WASHINGTON D.C. – Two land conveyance bills introduced by members of Utah’s U.S. Congressional Delegation unanimously passed the U.S. Senate Wednesday night. Both bills now go to the president for signature.
The Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act (introduced as S.27/H.R.356), sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch in the Senate and co-sponsored by Reps. Rob Bishop, Jason Chaffetz, Chris Stewart and Jim Matheson in the House, facilitates the exchange of 20,000 acres of state-held mineral rights within the Hill Creek Extension of the Ute Indian Reservation for mineral rights on approximately 20,000 acres of federal land in the northern portion of the reservation in eastern Utah. The bill passed the House of Representatives on May 19 and moved on to the Senate where it passed July 9. It now goes to the president for signature.
The Provo River Project Transfer Act (introduced as S.211/H.R.255), co-sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee in the Senate and by Rep. Jason Chaffetz in the House, makes a technical change to the Provo River Project Transfer Act of 2004 in order to transfer the title of the Provo Reservoir Canal to the Provo River Water Users Association. The bill first passed the House of Representatives on Dec. 3, 2013, and moved on to the Senate where it passed July 9. It now goes to the president for signature.
Commenting on the bills, Hatch said:
Our commonsense legislation gives Utahns greater opportunity to manage the specified lands and structures as they see fit. The Hill Creek land exchange creates an important new opportunity for energy development in our state. The Provo River Transfer Act will finally give the Provo River Water Users Association the title of the Provo Reservoir Canal and give them the authority to manage the Canal as necessary. These laws are good for Utah and I encourage the President to sign them into law soon.
Resources – Text of the bills
- Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act
- Act to amend Provo River Project Transfer Act
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