Bills to Authorize Colorado River Storage Project Aug. 10, 1955

WILLIAM H. NELSON

WESTERN SLOPE EDITOR August 10, 1955

BILLS TO AUTHORIZE COLORADO RTVER STORAGE FROJEDT

Comparison of H.R.

3383

as repor.:.ed by Committee on Interior and I~sular Affairs Hith /mendmcnts with S. 500 as fussed by the S::rote

S. 500 as passed Dv Senate

S::DTIOlf 1 11 _{, •• the Congress, in the exercise of its}

cons.:.itutional authority to provide for the general welfare, to rcgulntc commerce among the Sto.tos and tr.i.th tho Indian tribes, and to m:tke all needful rules and regula-tions recpectine property belonging to the United $.;ates, and •••• ". See lines 5-9, page 1.

11 _{, , .commencing a proeram for utilization in} the Stntcs of the Upper 8:-.sin ••• 11_{• See lines}

3

and

4

on page

2

.

11

••• and for the improvement of n1vigation, • ••• 11• Soe lines

9

and 10, pogo

2

.

11

••• hereby authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (1) .• , 11_{, See lino 12, po.ge 2.}

H

.

R

.

3383

as Reported

Bv

Commit.:.ee

Struck from H.R.

3383

.

See lines 5-9, r,age 1.

11 _{• • • nnking it possible for the Stotes} of the U!JpOr fusin to utilize •.. 11_• See lines

1

and

2,

po.~e

2.

Omitted. See lines

7

and

8,

pago

2

.

" ••• the Secretary of tho Irter:i.or is hereby authorized (1) • , , 11_{• See lines}

9

and 10, page 2.

storage Uni ts /ruthori zed Curecanti, Echo Park, Flaming Gorge, Glen

Canyon, Juniper and N:wajo.

Language with r espcct to CUrccanti requires approval by Colorado Hater Conservation

!:bard. See lines

23-24,

page

2

.

Construc-tion of Curecanti and Jur~per connot be con-menccd until Secretary lllls ro-cXl1mined eco-nomic justifica.:.ion and certified in a sup-plemental report to Congress and the Presi-dent thnt the benefits exceed the costs. " ... benofi ts of each unit 1-1:i.ll exceed its costs .•• 11_{, See lines}

₅

_and

_6,

_page

₃

_.

Curec1nti, FlaminG Gor,:;e, llaw1jo (dmn and reservoir only), o.nd Glen Canyon.

Juniper omitted,

.\ppro~l of Coloro.do 'later Conserv:i.tion Board not mentioned.

Same requirements regarding economic justification of Curecanti.

11 _{• • • tho benef:i. ts of such unit tr.ill} exceed its cos.:.s.,. 11 • See lines 2 and 3, p,.'lgc 3,

S. 500 as po.ssed

By 3enate

H.R.

3383

as Raported

Bv

Committee Rlrticipating Proi ccts ,\ut.horized

1. Central Utah 2, Ehery County

3.

F1orida '" Gooseberry 5. Hnmmond 6, I.a Birge 7. ~ n 8, FO.onia

9, Pine River Mcnoion

10. Seedskadee 11. Silt

12. Smith Fork

13.

San. Juan Chama 14. ,!avajo 15. Fttrshall 16. Troublesome _ 7, fl:>. bbi t Ehr 18, foglc Divide 19, l/oody Creek 20. !lest Divide 21. 81.uestono 22. B1 t~lernent ih&'.l.

23.

Tomichi Creek 24. :list River 25, Ohio Creek 26, Fruitland :esa 27. fustuick Pnrk 28. Grand Mesa 29. D:tllas Creek JO, Savery-?ot Hook 3L Dolores

32.

Fruit Growers Fl,ctension

33

.

Sublette

J\11 Po.rticipating Projects aut.horizcd sub-ject to re-exo.mirntion by the Socretary and certification in forn of a supplement.al re-port of their economic justification and ability to meet financial rcimbursability

requirements outlined in bill. Houcver, see last paragraph under hmding, Flood Control lict, on next page.

1.

2

.

3

,

4

,

5

,

6

,

7

.

8

.

9,

10. 11. Contretl Utah :Jnery County Florida !1.2.mrnond L.1. lhrge I;ym:ln fuonio

Pine River Extension

Secdslmdee Silt

Smith Fork

Supplemental Reports Construction of Projects 1-33 subject to

re-examination of economic justification by

Sec-retary and certification in supplemental re-ports by Secretary to Congress that benefits

of each project exceed its costs, that finan-cial roimbursability requirements of Sec. 4

See Section 2 below.

l·,I,,( -2

-s

.

500

us passed

Sv

Senato

-

3-H

.

R

.

3383

'.\S

Reported

By

Corunittee

Supnlemento.l Reports

(Continued)

co.n

by

mot.

Direct nr,ricul turo.l

ben0-fits nust be ro

-

opproiscd after consulta

-tion

uith Secretory of .'lgriculture; non

-diroct bene

f

its must be re

-

evaluated;

o

l

loc:,tions of tow.l cost of construction

to

poue

r,

irrigation

,

mun

ici

pal wute

r,

flood contro

l,

ond navigation must be

shoim. See

l

i

nes

20-25,

p:i,;o

3

and

lines

1-14,

pa;e

4

,

Flood

Control

.'.ct of

1944

Not o.pplicob

l

c to supplomcnto.l reports

for po.rt

i

c

i

pat

i

ng projects

1-12

o.bove

.

See lines

1

-

3,

pn3c

5

.

Appropriations for and construction of

participating projects

13-

33

sutjoct to

complinnco

ui

th

Flood

Control .',ct of

1944

and ap

p

roval :md authorization

by

.

let of Congress

.

Soc lines

4

-

17,

po.ge

5

.

SEX::l'ION

2.

Docl.'.\ros

i

t

is not

i

ntent of Cong

r

ess in

authorizing only those project::i designated

in

:icction

l

to l

i

:nit

,

restrict, o

r int

e

r-fere 1Tith comprehensive development

•••

nor

to

preclude

consideration and o.ucho

riza-tion of addiriza-tional projects in future o.s

o.dd

i

tion~l needs arc indicated

.

Seo Section

2

below

.

Declo.res

it

is not intent of Congre

ss

in

authorizing only those projects

designated in Section

1

and in

authori

z-ing

prioritv in plc.nnin"?

projects desig

-no.tcd

i

n Sect

i

on

2 to limit,

restrict

,

or interfere with conprchensive develo

p-ment

••••

, nor

to preclude

c

ons

id

ero.tio

n

.1nd au"Gh

o

rizo.tion of :i.dditionnl

pro

-jects in ~uture

us

o.uditiono

l

needs

a.re

indic.1."sed

.

See SECTION

3

of'H

.

R

~

3S83,

lin

es

11

-

23,

p,lfle

6

.

Progrumminp Section

Gives priority to completion o

f

plnnning

reports on the

follm1ing

r,art

ici

pnt

ing

projects

:

1.

Gooseberry

2. S:in

Juan

-

C.liam:t

3

.

Navajo

.!.·

,j.

500

.'.\S JX.\SSCd I'. .J::r:..t Le.:

r / t !.,l1,t ,~;

. .,_.. :_ .. n:.ci _{.,}. fed or::.l Roolr:uno,}

-2. Cor;:.r:1cts • .>rovido for r·epa.yment of i_ .. r::..;1 tior. o b:i ·'.:1 ~ion in 50 years.

.;:o Lnc 25, p:.lJC 7, o.nd l.ines

1-5,

pr.go 8.

3. Rc;xtyr:cnt conti·,'.tcts must be nnde 1,i th

'1.; ., • ..;c.niz.'.ltion" that can levy o.s

-.sossmcnts~

H.R.

3383

ns Reported

ey:

Co:maj."t'"'t'"'e'"'e'----~C1·"""'"'ll:1.rnlnr: ... ;oct·· :::>n (Concinucd) 5. Troubl esomo

6

.

Ro.bbit Ear 7. !!hgle lli. vidc 8. \·1oody Crock

9.

:lest Di vi:lo 10. Bluestono 11. B:tttlem.Jnt i;c:;n 12, To1J1.iehi Crock lJ. rhst River ll,, Ohio Creek

15.

Frui tlo.n<l Hoso.

16. Bost1-nck 1'0.rk 17. Gmnd Mosa

18. DJ.ll.'.\s Crock

19. Sa.vcry-?ot Hook 20. Doleree

21. Fruit nrot.icr:; :.":tcns~on 22. /Lllirr.'.ts··l:.\ 21,ita

23. Sublette

:VG

-

1,-Reports for all of above 23 proi,..ets mu~~ be submitted to a:'foctcd st:. tcs, Pr:osi-dcnt, o.nd Congress,

Pr paro.tion of det::rl. lcd designs o.nd specific.'.ltions sho.11 be c.'.\rried as far forl.'nrd as investi1:ptior.s indico.te is rcnsonnblc.

L

Sec SI!)'.;l'IQN I.. of li.!l, 3383 • S:1mo.

2, Irri•mtio:1 rO,£L'"1Cnt contrne!,s to provide for r~p.--iYJ'lcnt of oCligo.tion :.1ssu.c.1od in 50 yrors. See lines 6-11,

page 7 for lnn•;uagc details, (See.4).

S.

500

us pnssod

By

Sen1to

4

,

Contracts rcluting to nu.'licipo.l 1JUtor not subject to lo.st sentence of Sec.

9

(c) of Roclarotion _\ct of

1939

,

5

,

Indian I.ands subject co r..o.ivitt Act.

6

.

,Ul units a.nd projects sc.bject to

Color.ido River Compact, Upper

Colo-rodo River B:o.sin Compo.co, l lcxico.n

'l'rooty.

(a) Cre.ites Upper Color.do River Ehsin Fund. (b) ,'tppropria tions credited to BJ.sin Fund

and such funds shall be o. voilu ble for ex -pendi turos 11ithin tho li::iiLc.tions of the provisions of this .,ct. See lines

9-

14,

page

9

,

(e) R.:;vonues collected in operation and main-tenance credited to Jhsin Fund o.nd avoil -o.ole without r·urther oppropriation for:

1

.

0

& M o.nd emergency cxpcndi tures within limitntions of onnu.,.l o.p-proprio.~ion o.cts.

(d) Revenues in B:\sin Fund in excess of O C: M needs paid to r;cnero.l fund of Treasury to return

-2. Costs allocated to pouor and m· .1ni-cipo.l 1r.:1ter in

50

ywrs from date of completion; interest on

urnmor-tizod t;,lance of investment in

power and municipal 1.c.ter foasures;

costs allocated to irrieation

with-in

50

yoors.

4

.

Some_

5

.

3:uno.

6

.

3:J.mc.

H

.

R.

3383

OS Roportcd ',v Com.ri.ttoe IV0

-

5

-Decla!"es i t is n~t the intention of Congress by its mr:horizations of .:ioc -tion 1 und its autJ or.:.zing Driority of Section 2 to preclude consideration of additionol project; in tho future. See

lines

11-23,

page 6,

Soc SEx::"'ION 5 of H. R. J

.383

,

(a) So.me.

(b) &tme except cl'luse "o.nd such funds shall be o.v:1.ilo.hlc for expenditures within the limitacions of the pro -visions of shi::i Act" is olimina ted.

Sec Section

5

(b}

.

(c) So.mo. Soc Section 5 (c).

(d} Sec Section 5 (d}. Revenues in !hsin Fund in excess of O & M needs paid

to g,ncral fund of Treasury to

return

-2, Costs allocated to power within

a period of yc..'lrs and not ex-ceeding tho expected economic life but not to exceed

100

years; costs allocated to muni -cipal wo. scr in 50 years, interest

on unamortized balance of in

-vestment in power and municipal

water feo.turC3s; costs allocated to irrieotion in equal :mnunl

S

.

500

ns passed

By Senato

3

.

Po.ymcnt of reimbursable construc

-tion costs of P:tonia Project tho.t

nrc

beyond

n

bility of \il".ter users to repay.

4

,

P:tyment

in

connection Hith irri

-gni;ion features of !lien Project,

5

.

Revenues cre:di tcd tc: 8:isin :Fund

not av:iilablc for cons~ruction of

units or rarticipatins projects.

,\fter full rcp.'\yn:ont such revenue

sh'.l.11 be available for cxpcmdi

-tures within tho Colo:·~.do Ri vcr

Blsin as may hereafter be author

-iz:rl by Con:Ircss. Sec lines 12-16,

page

10

.

(c) Interest rate determined by Secretary

of Treasury nt time first nd·,nnce is

m1do on basis of average yield on lone

-term m1rkc1,11blc public debt obligai;ior.s of U. S.

(f) Provides for nnnunl business-type budccts

to be submitted to Conercss,

H.R. 3383 os Reported

Bv Co111_c1it too

3

.

Same. Sec Section

5

(c).

4

,

S1me. Sec Scction·-5 {c).

lvG

-

6

-5. Revenues crodi ted to Bl sin Fund

not ovailable for construction

of uni ts or rnrticipa. ting proj ccts.

The use of revenues accruing

to t.ho B·.sin Fund after full

rcpoymont to the U. S. is not

defined,

(e} S..1.mc. See Section

5

(e).

(f) Samo. Sec Section 5 (f).

SFCTIOII

5

l , Arter completion of each :.init, partici

-pating project or sepo.rnble fo..'\ture Sec

-retary sho.11 allocate total costs (ex

-cluding rc.cr,:=.tion co3ts) ':o power, ir

-rig:iticn, n~±.ci;'\l i..'1.~cr, flood ccni;rol

myi~;~ion, of' -DY otr,,.::- ·,ur.ioscs uuth

-oriz..,u undur rcc!'.lrntion 1:nr.

2. ,Uloca t.ions of cor.s truction ~.nd O & M

costs to non-rcimour·iable purposes

arc non-returnable;.

3

.

Secretary mur;t m.1.kc r::iport to Congress

on January 1 of C'.J.Ch yeor upon status of revenuos, Fcder1l invcstmcn"t in poue1·, irrigr>. tlon, progress of repay

-ment, etc.

Soc S.Er:TIOIJ 6 of H. R. 3383.

1. Same,

2. S:lme.

S. 500

as

passod

Ry Seno.te

SECT!Oll

6

1. Hydroelectric power plants and trctns-mis::;ion lines sroll be opera tcd by

3ce-rot:i.ry in conjunction with other Federal

power plants so :10 to produce greatest

practicable amount of fir~ power. 2. Exercise of authority by t;10 Sccreta.ry

sho.11 not affect or lnt.crfcro 1Ji t.h uro-visions of Colorado Ri vcr Compact, Up-per Colorado .River lhsin Conpact, or Blulder C-inyon F\.·oj ect Act.

Provides for public rccr0c.tionnl fo.cili

-tics in connection 11i th stom,;e uni ts :ind ;Xlrticipo.ting projects. Costs of rocrent.ionnl facilities arc to be non-rcimbursnble and non-rcturn:itlc.

SECTIO'.f 8

To be no conflict witl1 :iny n!'OVi3.ion of

Boulder Cnnyon Proj oct :,ct, Bluldcr Cc.nyon

Project _(dj.ustmcnt .'.c.;, ColoraJo !liver

Comr,act, Upper Color:tdo Ri. vcr fu:3in Com-po.ct, Rio Gr·ando Compnct, !~cxican Trca ty.

s

EC

non

2

Expcndi tur ·s for F1:i.r:ri.ni; Gcr.~c, Glen Canyon, Juniper, N:t~.jo, o.nd "1::ho Fnrk not ::;ubject to soil survey nnd hnd

clas:;i.f'icn ion rcc~t:.ircnicnts of Interior

Dcpo.rtmont ;,pproprio. don .',ct, 1954.

H

.R

.

3383 as Reported

Ey Ccr..mi t cc

Seo SECTION 7 of H.ll. 3383,

IVG

-7

-1. Sano except ":ind tranm:i.ission lines" omitted.

2. .$:ir.o except Bouldc,· C:myon Proj cot

!lco.dju:,t.ment Act 1nd cc:ntro.cts ontcnxl into under such 1cts a.re

also included. Soc lines 16-19,

po.go 12.

3. Impounding 1ncl •,sc of 1.u t.::r for poucr gcner:.i.tion ,:;h::i.11 not pre

-clude or impair a.ppropri.itions for domc:;-;;ic or agr'..cac.turnl purposes.

Seo

lines 19-24,

,,~~o

12.

Sec

SECTION

8 of

H

.

R

.

3383.

Sn.no - Except. oord ";i'or•• a.fter "provided II in line 8, page 14, of S.500 is omitted in lino 16, p:tgo 13 of

H

.

R

.

3383.

SOu SECTION 9 of H. R.

3

383. So.me.

Joo SECTIO!I 10 of

li

.

n

.

3383,

Soil survey ~nd land cla.ssificntion

requirements of fatcrior i)opartment

_·_ppropri:tcion

:..a.,

195/, not to apply

lo cxp,:mdHures for Plcminrr Gorge, Glen C.onyon, ;-1:iva.jo 0.1,d Curecanti W1its.

s

.

500

us p..1.sscd __!:l::l Sena to

SE.C1'IOI1

10

Authorizes apprcpri:\,:;ion of such

sums us

nay be r-equired to ~rry out the ,,urposcs of the .\ct.

SECTIOH 11

.'.gcncies of cJ. S. 1.uthorized to ccnvey to cit• and county of ~nver for llile - s '.l. pD-rt of its munici!)C\lly o\mod '.ntor syster.1 interests in 10.1,cl :mcl 110. tor eights used or acquired by the

U

.

S

.

solely for gencr1tion of pouer and other ·,roperty cf the U. 3. ,'.\S shc.11 be required in <ievolopment of its Blue Ri vcr proj cct, upon po.yncnt by Den -ver for such interests at value 1.t time of acquisition.

(l) Secreb.ry directed to con9ly '.r.i. th pro

-visions of Colorado Ri vor CompD-ct, U.,-pcr Colorado Ri vcr Ihsin Compact, Boul

-der Canyon Project ·.ct, ioulder C.1nyon Project ,:djustment .'.ct, l :C·<ican Trc:ity in storage and release oc waters from reservoirs in Color1do River B::cin,

(2) If Secretary docs not comply 'lny stnte can Til'.l.int1in an action in U. S. Supreme Court ei thcr on its 01m b~!:1'111' or o s

porcns patriuc. See lines

6

-

7,

!"lge 16.

(J) U. S. •,mi vcr of ir.unun::. ty from suit.

H.R. 3383 us Reported

Bv Cor.:nittee

Sec SEDTION 12 of :!. R. 3383.

IVG

-

8

-;.uthoriz:-s uppropriation of such

sums

as

rMY

be required to cnrry out the purposes of this .ct but not to exceed

·:760 ,000,000.

See sw:ro:113 of

H.R

.

3383

( .}cpl:nu ti on bclou under Sec. 13) Sectior 11 of H. R. 33J3 provides that construction of p,•ojccts authorized shall p.·occcd w rapidly us is consietent

ui th t·..1ctgccnry requi-remcnts and tho econonic needs of the country.

Sec S.EX;TIOH 15 of Il. R. 3383.

(1) S?.::ic except !J?pcr Colorado River Bl.sin Comi:nct omitted.

Sec lines

4

-

7,

pa~c 16,

( 2) S-:.,,,e except "ci ther on its own bcha.lf or 'J.S

:n

rcn!> 1:>0.tria.0° is

S. 500 o.s p:tsscd frv Sc:n'l te

(4) No right to i:tpound or u,:;c w1ter for

-::1c

generation ,f pc, .. 'cr or (,.:-ncr.zy, croutcd

er cstatlishcd by the building, opor1

-tior. or use of :my of the powerplo.nts ::t uthori zed 'cy this .,ct , ~h::tll be d eenod

to ho.ve priority over or 0thcrwise op<Jr::tte to preclude or i,.:]X1ir any use, rego.rdlcss of .he dntc of origin of such use, of the •.-r..tcr= of .ho Colondo

Fi vcr Sys ten for donostic or o.gricul tur1.l

purposes. Seo lines 9-17, ~o.ge 16.

(5) Sets up r,n Intcgr::ttin₅ Cornittoe with

which Sccroi:;o.ry sh11l cor,stll t in

pro-gr1.nming storage ... nd i:-clo~so of w1tcrs.

H

.

R,

338

3 o.s Reported Bv Co".1T.:i ttce

(4)

Noithci:- the inroun1ing nor the use

cf' u2...:.cr for t.I-1r-- gcncro.tion of pov1er o.nd energy 1.t tho plants of the

Color:·do River Stcr'.'.GC Pr:ijeci:; sho.11

preclude or i~pc'lir the oporoprio.tion

for Jonostio or D.Jrioulturo.l pur

-poses, purs,11.nt to '1pplic~blc St::tte

hw,

of water :i.pi;:o:·tionod to the

S t1 } : os of the Uppor Color-,do River

Eb.sin. Sec Sc,c. 7, lines 19-24,

p'.1,;;C 12.

(5) Ooittcd,

Section 12 of

R

.

R

.

JJSJ

'.IUthoirz_cs

,:tppropriaticn or such suns ,'ls m::iy. be

roqtli>"ed to ~o.rry cut the purposes

of this :.ct but not to exceGd

$760, 00_0, 000.

SJ,X;TIO!t 13 Definitions

SCJC3 S.,c, 11 of S, 500,

!lone.

Sec Section 17 of

H

.

1. 338:J

which is

t.hc s~.no except "lcfini tion of torn 11_{0ccnoP.:iC lifc11 is :tddod.}

Sucret::try of wtcricr dir'octed to nego

-ti'.lto uith City o.nd County of Denver,

Color~do or o.ny other :::unicip::ility or

govornr1ont1l sucdi vision of Colorado on

proco:iurc for :rnd frosibili ty of a pro

-gr'1n ttHch would .:iuthorizc Secret1ry to

convey t.o [x,r.vcr or any other govern

-rccmt.:il su'cdivision of Colon-lo, for uso

as '.\ pc"'.rt of .:.ts f.ll.lrlicip1lly 01..med

w:-.tcr system, such interests in l::inds

and 1.n ter ri 1hts use· or acquired by the

U.S. sol oly for the gencmtion of power,

nnJ other property as sh:tll be required

in co•mcction 1_{.1i th the development or}

use of nunicip'11 water :iystcr1s. The

Sec-rct,:try shall report his findings and

rccou,:ondations to Congress by Mirch l ,

1956, alld sho.Jl rccorncnd 'l fornula ·

govorr ing the cho.rtos ·;o be r.udc for

o.ny such conveyance.

S FCTION 14 of H. R. , 383

In pbnr.ing :tddi cion,l developnc.mt of

the •.1'1tcr rcso~1rccs of the Upper Colo

-rado !ti ver B"sin and .:.n using crcdi ts

fron not power rcvcnuos for partici

-pating ?l'Ojects in ths Up~er Division

St.ates the Socrci:;ary sh'1ll h'.lve regard

...

Nono. • Nono. Nono, S, 500 '.J.S p.'"tSSGd Bv Scn1te

H

.

R

.

3383

ns Reported 3v CoJ"'J:ri.ttcc

IVG

-10

-1chiovcncnt within c,.'"leh of s\.ch Stat os of ;;ho fullest n~~.c ticable consimpti ve ·.isc of the unters consi::;tont 11i th the 1pportionncnt i:hcreof '"lnong :,uch States . .SEX:l'ION 15 of H, R. 3383

SI.X;TION 16 of !!. R, 3383

Directs 5ecret:lry of Interior 1.0

institu;;e studios and report to Congress :.nci 3~'"l tes of the Color-ido Ri vcr !hsin of tho c£'fect upon the qti'"llity of water of oll tr1nsmot:nt1in <livcrsions of wo.ter .s.nd of ~.11 other 3tom,'c 1nd recl-imtion projects in tho Colorado River ~asin. SECTION 17 of l!.R. 3383

Definitions - 3,~c 1s Section lJ of

S

.

500

except dcfini tion o: "economic life" is adJcd,