The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Senate section on pages S872-S873 on Feb. 5, 2019.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
SA 107. Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Brown, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Markey) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 47, to provide for the management of the natural resources of the United States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title VI, add the following:
SEC. 6004. NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA AND NATIONAL CANALWAY
AMENDMENTS.
(a) Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.--Section 409(a) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996
(Public Law 104-333; 110 Stat. 4256; 129 Stat. 2551) is amended, in the second sentence, by striking ``$17,000,000'' and inserting ``$20,000,000''.
(b) Essex National Heritage Area.--Section 508(a) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-333; 110 Stat. 4260; 129 Stat. 2551) is amended, in the second sentence, by striking ``$17,000,000'' and inserting ``$20,000,000''.
(c) Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway.--Section 810(a) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996
(Public Law 104-333; 110 Stat. 4275; 122 Stat. 826) is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: ``Not more than a total of $20,000,000 may be appropriated for the canalway under this title.''.
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SA 108. Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Warner) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 47, to provide for the management of the natural resources of the United States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of part I of subtitle C of title I, add the following:
SEC. 12__. ADDITIONS TO ROUGH MOUNTAIN AND RICH HOLE
WILDERNESSES.
Section 1 of Public Law 100-326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(21) Rough mountain addition.--Certain land in the George Washington National Forest comprising approximately 1,000 acres, as generally depicted as the `Rough Mountain Addition' on the map entitled `GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST - South half - Alternative I - Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions - Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement' and dated March 4, 2014, which is incorporated in the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area designated by paragraph (1).
``(22) Rich hole addition.--
``(A) Designation.--Certain land in the George Washington National Forest comprising approximately 4,600 acres, as generally depicted as the `Rich Hole Addition' on the map entitled `GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST - South half - Alternative I - Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions
- Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement' and dated March 4, 2014, which shall be incorporated in the Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by paragraph (2) on the earlier of--
``(i) the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture publishes in the Federal Register notice that the activities permitted under subparagraph (C) have been completed; and
``(ii) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the Natural Resources Management Act.
``(B) Management.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall manage the wilderness area designated under subparagraph (A) in accordance with the Wilderness Act
(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
``(C) Water quality improvement activities.--
``(i) In general.--To enhance natural ecosystems within the Rich Hole Addition by implementing certain activities to improve water quality and aquatic passage, as described in the Forest Service document entitled `Decision Notice for the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project' and dated December 2015, the Secretary of Agriculture may use motorized equipment and mechanized transport in the Rich Hole Addition under subparagraph (A) until the date on which the Rich Hole Addition is incorporated into the Rich Hole Wilderness under that subparagraph.
``(ii) Requirement.--In carrying out clause (i), the Secretary of Agriculture, to the maximum extent practicable, shall use the minimum tool or administrative practice necessary to carry out that clause with the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and resources.''.
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SA 109. Mr. HOEVEN (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 47, to provide for the management of the natural resources of the United States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title VIII, insert the following:
SEC. 83__. CONVEYANCE OF THE OAKES TEST AREA OF THE GARRISON
DIVERSION UNIT PROJECT, NORTH DAKOTA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agreement.--The term ``Agreement'' means a title transfer agreement between the United States and the District--
(A) to determine the legal, operational, institutional, and financial terms related to the conveyance of the Oakes Test Area as required under subsection (b); and
(B) to be entered into pursuant to the memorandum of agreement entitled ``Memorandum of Agreement Between United States of America Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation and Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District for the Purpose of Defining Roles and Responsibilities for Actions Required to Prepare for Title Transfer of Certain Facilities, Land, and Appurtenances at the Garrison Diversion Unit Project Oakes Test Area'', dated December 18, 2018, and numbered 19AG620033.
(2) District.--The term ``District'' means the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District.
(3) Oakes test area.--The term ``Oakes Test Area'' means the facilities, land, and appurtenances of the approximately 5,000-acre prototype irrigation test area authorized as part of the Garrison Diversion Unit Project in the James River Basin, as described in the Agreement.
(b) Conveyance to District.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the District all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Oakes Test Area, consistent with the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
(c) Liability.--
(1) In general.--Effective on the date of conveyance to the District of the Oakes Test Area under this section, the United States shall not be held liable by any court for damages of any kind arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the Oakes Test Area, except for damages caused by acts of negligence committed by the United States or by an employee or agent of the United States prior to the date of conveyance.
(2) Applicable law.--Nothing in this section increases the liability of the United States beyond the liability provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Federal Tort Claims Act''), on the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Benefits.--After the conveyance of the Oakes Test Area to the District under this section--
(1) the Oakes Test Area shall not be considered to be a part of a Federal reclamation project; and
(2) the District shall not be eligible to receive any benefits with respect to any facility comprising that Oakes Test Area, other than benefits that would be available to a similarly situated person with respect to a facility that is not part of a Federal reclamation project.
(e) Communication.--If the Secretary has not completed the conveyance required under subsection (b) by the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a letter with sufficient detail that--
(1) explains the reasons the conveyance has not been completed; and
(2) specifies the date by which the conveyance will be completed.
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