116th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the implementation of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program First Increment Extension for threatened and endangered species in the Central and Lower Platte River Basin, and for other purposes.
April 2, 2019
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Enzi) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the implementation of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program First Increment Extension for threatened and endangered species in the Central and Lower Platte River Basin, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Extension Act”.
The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation and in partnership with the States, other Federal agencies, and other non-Federal entities, to continue the cooperative effort among the Federal and non-Federal entities through the continued implementation of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program First Increment Extension for threatened and endangered species in the Central and Lower Platte River Basin without creating Federal water rights or requiring the grant of water rights to Federal entities.
In this Act:
(1) AGREEMENT.—The term “Agreement” means the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Cooperative Agreement entered into by the Governors of the States and the Secretary, including an amendment or addendum to the Agreement to extend the Program.
(2) FIRST INCREMENT.—The term “First Increment” means the Program’s first 13 years from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2019.
(3) FIRST INCREMENT EXTENSION.—The term “First Increment Extension” means the extension of the Program for 13 years from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2032.
(4) GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.—The term “Governance Committee” means the governance committee established under the Agreement and composed of members from the States, the Federal Government, environmental interests, and water users.
(5) INTEREST IN LAND OR WATER.—The term “interest in land or water” includes fee title, short- or long-term easement, lease, or other contractual arrangement that is determined to be necessary by the Secretary to implement the land and water components of the Program.
(6) PROGRAM.—The term “Program” means the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program established under the Agreement and continued under an amendment or addendum to the Agreement.
(7) PROJECT OR ACTIVITY.—The term “project or activity” means—
(A) the planning, design, permitting, or other compliance activity, construction, construction management, operation, maintenance, and replacement of a facility;
(B) the acquisition of an interest in land or water;
(C) habitat restoration;
(D) research and monitoring;
(E) program administration; and
(F) any other activity that is determined to be necessary by the Secretary to carry out the Program.
(8) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation.
(9) STATES.—The term “States” means the States of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
SEC. 4. Platte river recovery implementation program.
(a) Implementation of program.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the Governance Committee, may—
(A) participate in the Program; and
(B) carry out any projects and activities that are designated for implementation during the First Increment Extension.
(2) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.—For the purposes of carrying out this section, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Governance Committee, may—
(A) enter into agreements and contracts with Federal and non-Federal entities;
(B) acquire interests in land, water, and facilities from willing sellers without the use of eminent domain;
(C) subsequently transfer any interests acquired under subparagraph (B); and
(D) accept or provide grants.
(b) Cost-Sharing contributions.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—As provided in the Agreement, the States shall contribute not less than 50 percent of the total contributions necessary to carry out the Program.
(2) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.—The following contributions shall constitute the States’ share of the Program:
(A) An additional $28,000,000 in non-Federal funds, with the balance of funds remaining to be contributed to be adjusted for inflation on October 1 of the year after the date of enactment of this Act and each October 1 thereafter.
(B) Additional credit for contributions of water or land for the purposes of implementing the Program, as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
(3) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Secretary or the States may elect to provide a portion of the Federal share or non-Federal share, respectively, in the form of in-kind goods or services, if the contribution of goods or services is approved by the Governance Committee, as provided in Attachment 1 of the Agreement.
(c) Authority To modify program.—The Program may be modified or amended before the completion of the First Increment Extension if the Secretary and the States determine that the modifications are consistent with the purposes of the Program.
(1) EFFECT ON RECLAMATION LAWS.—No action carried out under this section shall, with respect to the acreage limitation provisions of the reclamation laws—
(A) be considered in determining whether a district (as the term is defined in section 202 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390bb)) has discharged the obligation of the district to repay the construction cost of project facilities used to make irrigation water available for delivery to land in the district;
(B) serve as the basis for reinstating acreage limitation provisions in a district that has completed payment of the construction obligations of the district; or
(C) serve as the basis for increasing the construction repayment obligation of the district, which would extend the period during which the acreage limitation provisions would apply.
(2) EFFECT ON WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this section—
(A) creates Federal water rights; or
(B) requires the grant of water rights to Federal entities.
(e) Authorization of appropriations.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out projects and activities under this section an additional $78,000,000 as adjusted under paragraph (3).
(2) NONREIMBURSABLE FEDERAL EXPENDITURES.—Any amounts to be expended under paragraph (1) shall be considered nonreimbursable Federal expenditures.
(3) ADJUSTMENT.—The balance of funds remaining to be expended shall be adjusted for inflation on October 1 of the year after the date of enactment of this Act and each October 1 thereafter.
(4) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—At the end of each fiscal year, any unexpended funds for projects and activities made available under paragraph (1) shall be retained for use in future fiscal years to implement projects and activities under the Program. Any unexpended funds appropriated during the First Increment shall be retained and carried over from the First Increment into the First Increment Extension.
(f) Termination of authority.—The authority for the Secretary to implement the First Increment Extension shall terminate on September 30, 2033.