[118th Congress Public Law 162]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 138 STAT. 2575]]
Public Law 118-162
118th Congress
An Act
To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of <<NOTE: Dec.
23, 2024 - [H.R. 1607]>> Reclamation pumped storage development, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: Arizona.>> LAND WITHDRAWAL AND RESERVATION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agreement.--The term ``Agreement'' means the agreement
between the United States and the Association dated September 6,
1917, as amended.
(2) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the Salt
River Valley Water Users' Association.
(3) Covered land.--The term ``covered land'' means the
portion of the National Forest System land located on the south
side of the Salt River from the March 9, 1903, 1-mile withdrawal
area for the Bureau of Reclamation purposes extending an
additional 2 miles from the Salt River at Roosevelt Dam to 18.25
river miles downstream, in the State of Arizona, not including
the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area and the Tonto National
Monument, as depicted on the Map.
(4) District.--The term ``District'' means the Salt River
Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District.
(5) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map prepared under
subsection (e)(1).
(6) SRP.--The term ``SRP'' means--
(A) the District; and
(B) the Association.
(b) Reservation of Covered Land.--Subject to valid existing rights,
the covered land is reserved to the United States, through the Secretary
of the Interior, for the exclusive right to use the covered land and
interests in the covered land for the development, generation, and
transmission of electrical power and energy for the use and benefit of
the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to the Agreement.
(c) Withdrawal of Covered Land.--The covered land is permanently
withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and
geothermal leasing laws.
[[Page 138 STAT. 2576]]
(d) <<NOTE: Approvals.>> Facilities.--With respect to facilities
constructed by SRP on the covered land for the development, generation,
and transmission of electrical power and energy--
(1) <<NOTE: Review.>> the design and specifications shall
conform to Bureau of Reclamation standards, and final designs
shall be subject to review and approval by the Secretary of the
Interior;
(2) <<NOTE: Inspection.>> all construction work shall be
subject to inspection and approval by the Secretary of the
Interior;
(3) <<NOTE: Determination.>> upon a determination of
substantial completion of such facilities, the Secretary of the
Interior shall accept title on behalf of the United States as
part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project pursuant to--
(A) section 6 of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat.
389, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 498); and
(B) the Agreement; and
(4) SRP shall be responsible for the care, operation, and
maintenance pursuant to the Agreement.
(e) Map.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
prepare a map depicting the boundary of the covered land.
(2) Availability.--The Map shall be on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest
Service and the Bureau of Reclamation.
(f) Management of Covered Land.--Management of the covered lands
shall be in accordance with the Management Memorandum among the
District, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and
the Bureau of Reclamation, dated April 27, 1979, as amended.
(g) Relation to Other Law.--
(1) Compliance with environmental laws.--The Secretary of
the Interior is directed to carry out all necessary
environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.), and all other applicable
environmental laws and regulations, prior to construction of
facilities on the covered land for the development, generation,
and transmission of electrical power and energy.
(2) Lead agency.--The Bureau of Reclamation shall be the
lead agency with respect to environmental compliance.
(3) Withdrawal not major federal action.--The withdrawal of
the covered land shall not constitute a major Federal action
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321, et seq.).
(4) Antideficiency.--The United States shall not be liable
for failure to carry out any obligation or activity authorized
to be carried out under this title (including any such
obligation or activity under the Agreement) if adequate
appropriations
[[Page 138 STAT. 2577]]
are not provided by Congress expressly to carry out the purposes
of this Act.
Approved December 23, 2024.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1607 (S. 739):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-264 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 169 (2023):
Nov. 6, considered and passed House.
Vol. 170 (2024):
Dec. 17, considered and passed
Senate.
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