[Senate Report 118-166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 357
118th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 118-166
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GREAT SALT LAKE STEWARDSHIP ACT
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April 9, 2024.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Manchin, from the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1955]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 1955) to amend the Central Utah Project
Completion Act to authorize expenditures for the conduct of
certain water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake
basin, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that
the bill, as amended, do pass.
Amendments
The amendments are as follows:
1. On page 2, line 16, strike the end quotes and period at
the end.
2. On page 2, after line 16, add the following:
``(c) Completion of Project.--In accordance with section
207, the Secretary shall ensure that water conservation
measures conducted under subsection (a) do not interfere with
the completion of the project under this Act.''.
Purpose
The purpose of S. 1955 is to amend the Central Utah Project
Completion Act to authorize expenditures for the conduct of
certain water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake
basin.
Background and Need
The Central Utah Project, the state of Utah's largest
federal water resource development project, was authorized
under the Colorado River Storage Project Act in 1956 (Public
Law 84-485). The Central Utah Project moves Utah's allocated
share of Colorado River water from the Colorado River Basin in
eastern Utah to the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The
Central Utah Project includes an extensive network of
diversions, dams, reservoirs, tunnels, and pipelines, and
delivers approximately 150,000 acre-feet of water to
municipalities and industry, supporting over 650,000 residents.
The Central Utah Project was originally constructed by the
Bureau of Reclamation, however planning and construction
activities were transferred to the Central Utah Water
Conservancy District with Department of the Interior oversight
under the Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA) (Public
Law 102-575). CUPCA provides water for municipal and industrial
use, irrigation, hydroelectric power, fish and wildlife,
conservation, and recreation.
CUPCA established the Central Utah Project Completion Act
Office in 1993 to oversee completion of the project and
administer CUPCA related activities. The CUPCA Office reports
directly to the Secretary of the Interior through the Assistant
Secretary for Water and Science. As the need for water
continues to grow in Utah, the Central Utah Project will
continue to play an important role in meeting those needs.
The Great Salt Lake, located in northwest Utah, is the
largest saltwater lake in the United States and the largest
natural lake west of the Mississippi. The Great Salt Lake is
approximately 75 miles long and about 28 miles wide, and is a
relatively shallow lake with a maximum depth of about 35 feet.
Because the lake doesn't have an outlet, it is typically 3 to 5
times saltier than the ocean. The lake is too saline to support
fish and most other aquatic species, however it provides
habitat for migratory birds. The Great Salt Lake currently
faces severe drought conditions that threaten its long-term
existence. Proponents argue that legislation is needed to aid
the Great Salt Lake from the impacts of drought and expand the
existing water conservation program under CUPCA to include the
entire Great Salt Lake drainage basin.
Legislative History
S. 1955 was introduced by Senators Lee and Romney on June
13, 2023. The Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on
S. 1955 on July 19, 2023.
A similar bill, H.R. 4094, was introduced by Representative
Curtis in the House of Representatives on June 14, 2023. The
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries of the House
Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on H.R. 4094 on
July 27, 2023. The House Committee on Natural Resources
favorably reported H.R. 4094 at its business meeting on
November 15, 2023.
Committee Recommendation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on December 14, 2023, by a voice vote of
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1955, if
amended as described herein.
Committee Amendment
During its consideration of S. 1955, the Committee adopted
an amendment to clarify that the Secretary of the Interior
shall ensure the water conservation activities authorized under
the Act do not interfere with the completion of the Central
Utah Project.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 establishes the short title of the Act as the
``Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act.''
Section 2. Water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake basin
Section 2 amends the Central Utah Project Completion Act
(CUPCA) (Public Law 102-575) to provide the Secretary of the
Interior authority to allocate unexpended budget authority
related to the Bonneville Unit of the Central Utah Project
toward CUPCA's existing water conservation program. It expands
the geographic area of the Secretary's authority under CUPCA to
include the entire Great Salt Lake drainage basin. It also
clarifies that the Secretary of the Interior shall ensure the
water conservation activities authorized under the Act do not
interfere with the completion of the Central Utah Project.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the costs of S.
1955, as ordered reported, has been requested but was not
received at the time the report was filed. When the
Congressional Budget Office completes its cost estimate, it
will be posted on the Internet at www.cbo.gov.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 1955.
The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of
imposing government-established standards or significant
economic responsibilities on private individuals and
businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 1955, as ordered reported.
Congressionally Directed Spending
S. 1955, as ordered reported, does not contain any
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Executive Communications
The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at
the Subcommittee on Water and Power on July 19, 2023, on S.
1955 follows:
Statement for the Record, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this statement on
S. 1955, the Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act. If enacted, this
legislation would amend Title II of the Central Utah Project
Completion Act (CUPCA) P.L. 102-575 and include a new Section
213. Enacted in 1992, Title II of CUPCA authorized budget
authority for development of Central Utah Project features and
created a successful water conservation program entitled the
Water Management Improvement Program, in Section 207. This new
Section 213 would provide additional flexibility for the
Department to utilize any unexpended budget authority that may
be available from other sections of Title II to augment the
Water Management Improvement Program.
In addition, S. 1955 would expand the geographic area
covered by CUPCA's Water Management Improvement Program to
consider water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake
drainage basin. Water conservation measures implemented under
this amendment would be considered compliant with the
Bonneville Unit's Definite Plan Report.
Drought and climate change are having a significant effect
on water resources in the Western United States including
impacts to the Great Salt Lake. Should Congress enact this
legislation, the Department will consider additional water
conservation measures, including in the Great Salt Lake
drainage basin, while continuing to prioritize construction of
the Central Utah Project.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the bill S. 1955, as ordered 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):
RECLAMATION PROJECTS AUTHORIZATION AND ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1992
Public Law 102-575
* * * * * * *
TITLE II--CENTRAL UTAH PROJECT CONSTRUCTION
SEC. 200. SHORT TITLE AND DEFINITIONS FOR TITLES II-VI.
(a) Short Title.--Titles II through VI of this Act may be
cited as the ``Central Utah Project Completion Act''.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 212. SURPLUS CROPS.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 213. WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE BASIN.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may use any unexpended
budget authority provided under subsections (a)(2) and (c) of
section 202 for the conduct of water conservation measures
within the Great Salt Lake basin in accordance with section
207.
(b) Compliance with Definite Plan Report.--Any water
conservation measure conducted under subsection (a) shall be
considered to be compliant with the Definite Plan Report
completed under section 205(a).
(c) Completion of Project.--In accordance with section 207,
the Secretary shall ensure that water conservation measures
conducted under subsection (a) do not interfere with the
completion of the project under this Act.
* * * * * * *