[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

                                _______
                                

                 April 9, 2024.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

         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

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              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''.

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SEC. 212. SURPLUS CROPS.

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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.

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