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Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-400.

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A bill to authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement. 6/25/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Title I: San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to implement the Stipulation of Settlement dated September 13, 2006, in Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al., in cooperation with the state of California, including measures to: (1) design and construct channel and structural improvements; (2) modify Friant Dam operations to provide Restoration Flows and Interim Flows; (3) acquire water, water rights, or options to acquire water from willing sellers; (4) implement terms and conditions related to recirculation, recapture, reuse, exchange, or transfer of water released for such flows; and (5) develop and implement the Recovered Water Account.Directs [...]

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Latest Action: 06/04/2008 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-504, Part II.

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To establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs. 6/4/2008--Reported to House amended, Part II.    (There are 2 other summaries) Establishes the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to: (1) use studies and assessments to project future water supply needs and demand, develop national and regional assessments on flood risk and water availability and trends related to water quality; (2) study government and private sector water management programs directed at increasing water supplies, managing flood risk, and improving the availability, reliability, and quality of water resources; and (3) develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy.Requires such strategy to: (1) identify incentives to ensure an adequate and dependable supply of water to meet U.S. needs for the next 50 years; (2) consider all available technologies and methods [...]

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Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement. 1/4/2007--Introduced. San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement the terms and conditions of the Stipulation of Settlement dated September 13, 2006, in Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al., in cooperation with the state of California, including measures to: (1) design and construct channel and structural improvements; (2) modify Friant Dam operations to provide Restoration Flows and Interim Flows; (3) acquire water, water rights, or options to acquire water from willing sellers; (4) implement terms and conditions related to recirculation, recapture, reuse, exchange, or transfer of water released for such flows; and (5) develop and implement the Recovered Water Account. Directs the Secretary to: (1) enter into agreements with California to facilitate or expedite Settlement implementation; and (2) identify [...]

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Latest Action: 09/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

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To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct facilities to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, military, and other uses from the Santa Margarita River, California, and for other purposes. 2/12/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to construct, operate, and maintain a project to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, military, and other uses from the Santa Margarita River, California, in accordance with the final feasibility report and this Act. Authorizes project construction only after the Secretary determines that: (1) the Fallbrook Public Utility District, San Diego County, and the Navy have entered into contracts to repay to the United States appropriate costs; (2) [...]

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Latest Action: 04/10/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. With written report No. 110-284.

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A bill to amend the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000 to explain the purpose and provide for the administration of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000 to provide that the purpose of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge shall be to restore, enhance, and maintain wetland, upland, riparian, and other habitats for native wildlife, plant, and fish species in the San Luis Valley. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior, in administering the Refuge, to: (1) emphasize migratory bird conservation; and (2) take into consideration the role of the Refuge in broader landscape conservation efforts. Provides for the Secretary, in administering water resources for the Refuge, to use decreed water rights on the Refuge in approximately the same manner that the water rights have been used historically.

Latest Action: 06/11/2008 - Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5530)

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A bill to provide for the modification of an amendatory repayment contract between the Secretary of the Interior and the North Unit Irrigation District, and for other purposes.

2/16/2007--Reported to Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

North Unit Irrigation District Act of 2007 - Modifies a repayment contract between the Secretary of the Interior and the North Unit Irrigation District, Oregon. Permits the District to engage in, or take advantage of, conserved water projects authorized by Oregon law. Authorizes the Secretary to renegotiate in the future such contract terms as the District directors determine to be necessary, only upon the written request of the District directors and the consent of the Commissioner of Reclamation.

Latest Action: 09/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

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A bill to direct the exchange of certain land in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah Counties, Utah, and for other purposes.

1/25/2007--Introduced.

Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey specified federal land to the State of Utah in exchange for specified non-federal land in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah Counties, Utah.

Sets forth provisions regarding the administration of the land after the exchange, including mineral leasing and occupancy, grazing permits, and hazardous materials.

Latest Action: 07/24/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

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To update the management of Oregon water resources, and for other purposes. 7/23/2007--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)Oregon Water Resources Management Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 to: (1) replace references to the Deschutes River Basin Working Group with the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group; (2) require the two representatives of private interests from irrigated agriculture on the Working Group to actively farm more than 100 acres of irrigated land and not be irrigation district managers; (3) direct the Bureau of Reclamation to pay up to a specified amount of the cost of performing projects proposed by the Working Group and approved by the Secretary of the Interior for FY2007-FY2016; and (4) authorize appropriations for Deschutes [...]

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Latest Action: 09/17/2007 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-170.

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A bill to establish the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

9/17/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area in Colorado, which shall consist of the Counties of Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla and the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and other areas identified on a specified map for the Heritage Area. Requires the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area Board to prepare and submit a management plan for the Heritage Area.

Authorizes appropriations.

Latest Action: 09/17/2007 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-171.

Bill Text
A bill to establish the South Park National Heritage Area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

9/17/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

South Park National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the South Park National Heritage Area in South Park, Colorado.

Requires the Park County Tourism & Community Development Office to submit a management plan for the Area.

Authorizes appropriations.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 05/08/2008 - Signed by President.

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A bill to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy, to implement further the Act approving the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--Public Law.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 - Title I: Forest Service Authorizations - (Sec. 101) Designates certain lands in the Skykomish River Valley, Washington, as the Wild Sky Wilderness, to be managed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Directs the Secretary to establish a trail plan. Authorizes the use of helicopter access to construct and maintain a joint [...]

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Latest Action: 08/22/2008 - Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/01/2008 with amendments. With written report No. 110-446.

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A bill to establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs. 3/6/2008--Introduced. Twenty-First Century Water Commission Act of 2008 - Establishes the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to: (1) project future water supply and demand; (2) study current water management programs of federal, interstate, state, and local agencies and private sector entities directed at increasing water supplies and improving the availability, reliability, and quality of freshwater resources; and (3) consult with representatives of such agencies and entities to develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy. Requires that such strategy: (1) identify incentives intended to ensure an adequate and dependable water supply to meet U.S. needs for the next 50 years; (2) suggest strategies that avoid increased mandates on state and local governments, considering all available technologies;[...]

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Latest Action: 01/31/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

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To provide for a land exchange involving certain Bureau of Land Management lands in Pima County, Arizona, for the purpose of consolidating Federal land ownership within the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, and for other purposes. 1/29/2008--Introduced. Pima County Land Adjustment Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to convey to Las Cienegas Conservation, LLC, the Sahuarita property, which consists of approximately 1,280 acres, in exchange for the Empirita-Simonson property, which consists of approximately 2,490 acres, and the Bloom property, which consists of approximately 160 acres. Requires the Secretary to modify the boundaries of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area to include the Empirita-Simonson property and the boundaries of the Saguaro National Park to include the Bloom property. Requires the Secretary to convey the Tumamoc Hill property, which consists of approximately 290 acres, to Pima County, Arizona, upon the county [...]

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Latest Action: 12/10/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

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Expressing the sense of the Congress with regard to the world's freshwater resources. 12/6/2007--Introduced. Asserts that: (1) water management priorities should reflect the goals of safeguarding and sustaining water resources; (2) U.S. executive directors of international financial institutions should not approve loans that require increased cost recovery or water privatization or public-private partnerships that would result in significant increases in consumer water fees or in other ways restrict affordable access to water; and (3) federal policies should ensure that sources of water pollution are adequately regulated and those responsible held accountable for the pollution they cause.Affirms: (1) that water should not be treated as a private commodity where this would limit or deny public access to freshwater resources; (2) that Congress firmly commits itself to meet the Millennium Development Goals; and (3) that access to international loans and debt reduction [...]

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Latest Action: 05/13/2008 - Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-633.

Bill Text
To authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, and for other purposes. 5/13/2008--Reported to House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)Title I: The San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - (Sec. 101) San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary), in cooperation with the state of California, to implement the Stipulation of Settlement dated September 13, 2006, in Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Directs the Secretary to: (1) enter into agreements with California to facilitate or expedite Settlement implementation; and (2) identify impacts and measures to mitigate impacts on adjacent and downstream [...]

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Latest Action: 06/11/2008 - Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5530)

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A bill to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy, and to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes. 10/17/2007--Introduced. Natural Resource Projects and Programs Authorization Act of 2007 - Authorizes specified programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy concerning, among other things, national monuments, conservation areas, resource protection, historic sites, national trails, national heritage areas, and the clean coal power initiative. Makes amendments to various public laws, including the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act, the National Trails System Act, the Steel Industry American Heritage Area Act of 1996, the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor [...]

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Latest Action: 10/10/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

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To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes. 10/4/2007--Introduced. Colorado Wilderness Act of 2007 - Designates specified lands in Colorado, administered by the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Forest Service, as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Authorizes the Colorado Army National Guard, through the High Altitude ARNG Aviation Training Site, to conduct aerial navigation training maneuver exercises over and upon the lands designated as potential wilderness by this Act. Provides for the obtaining, exercise, and protection of U.S. water rights for the wilderness and potential wilderness areas. Designates specified lands (proposed as Deep Creek Wilderness and Pisgah Mountain Wilderness) as potential wilderness areas. Requires such lands to be designated as wilderness upon publication of a notice that all nonconforming [...]

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Latest Action: 09/24/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Bill Text
To provide for the exchange of certain Bureau of Land Management land in Pima County, Arizona, and for other purposes. 9/20/2007--Introduced. Las Cienegas Enhancement and Saguaro National Park Boundary Adjustment Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior, if Las Cienegas Conservation, LLC offers to convey to the Secretary title to the Empirita-Simonson parcel of land and the Bloom parcel of land (the non-federal land), to accept the offer and simultaneously convey to Las Cienegas Conservation, LLC the Sahuarita parcel of land (the federal land). Requires the values of the federal and non-federal lands exchanged to be equal, as determined by appraisals. Requires Las Cienegas Conservation, LLC, to: (1) pay the costs of carrying out the exchange of such lands; (2) enter into an agreement with Pima County, Arizona, to convey to Pima County a certain well site; and (3) relinquish to Pima County any water rights to such well site held by Las Cienegas Conservation,[...]

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Latest Action: 11/13/2007 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To designate as wilderness certain land within the Rocky Mountain National Park and to adjust the boundaries of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Arapaho National Recreation Area of the Arapaho National Forest in the State of Colorado. 5/15/2007--Introduced. Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness and Indian Peaks Wilderness Expansion Act - Designates certain lands in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, as the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness (the Wilderness) and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Provides for the inclusion of specified potential wilderness land within the Park in such Wilderness. Sets forth provisions: (1) governing continued operations at the Grand River Ditch; and (2) concerning water rights and permitted and prohibited activities within such Wilderness. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish an alignment line and identify the boundaries for the East Shore Trail within the East Shore Trail [...]

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Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-358.

Bill Text
A bill to designate as wilderness certain land within the Rocky Mountain National Park and to adjust the boundaries of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Arapaho National Recreation Area of the Arapaho National Forest in the State of Colorado. 5/14/2007--Introduced. Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness and Indian Peaks Wilderness Expansion Act - Designates certain lands in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, as the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness (the Wilderness) and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Provides for the inclusion of specified potential wilderness land within the Park in such Wilderness. Sets forth provisions: (1) governing continued operations at the Grand River Ditch; and (2) concerning water rights and permitted and prohibited activities within such Wilderness. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish an alignment line and identify the boundaries for the East Shore Trail within the East [...]

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