Senate and House Introduce Bill to Streamline Permitting of Water Storage Projects on Federal Lands

On June 4, 2014 U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi introduced the Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act (S.2427). Representatives Tom McClintock and Cynthia Lummis introduced an identical bill in the House on January 31, 2014 (H.R.3980).

The intent of the Act is to make the process for approval of surface water storage projects on Federal lands easier by designating the Bureau of Reclamation (“BOR”) as the agency in charge of the permitting process. The BOR will be responsible for identifying appropriate Federal agencies and providing notification of the opportunity for these agencies to participate in the permitting process as cooperating agencies. The State in which the project is located may choose to participate in the project as a cooperating agency, thus making all State agencies subject to the Act. Additionally the Act charges the BOR with coordination responsibilities in the preparing of a unified environmental review document for the project, setting timelines for project reviews and determinations, and maintaining a consolidated administrative record in an electronic form to allow the material to be available to various parties.

Efficient administration of the permitting of storage projects on Federal lands may provide more irrigation options to our nation’s farmers in areas where appropriation from direct surface flow is limited due to geography. Contact Schroeder Law Offices for additional information as we follow this legislation!