January 10, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 5 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 5
(Senate - January 10, 2019)
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[Pages S143-S144] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Ms. Harris): S. 93. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land and facilities of the Central Valley Project; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Contra Costa Canal Transfer Act, a bill that will assure the health and safety of the residents of Contra Costa County while also providing for the efficient delivery of water from the Bay Delta to the customers of the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD). Senator Harris is joining me in cosponsoring the bill, and I understand that Representatives Mark DeSaulnier, Jerry McNerney, and Mike Thompson are introducing a House companion measure today as well. I will be brief in explaining the reasons I support the bill, which I introduced with Senator Harris. The bill would transfer title to the Contra Costa Canal from the United States to Contra Costa Water District (``District''). The District has fully paid off [[Page S144]] the capital debt for constructing the canal, so it is financially reasonable to transfer the 48-mile long canal to it. There is no known opposition to the bill, and several good reasons to support it. The District would like to convert the existing open earthen canal to a closed pipe at an estimated cost to the district ratepayers of $650 million. The District understandably wants to take title to the facilities to have collateral for issuing bonds to cover the expense of the conversion. There are a number of good reasons to convert the existing canal to a pipe: First, 82 people have drowned in the earthen canal despite protective fencing in the 70 years since the Canal began operation. This is about a death per year on average, which would be completely prevented if the canal were converted into a pipe. Tragically, there was another drowning in the canal just last year. A second reason is water conservation. Drought is always an issue in California, and water is becoming more and more expensive. About 6% of the canal's water is lost through evaporation and seepage. A pipeline would eliminate these losses. A third reason is avoiding flood risk from the earthen canal. When the canal was built 70 years ago, much of the surrounding land was farming country, but more recently homes have been built around it. These homes are at risk from the types of floods that earthen canals periodically experience. Finally, the 70-year old canal is nearing the end of its lifespan and needs a major facility upgrade or replacement. Replacement with a pipeline is the best option, for all the reasons set forth above. Besides the advantages of the bill, there is no known opposition to it. The District has reached an MOU with East Bay Regional Parks District to continue the existing recreational uses of the adjoining parks it manages. In addition, the District has received letters of concurrence from the City Managers of Walnut Creek and Antioch regarding the smaller parks managed by the cities along the route of the existing canal. Like East Bay Regional Parks, these cities agree the bill would preserve the existing recreational uses of the adjoining lands. The bill would not just transfer title to Contra Costa Canal, but would also authorize the transfer of the Rock Slough intake and fish screen, one of Contra Costa's diversion points from the Delta. This transfer will not affect the applicability of the various biological opinions that apply to the facility. As I understand it, because the bill will not affect the environmental management of the canal, and because the District has paid off its capital debt, the environmental groups NRDC and the Defenders of Wildlife will not oppose the bill. In summary, this bill has no known opposition and good reasons to support. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Thank you, Mr. President, and I yield the floor. ______ By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Rounds): S. 100. A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer certain National Forest System land to Custer County, South Dakota; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 100 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Custer County Airport Conveyance Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) County.--The term ``County'' means Custer County, South Dakota. (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to approximately 65.7 acres of National Forest System land, as generally depicted on the map. (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Custer County Airport Conveyance'' and dated October 19, 2017. (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. SEC. 3. LAND CONVEYANCE. (a) In General.--Subject to the terms and conditions described in subsection (b), if the County submits to the Secretary an offer to acquire the Federal land for the market value, as determined by the appraisal under subsection (c), the Secretary shall convey the Federal land to the County. (b) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection (a) shall be-- (1) subject to valid existing rights; (2) made by quitclaim deed; and (3) subject to any other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. (c) Appraisal.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an appraisal to determine the market value of the Federal land. (2) Standards.--The appraisal under paragraph (1) shall be conducted in accordance with-- (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. (d) Map.-- (1) Availability of map.--The map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate office of the Forest Service. (2) Correction of errors.--The Secretary may correct any errors in the map. (e) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance under subsection (a), the County shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the market value of the Federal land, as determined by the appraisal under subsection (c). (f) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. (g) Costs of Conveyance.--As a condition on the conveyance under subsection (a), the County shall pay to the Secretary all costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of-- (1) the appraisal under subsection (c); and (2) the survey under subsection (f). (h) Proceeds From the Sale of Land.--Any proceeds received by the Secretary from the conveyance under subsection (a) shall be-- (1) deposited in the fund established under Public Law 90- 171 (commonly known as the ``Sisk Act'') (16 U.S.C. 484a); and (2) available to the Secretary until expended, without further appropriation, for the acquisition of inholdings in units of the National Forest System in the State of South Dakota. ____________________
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