Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020
- Last Action
- 12/18/2020
Actions
- 2020-12-18Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 557.
- 2020-12-18Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-673.
- 2020-12-18Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-673.
- 2020-02-12Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 2020-02-12Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- 2020-02-12Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
- 2019-06-26Subcommittee Hearings Held.
- 2019-02-06Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
- 2019-01-17Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2019-01-17Introduced in House
- 2019-01-17Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2020-12-18 (07)
Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020
This bill ratifies and modifies the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Agreement negotiated between the Navajo Nation, the United States, and Utah. The agreement gives the Navajo Nation the right to use water from sources located within Utah and adjacent to or encompassed within the boundaries of the Navajo Reservation, provided that depletions do not exceed a specified amount annually.
The Navajo water rights shall be held in trust by the United States for the use and benefit of the Navajo Nation and shall not be subject to forfeiture or abandonment.
The Navajo Nation shall have authority to allocate, distribute, and lease the water rights for any use on or off its reservation in accordance with the agreement.
The Department of the Interior shall establish and manage the Navajo Utah Settlement Trust Fund, with amounts available for withdrawal by the Navajo Nation for planning, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and replacing Navajo water development projects.
The bill also specifies waivers and releases that must be executed in order for the settlement to be binding and effective.
Cosponsors (5)
- Chris Stewart (R-UT)
- John Curtis (R-UT)
- Ben McAdams (D-UT)
- Ben Luján (D-NM)
- Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ)
Subjects
- Federal-Indian relations
- Government trust funds
- Indian claims
- Indian lands and resources rights
- Lakes and rivers
- Utah
- Water use and supply
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.