[House Report 112-437]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 112-437
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IDAHO WILDERNESS WATER RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT
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April 16, 2012.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Hastings of Washington, from the Committee on Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2050]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 2050) to authorize the continued use of certain
water diversions located on National Forest System land in the
Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-
Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon
without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 2050 is to authorize the continued use
of certain water diversions located on National Forest System
land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
There are a number of water diversions within Idaho
wilderness areas that predate its wilderness designation.
Although the diversions continue to exist, owners lack
authority to maintain and repair the facilities, which in some
cases threaten the environment and watersheds. Providing this
authority will ensure that existing water diversions can be
properly maintained and repaired when necessary and preserves
beneficial use for private property owners who hold water
rights under state law. Subject to certain criteria, H.R. 2050
requires the U.S. Forest Service to issue special use
maintenance permits to owners of certain existing water systems
within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 2050 was introduced on May 26, 2011, by Congressman
Michael Simpson (R-ID). The bill was referred to the Committee
on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. On
October 25, 2011, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill.
On February 29, 2012, the Full Natural Resources Committee met
to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands was discharged by unanimous consent.
No amendments were offered and the bill was then ordered
favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice
vote.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 3(c)(3) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has
received the following cost estimate for this bill from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
H.R. 2050--Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act
H.R. 2050 would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to
issue special permits for owners to continue using certain
water storage, transport, and diversion facilities in the Frank
Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot
Wilderness of Idaho. According to the Forest Service, any costs
to process the permits would be paid by the permit holders.
Because the legislation would affect direct spending (through
the collection and spending of receipts), pay-as-you-go
procedures apply; however, CBO estimates that enacting H.R.
2050 would have an insignificant impact on net direct spending.
Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues.
H.R. 2050 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aurora Swanson.
The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required
by clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, this bill does not contain any new budget
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures. CBO estimates that enacting H.R.
2050 would have an insignificant impact on net direct spending.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to authorize the continued use of
certain water diversions located on National Forest System land
in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates as defined under
Public Law 104-4.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.