Pub. L. 116-9, tit. VIII, subtit. C, sec. 8201 (as amended)

AUTHORIZATION OF PHASE III.

Year: 2025Length: 2,245 wordsOfficial source
SEC. 8201. AUTHORIZATION OF PHASE III. (a) Definitions.—In this section: (1) Integrated plan.—The term “Integrated Plan” means the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, the Federal elements of which are known as “phase III of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project”, as described in the Bureau of Reclamation document entitled “Record of Decision for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement” and dated March 2, 2012. (2) Irrigation entity.—The term “irrigation entity” means a district, project, or State-recognized authority, board of control, agency, or entity located in the Yakima River basin that manages and delivers irrigation water to farms in the Yakima River basin. (3) Proratable irrigation entity.—The term “proratable irrigation entity” means an irrigation entity that possesses, or the members of which possess, proratable water (as defined in section 1202 of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4551)). (4) State.—The term “State” means the State of Washington. (5) Total water supply available.—The term “total water supply available” has the meaning given the term in applicable civil actions, as determined by the Secretary. (6) Yakima river basin water enhancement project.—The term “Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project” means the Yakima River basin water enhancement project authorized by Congress pursuant to title XII of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4550; 114 Stat. 1425) and other Acts (including Public Law 96-162 (93 Stat. 1241), section 109 of Public Law 98-381 (16 U.S.C. 839b note), and Public Law 105-62 (111 Stat. 1320)) to promote water conservation, water supply, habitat, and stream enhancement improvements in the Yakima River basin. (b) Integrated Plan.— (1) Initial development phase.— (A) In general.—As the initial development phase of the Integrated Plan, the Secretary, in coordination with the State and the Yakama Nation, shall identify and implement projects under the Integrated Plan that are prepared to be commenced during the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. (B) Requirement.—The initial development phase of the Integrated Plan under subparagraph (A) shall be carried out in accordance with— (i) this subsection, including any related plans, reports, and correspondence referred to in this subsection; and (ii) title XII of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4550; 114 Stat. 1425). (2) Intermediate and final development phases.— (A) Plans.—The Secretary, in coordination with the State and the Yakama Nation, shall develop plans for the intermediate and final development phases of the Integrated Plan to achieve the purposes of title XII of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4550; 114 Stat. 1425), including conducting applicable feasibility studies, environmental reviews, and other relevant studies required to develop those plans. (B) Intermediate development phase.—The Secretary, in coordination with the State and the Yakama Nation, shall develop an intermediate development phase of the Integrated Plan, to commence not earlier than the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (C) Final development phase.—The Secretary, in coordination with the State and the Yakama Nation, shall develop a final development phase of the Integrated Plan, to commence not earlier than the date that is 20 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Requirements.—The projects and activities identified by the Secretary for implementation under the Integrated Plan shall be carried out only— (A) subject to authorization and appropriation; (B) contingent on the completion of applicable feasibility studies, environmental reviews, and cost-benefit analyses that include favorable recommendations for further project development; (C) on public review and a determination by the Secretary that design, construction, and operation of a proposed project or activity is in the best interest of the public; and (D) in accordance with applicable laws, including— (i) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and (ii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). (4) Effect of subsection.—Nothing in this subsection— (A) shall be considered to be a new or supplemental benefit for purposes of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390aa et seq.); (B) affects— (i) any contract in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that was executed pursuant to the reclamation laws; or (ii) any contract or agreement between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Reclamation; (C) affects, waives, abrogates, diminishes, defines, or interprets any treaty between the Yakama Nation and the United States; or (D) constrains the authority of the Secretary to provide fish passage in the Yakima River basin, in accordance with the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 (43 U.S.C. 619 et seq.). (5) Progress report.—Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in conjunction with the State and in consultation with the Yakama Nation, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a progress report on the development and implementation of the Integrated Plan. (c) Financing, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus to Kachess Pipeline.— (1) Long-term agreements.— (A) In general.—A long-term agreement negotiated pursuant to this section or the reclamation laws between the Secretary and a participating proratable irrigation entity in the Yakima River basin for the non-Federal financing, construction, operation, or maintenance of the Drought Relief Pumping Plant or the Keechelus to Kachess Pipeline shall include provisions regarding— (i) responsibilities of each participating proratable irrigation entity for— (I) the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure, in consultation and coordination with the Secretary; and (II) the pumping and operational costs necessary to provide the total water supply available that is made inaccessible due to drought pumping during any preceding calendar year, if the Kachess Reservoir fails to refill as a result of pumping drought storage water during such a calendar year; (ii) property titles and responsibilities of each participating proratable irrigation entity for the maintenance of, and liability for, all infrastructure constructed under title XII of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4550; 114 Stat. 1425); (iii) operation and integration of the projects by the Secretary in the operation of the Yakima Project; and (iv) costs associated with the design, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and mitigation of projects, with the costs of Federal oversight and review to be nonreimbursable to the participating proratable irrigation entities and the Yakima Project. (B) Treatment.—A facility developed or operated by a participating proratable irrigation entity under this subsection shall not be considered to be a supplemental work for purposes of section 9(a) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(a)). (2) Kachess reservoir.— (A) In general.—Any additional stored water made available by the construction of a facility to access and deliver inactive and natural storage in Kachess Lake and Reservoir under this subsection— (i) shall be considered to be Yakima Project water; (ii) shall be used exclusively by the Secretary to enhance the water supply during years for which the total water supply available is not sufficient to provide a percentage of proratable entitlements in order to make that additional water available, in a quantity representing not more than 70 percent of proratable entitlements to the Kittitas Reclamation District, the Roza Irrigation District, or any other proratable irrigation entity participating in the construction, operation, or maintenance costs of a facility under this section, in accordance with such terms and conditions as the districts may agree, subject to the conditions that— (I) the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Wapato Irrigation Project, and the Yakama Nation, on an election to participate, may also obtain water from Kachess Reservoir inactive storage to enhance applicable existing irrigation water supply in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Yakama Nation may agree; and (II) the additional supply made available under this clause shall be available to participating individuals and entities based on— (aa) the proportion that— (AA) the proratable entitlement of each participating individual or entity; bears to (BB) the proratable entitlements of all participating individuals and entities; or (bb) such other proportion as the participating entities may agree; and (iii) shall not be any portion of the total water supply available. (B) Effect of paragraph.—Nothing in this paragraph affects, as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, any— (i) contract; (ii) law (including regulations) relating to repayment costs; (iii) water rights; or (iv) treaty right of the Yakama Nation. (3) Project power for kachess pumping plant.— (A) In general.—Subject to subparagraphs (B) through (D), the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration, pursuant to the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 839 et seq.), shall provide to the Secretary project power to operate the Kachess Pumping Plant constructed under this section if inactive storage in the Kachess Reservoir is needed to provide drought relief for irrigation. (B) Determinations by secretary.—The project power described in subparagraph (A) may be provided only if the Secretary determines that— (i) there are in effect— (I) a drought declaration issued by the State; and (II) conditions that have led to 70 percent or lower water delivery to proratable irrigation districts; and (ii) it is appropriate to provide the power under that subparagraph. (C) Period of availability.—The power described in subparagraph (A) shall be provided during the period— (i) beginning on the date on which the Secretary makes the determinations described in subparagraph (B); and (ii) ending on the earlier of— (I) the date that is 1 year after that date; and (II) the date on which the Secretary determines that— (aa) drought mitigation measures are still necessary in the Yakima River basin; or (bb) the power should no longer be provided for any other reason. (D) Rate.— (i) In general.—The Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration shall provide project power under subparagraph (A) at the then-applicable lowest Bonneville Power Administration rate for public body, cooperative, and Federal agency customer firm obligations on the date on which the authority is provided. (ii) No discounts.—The rate under clause (i) shall not include any irrigation discount. (E) Local provider.—During any period for which project power is not provided under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall obtain power to operate the Kachess Pumping Plant from a local provider. (F) Other costs.—The cost of power for pumping and station service, and the costs of transmitting power from the Federal Columbia River power system to the pumping facilities of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, shall be borne by the irrigation districts receiving the benefits of the applicable water. (G) Duties of commissioner.—For purposes of this paragraph, the Commissioner of Reclamation shall arrange transmission for any delivery of— (i) Federal power over the Bonneville system through applicable tariff and business practice processes of that system; or (ii) power obtained from any local provider. (d) Design and Use of Groundwater Recharge Projects.—The Secretary, in coordination with the State and the Yakama Nation, may provide technical assistance for, participate in, and enter into agreements, including with irrigation entities for the use of excess conveyance capacity in Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project facilities, for— (1) groundwater recharge projects; and (2) aquifer storage and recovery projects. (e) Operational Control of Water Supplies.— (1) In general.—The Secretary shall retain authority and discretion over the management of Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project supplies— (A) to optimize operational use and flexibility; and (B) to ensure compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws, treaty rights of the Yakama Nation, and legal obligations, including those under title XII of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4550; 114 Stat. 1425). (2) Inclusion.—The authority and discretion described in paragraph (1) shall include the ability of the United States to store, deliver, conserve, and reuse water supplies deriving from projects authorized under title XII of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4550; 114 Stat. 1425). (f) Cooperative Agreements and Grants.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and make grants to carry out this section, including for the purposes of land and water transfers, leases, and acquisitions from willing participants, subject to the condition that the acquiring entity shall hold title to, and be responsible for, all required operation, maintenance, and management of the acquired land or water during any period in which the acquiring entity holds title to the acquired land. (g) Water Conservation Projects.—The Secretary may participate in, provide funding for, and accept non-Federal financing for water conservation projects, regardless of whether the projects are in accordance with the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program established under section 1203 of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4551), that are intended to partially implement the Integrated Plan by providing conserved water to improve tributary and mainstem stream flow. (h) Indian Irrigation Projects.— (1) In general.—The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, may contribute funds for the preparation of plans and investigation measures, and, after the date on which the Secretary certifies that the measures are consistent with the water conservation objectives of this section, to any Indian irrigation project— (A) that is located in the Pacific Northwest Region; (B) that is identified in the report of the Government Accountability Office numbered GAO-15-453T; (C) that has been identified as part of a Bureau of Reclamation basin study pursuant to subtitle F of title IX of Public Law 111-11 (42 U.S.C. 10361 et seq.) to increase water supply for the Pacific Northwest Region; and (D) an improvement to which would contribute to the flow of interstate water. (2) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $75,000,000.
Public laws referenced
103-43496-16298-381105-62111-11
Pub. L. 116-9, tit. VIII, subtit. C, sec. 8201 (as amended): AUTHORIZATION OF PHASE III. | Justis AI