Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

1524

SAN LUIS UNIT, CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT

An act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct the San Luis unit of the Central Valley project, California, to enter into an agreement with the State of California with respect to the construction and operation of such unit, and for other purposes. (Act of June 3, 1960, Public Law 86-488, 74 Stat. 156)

[Sec. 1. (a) San Luis Unit authorized-Restrictions on construction of Federal electric transmission or distribution facilities-Joint use facilities with State of California-Conditions precedent to construction-State responsibility.]-For the principal purpose of furnishing water for the irrigation of approximately five hundred thousand acres of land in Merced, Fresno, and Kings Counties, California, hereinafter referred to as the Federal San Luis unit service area, and as incidents thereto of furnishing water for municipal and domestic use and providing recreation and fish and wildlife benefits, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) is authorized to construct, operate, and maintain the San Luis unit as an integral part of the Central Valley project. The principal engineering features of said unit shall be a dam and reservoir at or near the San Luis site, a forebay and afterbay, the San Luis Canal, the Pleasant Valley Canal, and necessary pumping plants, distribution systems, drains, channels, levees, flood works, and related facilities, but no facilities shall be constructed for electric transmission or distribution service which the Secretary determines, on the basis of an offer of a firm fifty-year contract from a local public or private agency, can through such contract be obtained at less cost to the Federal Government than by construction and operation of Government facilities. The works (hereinafter referred to as joint use facilities) for joint use with the State of California (hereinafter referred to as the State) shall be the dam and reservoir at or near the San Luis site, forebay and afterbay, pumping plants, and the San Luis Canal. The joint-use facilities consisting of the dam and reservoir shall be constructed, and other joint-use facilities may be constructed, so as to permit future expansion; or the joint-use facilities shall be constructed initially to the capacities necessary to serve both the Federal San Luis unit service area and the State's service area, as hereinafter provided. In constructing, operating, and maintaining the San Luis unit, the Secretary shall be governed by the Federal reclamation laws (Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto). Construction of the San Luis unit shall not be commenced until the Secretary has (1) secured, or has satisfactory assurance of his ability to secure, all rights to the use of water which are necessary to carry out the purposes of the unit and the terms and conditions of this Act, and (2) received satisfactory assurance from the State of California that it will make provision for a master drainage outlet and disposal channel for the San Joaquin Valley, as generally outlined in the California water plan, Bulletin Numbered 3, of the California Department of Water Resources, which will adequately serve, by connection therewith, the drainage system for the San Luis unit or has made provision for constructing the San Luis interceptor drain to the delta designed to

SAN LUIS UNIT, CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT

1525

meet the drainage requirements of the San Luis unit as generally outlined in the report of the Department of the Interior, entitled "San Luis Unit, Central Valley Project," dated December 17, 1956.

EXPLANATORY Note

Cross Reference, Central Valley Project, California. The Central Valley project, referred to in the text, was authorized by a finding of feasibility by the Secretary of the Interior, approved by the President on December 2, 1935. The project was reauthorized by section 2 of the Act of August 26,

1937, 50 Stat. 850. The 1937 Act appears herein in chronological order. For references to other authorizations in the Central Valley project, California, see the explanatory notes following section 2 of the 1937 Act.

NOTES OF OPINIONS

[blocks in formation]

The term "San Luis unit", as used in section 1, includes the Federal service area but does not include the State service area. Solicitor Barry Opinion, 68 I.D. 412, 419 (1961), in re proposed agreement with the State of California covering construction of the San Luis unit.

The provision of section 1 requiring the application of reclamation law to the "San Luis unit" does not require application of the reclamation law to the State service area. Solicitor Barry Opinion, 68 I.D. 412, 419 (1961), in re proposed agreement with State of California covering construction of the San Luis unit.

2. Application of reclamation laws

Where Federal reclamation policy is not imperiled, it will not be presumed that a Federal statute was intended to supersede the exercise of the sovereign power of a State to develop its own resources, unless there is a clear manifestation of an intention to do so. Solicitor Barry Opinion, 68 I.D. 412, 424-6 (1961), in re proposed agreement with the State of California covering construction of the San Luis unit.

Federal reclamation laws would not apply to a State project merely because water from the project is commingled with water from a Federal project. Solicitor Barry Opinion, 68 I.D. 412, 421 (1961), in re proposed agreement with State of California covering construction of San Luis unit.

Use of Federal hydroelectric power does not require compliance with Federal reclamation laws. Solicitor Barry Opinion, 68 I.D. 412, 421 (1961), in re proposed agreement with State of California covering construction of San Luis unit.

[blocks in formation]

3. Excess land laws

The acreage limitation provisions of Federal reclamation law do not apply to the State service area. Solicitor Barry Opinion, 68 I.D. 412 (1961), in re proposed agreement with State of California covering construction of San Luis unit; letter of Attorney General, 68 I.D. 370 (1961).

Although section 2 of the Warren Act, standing alone, requires the application of acreage limitations where the United States cooperates with an entity in the construction of irrigation facilities even where no Federal subsidy is extended to the lands served by such non-Federal entity, the legislative history of the San Luis act indicates a Congressional intention that the acreage limitation should only apply where Federal investment is made and because of the Federal investment. Solicitor Barry Opinion, 68 I.D. 412, 426 (1961), in re proposed agreement with State of California, covering construction of San Luis unit.

The contract of November 4, 1960, for the delivery of water from the State of California's Water Resources Development System to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is not invalid because it does not contain the 160-acre limitation provided for in Federal reclamation law, notwithstanding the fact that the State system utilizes certain facilities in the San Luis unit jointly with the Federal government. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California v. Marquardt, 59 Cal. 2d 159, 379 P. 2d. 28, 44-47 (1963).

Under the water service contract of June 5, 1963, and the proposed distribution system contract with the Westlands Water District, project distribution facilities may not be used to carry water of any kind (whether project, non-project, or pumped water) to excess lands. The "Tulare formula" (see Solicitor White Opinion, M36011 (September 23, 1949), in re proposed Tulare Irrigation District contract).

1526

SAN LUIS UNIT, CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT

applies only to the use of nonproject facilities. Letter from Solicitor Barry to Senator Frank Moss, July 23, 1964, reprinted in Hearing on Westlands Water District [distribution system] Contract Before the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, 88th Cong., 2d Sess. 157 (1964). 4. Flood control

The facts that section 1(a) of the Act of June 3, 1960, authorizes the San Luis unit as an integral part of the Central Valley project, which includes flood control as one

of its purposes, and that the unit is governed by the Federal reclamation laws, of which section 9(b) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 is a part, supports the allocation of a portion of the cost of the Los Banos Detention Reservoir, to be constructed in connection with the San Luis Canal, to flood control as nonreimbursable, notwithstanding the fact that the 1960 act does not specifically mention flood control among the enumerated purposes. Memorandum of Associate Solicitor Hogan, September 18, 1964.

(b) [Water may not be delivered for the production of any "excess" agricultural commodity.]-No water provided by the Federal San Luis unit shall be delivered in the Federal San Luis service area to any water user for the production on newly irrigated lands of any basic agricultural commodity, as defined in the Agricultural Act of 1949, or any amendment thereof, if the total supply of such commodity as estimated by the Secretary of Agriculture for the marketing year in which the bulk of the crop would normally be marketed and which will be in excess of the normal supply as defined in section 301 (b) (10) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, unless the Secretary calls for an increase in production of such commodity in the interest of national security. (74 Stat. 156)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

References in the Text. The definition of "agricultural commodity" in the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, referred to in the text, is found at 63 Stat. 1056, 7 U.S.C. § 1428 (c). The definition of "nor

mal supply" in section 301 (b)(10) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, also referred to in the text, is found at 62 Stat. 1251, 7 U.S.C. § 1301 (b) (10). Neither Act appears herein.

Sec. 2. [Agreement with State of California authorized for Federal-State operation of San Luis Unit-Contingencies of such agreement-Alternatives if such agreement is not executed-Future enlargement of facilities by California; conditions.]—The Secretary is authorized, on behalf of the United States, to negotiate and enter into an agreement with the State of California providing for coordinated operation of the San Luis unit, including the joint-use facilities, in order that the State may, without cost to the United States, deliver water in service areas outside the Federal San Luis unit service area as described in the report of the Department of the Interior, entitled "San Luis Unit, Central Valley Project", dated December 17, 1956. Said agreement shall recite that the liability of the United States thereunder is contingent upon the availability of appropriations to carry out its obligations under the same. No funds shall be appropriated to commence construction of the San Luis unit under any such agreement, except for the preparation of designs and specifications and other preliminary work, prior to ninety calendar days (which ninety days, however, shall not include days on which either the House of Representatives or the Senate is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three calendar days to a day certain) after it has been submitted to the Congress, and then only if neither the House nor the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee has disapproved it by committee resolution within said ninety days. If such an agree

SAN LUIS UNIT, CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT

1527

ment has not been executed by January 1, 1962, and if, after consultation with the Governor of the State, the Secretary determines that the prospects of reaching accord on the terms thereof are not reasonably firm, he may proceed to construct and operate the San Luis unit in accordance with section 1 of this Act: Provided, That, if the Secretary so determines, he shall report thereon to the Congress and shall not commence construction for ninety calendar days from the date of his report (which ninety days, however, shall not include days on which either the House of Representatives or the Senate is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three days). In considering the prospects of reaching accord on the terms of the agreement the Secretary shall give substantial weight to any relevant affirmative action theretofore taken by the State, including the enactment of State legislation authorizing the State to acquire and convey to the United States title to lands to be used for the San Luis unit or assistance given by it in financing Federal design and construction of the unit. The authority conferred upon the Secretary by the first sentence of this section shall not, except as is otherwise provided in this section, be construed as a limitation upon the exercise by him of the authority conferred in section 1 of this Act, but if the State shall agree that, if it later enlarges the joint-use facilities, or any of them, it will pay an equitable share of the cost to the United States of those facilities as initially constructed before utilizing them for the storage or delivery of water and will bear the entire cost of enlarging the same and if, as a part of said equitable share, it makes available to the Secretary sufficient funds to pay the additional cost of designing and constructing the joint-use facilities so as to permit enlargement, it shall have an irrevocable right to enlarge or modify such facilities at any time in the future, and a perpetual right to the use of such additional capacity: Provided, That the performance of such work by the State, after approval of its plans by the Secretary, shall be so carried on as not to interfere unduly with the operation of the project for the purposes set forth in section 1 of this Act and the use of the additional capacity for water service shall be limited to service outside of the Federal San Luis unit service area: And provided further, That this right may be relinquished by the State at any time at its option. (74 Stat. 157)

Sec. 3. [Provisions required in Federal-State agreement.]—The agreement between the United States and the State referred to in section 2 of this Act shall provide, among other things, that—

(a) the joint-use facilities to be constructed by the Secretary shall be so designed and constructed to such capacities and in such manner as to permit either (i) immediate integration and coordinated operation with the State's water projects by providing, among other things, a capacity in San Luis Reservoir of approximately two million one hundred thousand acre-feet and corresponding capacities in the other joint-use facilities or (ii) such subsequent enlargement or other modification as may be required for integration and coordinated operation therewith;

(b) the State shall make available to the Secretary during the construction period sufficient funds to pay an equitable share of the construction costs of any facilities designed and constructed as provided in paragraph

1528

SAN LUIS UNIT, CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT

(a) above. The State contribution shall be made in annual installments, each of which bears approximately the same ratio to total expenditures during that year as the total of the State's share bears to the total cost of the facilities; the State may make advances to the United States in order to maintain a timely construction schedule of the joint-use facilities and the works of the San Luis unit to be used by the State and the United States;

(c) the State may at any time after approval of its plans by the Secretary and at its own expense enlarge or modify San Luis Dam and Reservoir and other facilities to be used jointly by the State and the United States, but the performance of such work shall be so carried on as not to interfere unduly with the operation of the San Luis unit for the purposes set forth in section 1 of this Act;

(d) the United States and the State shall each pay annually an equitable share of the operation, maintenance, and replacement costs of the joint-use facilities;

(e) promptly after execution of this agreement between the Secretary and the State, and for the purpose of said agreement, the State shall convey to the United States title to any lands, easements and rights-of-way which it then owns and which are required for the joint-use facilities. The State shall be given credit for the costs of these lands, easements, and rights-ofway toward its share of the construction cost of the joint-use facilities. The State shall likewise be given credit for any funds advanced by it to the Secretary for preparation of designs and specifications or for any other work in connection with the joint-use facilities;

(f) the rights to the use of capacities of the joint-use facilities of the San Luis unit shall be allocated to the United States and the State, respectively, in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon. The United States shall not be restricted in the exercise of its right so allocated, which shall be sufficient to carry out the purposes of section 1 of this Act and which shall extend throughout the repayment period and so long thereafter as title to the works remains in the United States. The State shall not be restricted in the exercise of its allocated right to the use of the capacities of the joint-use facilities for water service outside the Federal San Luis unit service area;

(g) the Secretary may turn over to the State the care, operation, and maintenance of any works of the San Luis unit which are used jointly by the United States and the State at such time and under such conditions as shall be agreed upon by the Secretary and the State;

(h) notwithstanding transfer of the care, operation, and maintenance of any works to the State, as hereinbefore provided, any organization which has theretofore entered into a contract with the United States under the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, and amendments thereto, for a water supply through the works of the San Luis unit, including joint-use facilities, shall continue to be subject to the same limitations and obligations and to have and to enjoy the same rights which it would have had under its contract with the United States and the provisions of paragraph (4) of section 1 of

« AnkstesnisTęsti »