H.R. 4598: Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act

This bill aims to make certain technical corrections and provide funding adjustments related to water projects and settlement funds in Northwestern New Mexico. Here are the main provisions of the bill:

Short Title

The bill may be referred to as the Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act.

Amendments to the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009

One of the key amendments includes changes to the Navajo Nation Water Resources Development Trust Fund. Specifically, the bill adjusts references in the existing laws to ensure clarity regarding deposits into the Trust Fund. It authorizes an appropriation of $6,357,674.46 to be deposited into the Trust Fund.

Amendments to the Claims Resolution Act of 2010

Several amendments are made to the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 regarding water development and settlement funds:

• Adjusted Interest Payments on the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund: The bill authorizes an additional funding amount of $7,794,297.52 to be allocated into the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund.
• Adjusted Interest Payments on the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos’ Fund: The legislation allows for the appropriation of $4,314,709.18 for the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos’ Fund to cover costs associated with the operation and maintenance of water facilities.
• The bill also includes a waiver provision, stating that the Secretary of the Treasury will waive payment for amounts due to the United States related to interest earned on earlier appropriations before September 15, 2017.

Disclaimers

The bill clarifies that its provisions should not affect previous findings or satisfy conditions precedent related to prior claims established in the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. This includes reaffirming the validity of Secretarial findings published in the Federal Register concerning these conditions.

Financial Implications

The bill aims to ensure that the specified amounts are properly authorized for the aforementioned funds, allowing for crucial financial support for water resource management in the affected areas.

Relevant Companies

None found