,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dcjj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #bf1 #bjad ,mr4 ,la,malfa 7for himself and ,mr4 ,garamendi7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior to take actions to support non-,federal investments in water infrastructure improvements in the ,sacramento ,valley1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,sacramento ,valley ,water ,storage and ,restoration ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,state of ,california and much of the ,west are experiencing one of the driest years on record1 exacerbating water supply problems caused by a lack of surface water storage infrastructure4 ,the drought conditions have caused reductions in water supplies to almost all water users in the ,state4 7#b7 ,the ,sites ,project has been identified by the ,state of ,california and the ,federal ,government as an important component to integrated water management in the ,sacramento ,valley that would advance the co-equal objectives of improving water management and restoring ecological health for beneficial uses of the ,sacramento-,san ,joaquin ,delta and the ,sacramento ,river watershed4 7#c7 ,among other things1 the ,sites ,project would-- 7,a7 increase surface water storage to enhance water management flexibility in the ,sacramento ,valley2 7,b7 provide flood control benefits2 7,c7 improve conditions for fish1 waterfowl1 and wildlife in the ,sacramento ,valley1 including anadromous fish in the ,sacramento ,river2 and 7,d7 improve the operation of the ,state's water system to provide improvements in ecosystem and water quality conditions in the ,bay-,delta while providing a more reliable water supply for the ,state of ,california4 7#d7 ,the ,sites ,project has been shown to provide approximately #a1cjj1jjj of additional yield when the ,sites ,project is integrated into the operations of other ,state and ,federal reservoirs upstream of the ,bay-,delta4 7#e7 ,healthy wetlands are of vital importance to wildlife in ,california and require a reliable supply of water1 and additional surface water storage can help meet water supply goals under the ,central ,valley ,project ,improvement ,act4 7#f7 ,it is in the interests of the ,united ,states for the ,federal ,government to work with the ,sites ,project ,authority1 which has been established under laws of the ,state of ,california as an independent joint powers authority to1 among other things1 study1 promote1 develop1 design1 finance1 acquire1 construct1 manage1 and operate ,sites ,reservoir and related facilities1 in order to advance the ,sites ,project in the most expeditious and cost-effective manner possible4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#b7 ,commissioner ,the term ,commissioner means the ,commissioner of the ,bureau of ,reclamation4 7#c7 ,bureau ,the term ,bureau means the ,bureau of ,reclamation4 7#d7 ,authority ,the term ,authority means the ,sites ,project ,authority that entered into a ,joint ,powers ,agreement on ,august #bf1 #bjaj1 for the purpose of advancing the ,sites ,project as a non-,federal facility and includes ,glenn-,colusa ,irrigation ,district1 ,reclamation ,district #ajh1 the ,tehama-,colusa ,canal ,authority1 ,maxwell ,irrigation ,district1 the ,county of ,glenn1 the ,county of ,colusa and ,yolo ,county ,flood ,control and ,water ,conservation ,district4 7#e7 ,sites project ,the term ,sites ,project means the ,sites ,reservoir in ,glenn and ,colusa ,counties1 ,california1 and related facilities1 including associated water conveyance and hydropower generation and transmission facilities4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means the ,state of ,california4 7#g7 ,central valley project ,the term ,central ,valley ,project means all ,federal reclamation projects located within or diverting water from or to the watershed of the ,sacramento and ,san ,joaquin rivers and their tributaries as authorized by the ,act of ,august #bf1 #aicg 7#ej ,stat4 #hej71 and all ,acts amendatory or supplemental thereto1 including but not limited to the ,act of ,october #ag1 #aidj 7#ed ,stat4 #aaih1 #aaii71 ,act of ,december #bb1 #aidd 7#eh ,stat4 #hhg71 ,act of ,october #ad1 #aidi 7#fc ,stat4 #heb71 ,act of ,september #bf1 #aiej 7#fd ,stat4 #ajcf71 ,act of ,august #bg1 #aied 7#fh ,stat4 #hgi71 ,act of ,august #ab1 #aiee 7#fi ,stat4 #gai71 ,act of ,june #c1 #aifj 7#gd ,stat4 #aef71 ,act of ,october #bc1 #aifb 7#gf ,stat4 #aagc71 ,act of ,september #b1 #aife 7#gi ,stat4 #fae71 ,act of ,august #ai1 #aifg 7#ha ,stat4 #afg71 ,act of ,august #bg1 #aifg 7#ha ,stat4 #agc71 ,act of ,october #bc1 #aigj 7#hd ,stat4 #ajig71 ,act of ,september #bh1 #aigf 7#ij ,stat4 #acbd7 and ,act of ,october #bg1 #aihf 7#ajj ,stat4 #cjej74 7#h7 ,repayment and water service contracts ,the terms repayment contract and water service contract have the same meaning as provided in sections #i7;d7 and #i7;e7 of the ,reclamation ,project ,act of #aici 7#ec ,stat4 #aahg1 #aaie71 as amended4 #d4 ,feasibility study and environmental impact statement 7a7 ,feasibility study ,no later than ,june #cj1 #bjae1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,bureau1 shall finalize and publish in the ,federal ,register1 the feasibility study authorized in section #ajc7;d77#a77;i77,,ii7 of title ,i of ,public ,law #ajh-cfa4 7b7 ,environmental impact statement and environmental impact report ,no later than ,june #cj1 #bjae1 the ,secretary shall work with the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,army ,corps of ,engineers and the ,environmental ,protection ,agency ,administrator to coordinate the efforts of the relevant agencies and work with the ,state1 the ,authority1 and other stakeholders to complete and issue the final joint environmental impact statement and environmental impact report on the ,sites ,project4 7c7 ,availability of documents ,the ,secretary shall ensure that all documents associated with the preparation of planning and feasibility studies and applicable environmental reviews under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act for the ,sites ,project shall be made available to the ,authority4 7d7 ,financial assistance and other agreements ,to assist the ,secretary in meeting the deadlines for completing the feasibility study and environmental impact statement identified in this section1 no later than #ij days following enactment1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,bureau1 shall enter into such agreements with the ,authority1 including financial assistance agreements1 to carry out such work as the ,bureau and the ,authority mutually agree is appropriate to ensure that all studies and environmental reviews are completed on an expeditious basis and that the shortest applicable process under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act shall be utilized1 including in the completion of the final feasibility study and final joint environmental impact statement and environmental impact report on the ,sites ,project4 7e7 ,non-,federal cost-,share ,the ,secretary shall attribute all funds expended1 or in-kind services provided1 by the ,authority or the ,state to advance the ,sites ,project1 including the #db1cgi1iii in non-,federal funds provided to the ,north-of-,delta ,offstream ,storage ,feasibility ,study reflected in the ,bureau's fiscal year #bjae ,budget ,justification1 to the non-,federal share of cost-share requirements for any ,federal support provided to the ,sites ,project4 7f7 ,requirements of existing law ,nothing in the section herein modifies existing requirements of ,federal law4 #e4 ,construction 7a7 ,authorization of construction ,section #ajc7;d77#a77;,b7 of title ,i of ,public ,law #ajh-cfa 7the ,calfed ,bay-,delta ,authorization ,act1 #aah ,stat4 #afha7 is amended by-- 7#a7 adding after clause 7i7 the following3 7ii7 ,construction authorization ,if the ,secretary determines the project described in clause 7ii77,i7 of subparagraph 7,a7 is feasible1 the ,secretary is authorized to carry out the project in a manner that is substantially in accordance with the recommended plan1 and subject to the conditions described in the feasibility study4 2 7#b7 striking in clause 7iii71 the project and inserting a project described in clause 7ii77,i7 of subparagraph 7,a72 and 7#c7 redesignating clause 7ii7 and 7iii7 as clause 7iii7 and 7iv71 respectively4 7b7 ,project partnership agreements ,at the request of the ,authority1 the ,bureau shall-- 7#a7 enter into a project partnership agreement with the ,authority for the ,authority to provide full project management control for construction of the ,sites ,project1 or a separable element of the project1 in accordance with plans approved by the ,secretary2 and 7#b7 following execution of the project partnership agreement1 transfer to the ,authority interest to carry out construction of the project1 or a separable element of the project-- 7,a7 if applicable1 the balance of the unobligated amounts appropriated for the ,sites ,project1 except that the ,secretary shall retain sufficient amounts for the ,bureau to carry out any responsibilities of the ,bureau relating to the project2 and 7,b7 additional amounts1 as determined by the ,secretary1 from amounts made available to the ,secretary1 except that the total amount transferred to the non-,federal interest shall not exceed the updated estimate of the ,federal share of the cost of construction1 including any required design4 7c7 ,detailed project schedule ,not later than #ahj days after entering into a ,project ,partnership agreement1 the ,authority1 to the maximum extent practicable1 shall submit to the ,secretary a detailed project schedule1 based on estimated funding levels1 that lists all deadlines for each milestone in the construction of the project4 7d7 ,administration ,all laws and regulations that would apply to the ,secretary if the ,secretary were carrying out the project shall apply to ,authority1 if the ,authority enters into an agreement with the ,secretary to carry out the project under this section4 #f4 ,non-,federal project 7a7 ,in general ,at any time1 notwithstanding any other provision of this ,act1 if the ,commissioner determines and the ,secretary concurs1 that the ,sites ,project can be expedited by the ,authority as a non-,federal project1 and that there is a demonstrable ,federal interest for the ,sites ,project to be constructed and operated as a non-,federal project1 the ,bureau is authorized and directed to take any and all actions possible to advance the ,sites ,project as a non-,federal project1 including1 but not limited to1 entering into cost-shared financial assistance agreements with the ,authority to support construction of the ,sites ,project as a non-,federal project4 7b7 ,title2 operations and maintenance ,the ,authority shall hold title to all facilities constructed under this section1 and shall be solely responsible for the operation and maintenance costs of such facilities4 7c7 ,federal reviews and permits ,the ,bureau shall be the lead ,federal agency for the purposes of all ,federal reviews1 analyses1 opinions1 statements1 permits1 licenses1 or other approvals or decisions required under ,federal law to allow the ,authority to construct the ,sites ,project as a non-,federal project4 7d7 ,coordinated operations ,the ,secretary of the ,interior is authorized and directed to execute and implement a long-term agreement between the ,united ,states of ,america and the ,authority that shall provide for the coordination of operations of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,sites ,project to-- 7#a7 satisfy any contracts entered into in subsection 7e7 of this ,act2 7#b7 help meet any unmet needs for ,sacramento ,valley in-basin water uses2 7#c7 help meet any unmet needs of existing ,central ,valley ,project repayment and water service contracts2 and 7#d7 ensure that any surplus water supplies from the ,sites ,project are put to full and beneficial use4 7e7 ,contracts ,the ,secretary is authorized to enter into long-term contracts with the ,authority to acquire water supplies made available from the ,sites ,project for the purposes of meeting the requirements section #cdjf7;b77#c7 and section #cdjh7;j7 of ,public ,law #ajb-ege1 the ,central ,valley ,project ,improvement ,act1 and such other purposes as the ,secretary may deem appropriate4 #g4 ,environmental review and permitting ,with respect to the ,sites ,project1 the ,bureau shall-- 7#a7 be the lead ,federal agency for the purposes of all ,federal reviews1 analyses1 opinions1 statements1 permits1 licenses1 or other approvals or decisions required under ,federal law to allow either the ,bureau or the ,authority to construct the ,sites ,project1 including all requirements under-- 7,a7 the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 7,b7 the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq472 and 7,c7 any other ,federal law applicable to the construction of the ,sites ,project facilities by the ,bureau or the ,authority2 and 7#b7 take such steps as are necessary to ensure that all ,federal reviews1 analyses1 opinions1 statements1 permits1 licenses1 or other approvals or decisions required under ,federal law to allow either the ,bureau or the ,authority to construct the ,sites ,project are completed on an expeditious basis and utilize the shortest applicable process4 #h4 ,power generation 7a7 ,purchase or market power ,the ,secretary of ,energy1 acting through the ,western ,area ,power ,administration1 shall determine no later than ,june #cj1 #bjae1 if there is a ,federal interest in-- 7#a7 providing power to the ,sites ,project2 and 7#b7 purchasing and marketing the power produced by the ,sites ,project4 7b7 ,authorization ,to provide1 market and purchase power ,if the ,secretary of ,energy determines there is a ,federal interest in providing power to1 and purchasing and marketing power from1 the ,sites ,project1 the ,secretary of ,energy is authorized and directed to take such actions as are necessary to support that determination4 7c7 ,permit lead and marketing of power if western area power administration forgoes participation in the sites project ,if the ,sites ,project is constructed as a non-,federal project by the ,authority and the ,secretary of ,energy determines that there is no ,federal interest in the ,western ,area ,power ,administration managing power provided to or emanating from the ,sites ,project1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,bureau1 is authorized and directed to provide such support as is necessary to enable the ,authority market the energy produced by the ,sites ,project1 including securing all permits associated with managing power used and produced by the ,sites ,project4 7d7 ,delivery and management of water ,nothing in this subsection shall alter or impede the delivery and management of water1 as water used for hydropower generation shall be deemed incidental to uses of water for which the ,sites ,project is intended to serve4 #i4 ,compliance with environmental laws ,nothing in this ,act modifies or alters any obligations under-- 7#a7 the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 or 7#b7 the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq474 #aj4 ,savings clause ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to preempt any existing ,state law1 including but not limited to area of origin and other water rights protections4