.

                            DISSENTING VIEWS

    The projects and land transfer conceived under this bill 
are premature, environmentally destructive, and contrary to the 
express wishes of the City of Sacramento for federal flood 
control legislation.
    The bill authorizes an entirely new project, to 
``reconstruct'' the Auburn Dam cofferdam. That cofferdam is no 
longer in existence, and this bill would authorize construction 
of an entirely new dam--a dam that has never been the subject 
of any feasibility study.
    This bill suffers from the same problem as the Salton Sea 
legislation passed by the House earlier this year--it ``pre-
authorizes'' a project before feasibility studies have been 
completed. The amount authorized is smaller--$130 million 
rather than $350 million--but this preauthorization is not the 
way we normally proceed on water projects, and it is not the 
way we should proceed in this case.
    Although this project is described as a ``reconstruction'' 
of the cofferdam at the Auburn site, this is a clear 
misrepresentation of the facts. This is a flood control dam, 
pure and simple, it doesn't matter what you call it. At a 
constructed height of nearly 300 feet, this dam ranks in size 
with some of the biggest dams ever built by the Bureau of 
Reclamation, including:
          Keswick Dam, Friant Dam, and Lewiston Dam in 
        California (Central Valley Project);
          Monticello Dam in California (Solano Project);
          Pueblo Dam in Colorado (Fryingpan-Arkansas Project);
          Lahontan Dam in Nevada (Newlands Project);
          Canyon Ferry Dam in Montana (Pick-Sloan Missouri 
        Basin Program);
          Elephant Butte Dam in New Mexico (Rio Grande 
        Project);
          Theodore Roosevelt Dam in Arizona (Salt River 
        Project).
    The proposed ``reconstructed'' cofferdam would flood many 
miles of the American River. This is not a minor cofferdam--it 
would be a major, permanent dam on one of our premier northern 
California rivers. We cannot undertake a project of this 
magnitude without careful review.
    There are more objections to H.R. 4111:
          The project has no identified local sponsor.
          There have been no feasibility studies on the design, 
        costs, or seismic safety of the proposed dam. There has 
        been no environmental review. H.R. 4111 requires only a 
        limited economic and performance comparison with the 
        preferred local/Army project.
          There is no effective support for this proposal in 
        the Senate or the Administration.
          H.R. 4111 transfers a Bureau of Reclamation project 
        without any clear provisions for repayment of expended 
        funds.
          The project is a flood control project being 
        authorized in a House Committee without clear 
        jurisdiction over flood control.
    The enormous costs and environmental impacts of a large 
Auburn Dam have led several federal agencies and this Congress 
to reject its construction. Most recently, it was rejected in 
the CALFED review of potential water storage options for 
California. The smaller dam authorized in this bill would have 
many of the same impacts. These upstream impacts are 
conveniently ignored by this bill, which requires consideration 
only of downstream impacts.
    Apart from the environmental consequences, we must consider 
whether construction of this dam and transfer of the lands to 
the State of California will assist with the flood control 
solution endorsed by the City of Sacramento.
    The Sacramento City Council and the Sacramento Area Flood 
Control Agency have endorsed the flood control solutions 
included in H.R. 3698, to improve the Folsom Dam outlet works 
and the downstream levee bypass systems. We should be helping 
the people of Sacramento to improve their flood protection 
projects, not diverting attention by preauthorizing 
construction of a new and environmentally destructive large 
flood control dam. For these reasons, I must oppose H.R. 4111.

                                                     George Miller.

                                
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