[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 30 (Monday, July 31, 2000)]
[Pages 1699-1700]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Griffith Project Prepayment and Conveyance Act

July 26, 2000

    Today I have signed into law S. 986, the ``Griffith Project 
Prepayment and Conveyance Act,'' a bill to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to convey the Griffith Project to the Southern Nevada Water 
Authority (SNWA).
    This legislation is consistent with Administration policy of 
transferring certain facilities to private water districts where it is 
more efficient for the nonfederal entity to manage the project. I am 
pleased that the Congress addressed many Administration concerns with 
earlier versions of this legislation. For example, the bill clarifies 
questions regarding the lands to be transferred and eligibility for 
future benefits for Bureau of Reclamation programs.
    I am disappointed that the bill directs rather than authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey the facilities of the Project. My 
Administration believes that prior to transferring title, the Secretary 
should conduct a meaningful National Environmental Policy Act analysis 
so that the Department, the Congress, and the public can fully 
understand the impacts of the proposed transfer, its alternatives, and 
potential mitigation measures. My Administration continues to oppose 
such mandatory provisions in transfer bills. However, because of the 
cooperative efforts with the SNWA and the progress made to date in the 
environmental review, the Department of the Interior indicates that it 
believes that the process can be satisfactorily completed with regard to 
this Project.
    In signing S. 986, I state my interpretation that section 5(c) of 
the bill, which provides that nothing in the Act shall transfer or 
affect Federal ownership, rights, or interest in Lake Mead National 
Recreation Area associated lands, nor affect the authorities of the 
National Park Service to manage the Area, read together with section 
3(b)(2), makes clear that no interests in real property would transfer 
to the SNWA other than the right-of-way

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that is reasonably necessary for the Authority to operate, maintain, 
replace, and repair the Griffith Project, as constituted on the date of 
enactment of this Act. Further, notwithstanding language in the bill 
that provides that the right-of-way shall be ``at no cost,'' the Federal 
Government is not prevented from seeking reimbursement for expenditures 
associated with implementing this Act and protecting the resources of 
Lake Mead National Recreation Area when rights-of-way are established.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 July 26, 2000.

 Note:  S. 986, approved July 26, was assigned Public Law No. 106-249. 
This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on July 
27.