[House Report 107-762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



107th Congress                                                 Report
 2d Session          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                  107-762
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CARPINTERIA AND MONTECITO WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS CONVEYANCE ACT OF 
                                  2002

                                _______
                                

October 16, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 5399]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 5399) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
convey certain water distribution systems of the Cachuma 
Project, California, to the Carpinteria Valley Water District 
and the Montecito Water District, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that 
the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 5399 is to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to convey certain water distribution systems of 
the Cachuma Project, California, to the Carpinteria Valley 
Water District and the Montecito Water District.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Overview of transfers

    Since the Bureau of Reclamation began building water supply 
and distribution systems in the early 1900s, there has been an 
expectation that many of the facilities would ultimately be 
transferred to the local entities they were built to serve. 
Taking facilities off the federal books represents real budget 
savings for the future. Transfers help shrink the size and 
budget of the federal government, and help us manage our water 
resources in a more efficient way.

Overview of project conveyance

    The proposed transfer of ownership of the Cachuma Project 
would include the following facilities: the distribution system 
consisting of 36 miles of pipeline and laterals; Governador 
Reservoir; Shephard Mesa Tank; Lateral 10L, Carpinteria and 
Shephard Mesa pumping plants; several pressure regulating 
vaults located throughout the system; fences and structures; 
and rights-of-way, easements, leases and other property 
permitting access to the federal system.
    The proposed transfer would apply to only land and 
facilities and would not affect the Districts' existing water 
service contract with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency nor 
the federal government receipts from water deliveries under the 
contract. In addition, the proposed transfer does not involve 
any new physical modification or expansion of the service 
infrastructure. Finally, both Districts met all requirements of 
Bureau of Reclamation transfers, including payment obligations 
and required environmental reviews, and need only to complete 
the process with an act of Congress.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 5399 was introduced on September 18, 2002, by 
Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on Water and Power. On October 8, 2002, the Full 
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee 
was discharged from further consideration of the bill by 
unanimous consent. No amendments were offered and the bill was 
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by 
voice vote.

            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. The Committee believes that 
enactment of this bill will result in minor savings to the 
United States budget in the future.
    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, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does 
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not 
apply.
    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 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

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                
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