Palmetto Bend Conveyance Act
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 106-512.
Official Summary
Palmetto Bend Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Palmetto Bend Reclamation Project in Texas (excluding the mineral estate) to the State of Texas, acting through the Texas Water Development Board or the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority.Requires the Secretary, if the conveyance has not been completed within one year and 180 days after the enactment date of this Act, to report to the House Committee on Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the conveyance's status, any obstacles to completion, and the anticipated completion date.Directs the State, as a condition of the conveyance, to pay to the Secretary the adjusted net present value of current repayment obligations on the Project as prescribed by this Act. Requires the State to also pay interest on the adjusted net present value of such obligations from the date of the State's most recent annual payment until closing at the interest rate for constant maturity U.S. Treasury notes of an equivalent term. Extinguishes the State's and the Bureau of Reclamation's obligation under a specified Bureau contract upon payment by the State of such amount. Requires the State, after completion of the conveyance, to assume full responsibility for all aspects of operation, maintenance, and replacement of the Project.Requires the State, as a condition of the conveyance, to agree that the lands, water, and facilities of the Project shall continue to be managed and operated for the purposes for which the Project was originally authorized; that is, to provide a dependable municipal and industrial water supply, to conserve and develop fish and wildlife resources, and to enhance recreational opportunities. Requires the State, in future management of the Project, consistent with other project purposes and the provision of such a water supply, to: (1) provide full public access to the Project's lands, subject to reasonable restrictions for purposes of Project security, public safety, and natural resource protection; (2) not sell or otherwise dispose of the lands conveyed under this Act; (3) prohibit private or exclusive uses of such lands; (4) maintain and manage the Project's fish and wildlife resource and habitat for the benefit and enhancement of those resources; (5) maintain and manage the Project's existing recreational facilities and assets, including open space for the benefit of the public; and (6) not charge the public recreational use fees that are more than is customary and reasonable.Provides that, as a condition of the conveyance, management decisions and actions affecting the Project's public aspects (namely fish, wildlife, and recreation resources) shall: (1) be conducted according to a management agreement between all recipients of title to the Project and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that has been approved by the Secretary; and (2) extend for the useful life of the Project.Requires all mineral interests in the Project retained by the United States to be managed consistent with Federal law and in a manner that will not interfere with the purposes for which the Project was authorized.States that nothing in this Act increases the liability of the United States beyond that provided for in the Federal Tort Claims Act.Deauthorizes the Project on the date of its conveyance. Specifies that the State shall not be entitled to receive any benefits for the Project after deauthorization.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Palmetto Bend Conveyance Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer ownership of the Palmetto Bend Reclamation Project in Texas, excluding mineral rights, to the State of Texas through designated state agencies. The State must pay the adjusted net present value of repayment obligations plus interest and assume full responsibility for the project's operation, maintenance, and replacement. The Act mandates that the project continue to serve its original purposes, including municipal and industrial water supply, fish and wildlife conservation, and recreational opportunities. It also requires public access to project lands with reasonable restrictions and prohibits private or exclusive use of these lands. Management decisions related to public resources must be governed by an approved agreement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The Act deauthorizes the project upon conveyance and limits the United States' liability to that under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
This law transfers ownership and operational responsibility of the Palmetto Bend Reclamation Project from the federal government to the State of Texas, ensuring continued public use and resource conservation under state management.
- The Secretary of the Interior must convey the Palmetto Bend Reclamation Project to Texas, excluding mineral estates.
- Texas must pay the adjusted net present value of repayment obligations plus interest and assume full operational responsibility.
- The project must continue to provide water supply, conserve fish and wildlife, and offer recreational opportunities with public access.
- Management of public resources requires an approved agreement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
- The project is deauthorized upon conveyance, and federal liability is limited to the Federal Tort Claims Act.
['State of Texas (Texas Water Development Board and Lavaca-Navidad River Authority)', 'Local municipalities and industries relying on the water supply', 'Recreational users and the general public accessing project lands', 'Fish and wildlife conservation interests in the project area']
['The State of Texas assumes full financial and operational responsibility, which may pose fiscal and management challenges.', 'The requirement for public access with reasonable restrictions may require ongoing enforcement and oversight.', 'The conveyance excludes mineral estates, which remain federally managed, potentially complicating resource management.', 'The one year and 180 days deadline for conveyance completion may create administrative pressure.', 'The deauthorization of the project may affect eligibility for future federal benefits related to the project.']
The bill was introduced and passed during the 106th Congress and was signed into law on November 13, 2000. It reflects a federal-to-state transfer of water resource infrastructure management, consistent with policies promoting state-level control over local water projects. The legislation includes oversight provisions requiring reporting to congressional committees if conveyance is delayed.
High concern review — 3 hidden impact flags detected
GovScope reviewed 3 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Shifting operational responsibility to the State may lead to changes in project management priorities or funding allocations.', 'Federal management of mineral interests retained may require coordination with state authorities to avoid conflicts.', 'Public access provisions could increase recreational use, potentially impacting local economies and resource management.', 'The deauthorization may limit future federal investment or emergency support related to the project.']
The Act includes a reporting requirement to congressional committees if the conveyance is not completed within one year and 180 days, providing a mechanism for oversight. The transfer of financial obligations and operational responsibility to the State of Texas represents a significant shift in governance that warrants monitoring for compliance with the Act's conditions, especially regarding public access, resource conservation, and financial payments. The exclusion of mineral estates from conveyance and their continued federal management may require transparency in coordination efforts.
GovScope Intelligence Roadmap
Future bill intelligence will connect sponsors, committee referrals, related votes, campaign finance, disclosures, and stock trades into one legislative intelligence view.