{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr3281-115/featured_reclamation-title-transfer-and-non-federal-infrastructure-incentivization-act-1531354909.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr3281-115/featured_large_reclamation-title-transfer-and-non-federal-infrastructure-incentivization-act-1531354909.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr3281-115.png"},"introduced_on":"2017-07-18","title_override":"Should it be Easier to Transfer Certain Federally-Operated Water Projects to Local Control?","summary_override":"

This bill would streamline the Dept. of the Interior’s (DOI) process for transferring the ownership of certain eligible reclamation projects (like dams, reservoirs, or canals) to states, a joint action or powers agency, a water users association, or an Indian tribe or tribal utility authority which have the capacity to continue managing the property. The DOI would have to notify Congress of proposed conveyances at least 90 days in advance and could execute the transfer if Congress doesn’t pass a joint resolution of disapproval. Facilities generating hydropower marketed by a power marketing administration wouldn’t be eligible for conveyance, and no conveyance could adversely impact power rates or repayment obligations.

The following criteria would be used to determine whether facilities are eligible for title transfer:

The transfer will not have an unmitigated significant effect on the environment;
The qualifying entity intends to use the property for substantially the same purposes the property is being used for at the time DOI evaluates the potential transfer;
The qualifying entity agrees to provide the U.S. the equivalent of the present value of any repayment obligation or other income stream the U.S. derives from the assets.

DOI would be required to submit a description of actions taken to implement this bill along with a list of conveyances made as part of its annual budget submission to Congress.

","official_title":"To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to facilitate the transfer to non-Federal ownership of appropriate reclamation projects or facilities, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)\n\nReclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act\n\n(Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to convey U.S. interest in an eligible reclamation project or facility to an agency of a state political subdivision, a joint action or powers agency, a water users association, or an Indian tribe or tribal utility authority that holds a water service contract for such property and that has the capacity to continue to manage the property for the same purposes for which it has been managed under reclamation law, if: (1) Interior notifies Congress in writing of the proposed conveyance at least 90 days in advance, and (2) Congress does not pass a joint resolution disapproving the conveyance. A facility that generates hydropower marketed by a power marketing administration shall not be eligible for such conveyance.\n\nAn enti...","summarized":true,"cost":1000000,"cost_commentary":"The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost about $1 million over the 2017-2022 period.","impact":"States, tribes, water boards, and power agencies; eligible dams or canals operated by the Bureau of Reclamation; and the DOI.","argument_for":"Transferring dams and reservoirs to local operators — be they states, tribes, or local water boards — is a win-win: it promotes non-federal investment in water infrastructure and more efficient management of water resources, while also reducing federal liabilities.","argument_against":"This bill encourages the irresponsible privatization of valuable federal assets, such as dams and reservoirs, while weakening congressional oversight and limiting public input in the decision-making process. 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Should it be Easier to Transfer Certain Federally-Operated Water Projects to Local Control?