As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on June 11, 2014
S. 1447 would amend the Navajo Settlement Act to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in planning of groundwater well projects for the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. The bill also would clarify the intent of certain provisions of that act and shift some authorized spending among authorized activities. Based on information from the Bureau of Reclamation, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would not affect the federal budget. Because enacting S. 1447 would not affect revenues or direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
Under current law, the bureau is authorized to construct and rehabilitate groundwater wells and related pipeline facilities to distribute groundwater for municipal use by the Navajo Nation. S. 1447 would authorize the bureau to participate in the planning and design of those projects. Based on information from the bureau, those activities would be accommodated under the existing authorization ceiling for this project.
The bill would clarify that the Navajo Nation can take delivery of non-project water but is responsible for the associated operation and maintenance costs. S. 1447 also would reallocate a portion of spending for fish and wildlife facilities to the preservation of archaeological resources near the project. Those changes would not affect federal spending.
S. 1447 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
