[House Report 106-864]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 106-864
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CHANDLER PUMPING PLANT AND POWERPLANT OPERATIONS AT PROSSER DIVERSION
DAM, WASHINGTON
_______
September 19, 2000.--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
[To accompany H.R. 3986]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 3986) to provide for a study of the engineering
feasibility of a water exchange in lieu of electrification of
the Chandler Pumping Plant at Prosser Diversion Dam,
Washington, 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 all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. CHANDLER PUMPING PLANT AND POWERPLANT OPERATIONS AT PROSSER
DIVERSION DAM, WASHINGTON.
Section 1208 of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4562) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or
Water Exchange'' after ``Electrification'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(C) by striking ``In order to'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Electrification.--In order to''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Water exchange alternative.--
``(A) In general.--As an alternative to the measures
authorized under paragraph (1) for electrification, the
Secretary is authorized to use not more than $4,000,000
of sums appropriated under paragraph (1) to study the
engineering feasibility of exchanging water from the
Columbia River for water historically diverted from the
Yakima River.
``(B) Requirements.--In carrying out subparagraph
(A), the Secretary, in coordination with the Kennewick
Irrigation District and in consultation with the
Bonneville Power Administration, shall--
``(i) prepare a report that describes project
benefits and contains feasibility level designs
and cost estimates;
``(ii) secure the critical right-of-way areas
for the pipeline alignment;
``(iii) prepare an environmental assessment;
and
``(iv) conduct such other studies or
investigations as are necessary to develop a
water exchange.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or water
exchange'' after ``electrification''; and
(B) in the second sentence of paragraph (2)(A), by
inserting ``or the equivalent of the rate'' before the
period;
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``electrification,'' each
place it appears and inserting ``electrification or water
exchange''; and
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``of the two'' and
inserting ``thereof''.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 3986 is to provide for a study of the
engineering feasibility of a water exchange in lieu of
electrification of the Chandler Pumping Plant at Prosser
Diversion Dam, Washington.
Background and Need
H.R. 3986 authorizes a study of the feasibility of
exchanging water historically diverted from the Yakima River
for use by the Kennewick and Columbia Irrigation Districts for
water from the Columbia River. The study would be conducted as
part of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. These
two irrigation district systems currently take their water from
the lower Yakima River. Proponents of the exchange believe that
taking water from the much larger volume of the Columbia River
would reduce the impact on threatened and endangered species.
The objective of the legislation is to promote salmon recovery
in the Yakima River without reducing the amount of water
available to irrigators.
Committee Action
H.R. 3986 was introduced on March 15, 2000, by
Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA). The bill was referred to
the Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Water and Power. On September 13, 2000, the
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee
on Water and Power was discharged from further consideration of
the measure by unanimous consent. Congressman John T. Doolittle
(R-CA) offered an amendment to make technical corrections to
the language in the bill and limit to $4 million the amount
authorized for the study. The amendment was adopted by voice
vote. No further amendments were offered and the bill was
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by
voice vote.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Chandler Pumping Plant and powerplant operations at Prosser
Diversion Dam, Washington
Section 1208 of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4562 is
amended to allow for the study of the engineering feasibility
of water exchange in addition to the electrification authorized
in the legislation. The Secretary of the Interior shall prepare
a report that describes project benefits, contains feasibility
level designs and cost estimates; may obtain critical rights-
of-way; prepare an environmental assessment; and conduct other
studies as necessary to develop a water exchange.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII 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 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
Compliance With House Rule XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) 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 this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
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 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. A cost estimate was requested
but was not received in time to file with this bill report.
Therefore, the Committee estimates that the costs incurred in
carrying out this bill would be insignificant because it
earmarks already authorized and appropriated funds.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, credit
authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax
expenditures. The bill authorizes a new use of appropriated
funds.
3. Government Reform Oversight Findings. Under clause
3(c)(4) of rule XIII 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 on this bill.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has requested but has not received a
cost estimate for this bill from the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 1208 OF THE ACT OF OCTOBER 31, 1994
AN ACT To provide for the settlement of the water rights claims of the
Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe in Yavapai County, Arizona, and for other
purposes.
SEC. 1208. CHANDLER PUMPING PLANT AND POWERPLANT-OPERATIONS AT PROSSER
DIVERSION DAM.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations for Electrification or
Water Exchange.--[In order to]
(1) Electrification.--In order to provide for
electrification to enhance instream flows by
eliminating the need to divert water to operate the
hydraulic turbines which pump water to the Kennewick
Irrigation District, there is authorized to be
appropriated--
[(1)] (A) $50,000 to conduct an assessment of
opportunities for alternative pumping plant
locations;
[(2)] (B) $4,000,000 for construction; and
[(3)] (C) such sums as may be necessary for
the prorata share of the operation and
maintenance allocated to fish and wildlife as
determined by the Secretary.
(2) Water exchange alternative.--
(A) In general.--As an alternative to the
measures authorized under paragraph (1) for
electrification, the Secretary is authorized to
use not more than $4,000,000 of sums
appropriated under paragraph (1) to study the
engineering feasibility of exchanging water
from the Columbia River for water historically
diverted from the Yakima River.
(B) Requirements.--In carrying out
subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in
coordination with the Kennewick Irrigation
District and in consultation with the
Bonneville Power Administration, shall--
(i) prepare a report that describes
project benefits and contains
feasibility level designs and cost
estimates;
(ii) secure the critical right-of-way
areas for the pipeline alignment;
(iii) prepare an environmental
assessment; and
(iv) conduct such other studies or
investigations as are necessary to
develop a water exchange.
(b) Power for Project Pumping.--(1) The Administrator of the
Bonneville Power Administration shall provide for project power
needed to effect the electrification or water exchange as
provided in subsection (a).
(2)(A) There is authorized to be appropriated for the Bureau
of Reclamation for each fiscal year in which the Administrator
provides power under this subsection an amount equal to the
cost to the Bonneville Power Administration of providing power
under this subsection during such fiscal year. The rate to be
utilized by the Administrator in determining the cost of power
under this paragraph in a fiscal year shall be the rate for
priority firm power charged by the Bonneville Power
Administration in that fiscal year under section 7(b) of the
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 839e(b)) or the equivalent of the rate.
* * * * * * *
(d) Water Supply for Kennewick Irrigation District.--The
Secretary shall ensure that the irrigation water supply for the
Kennewick Irrigation District shall not be affected by
conservation, [electrification,] electrification or water
exchange or subordination pursuant to this title and any
reduction in its irrigation water supply resulting from
conservation measures adopted or implemented by other entities
pursuant to this title shall be replaced by water developed
through subordination, [electrification,] electrification or
water exchange or a combination [of the two] thereof.
* * * * * * *