Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by thanking the House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman, Doc Hastings, and his staff for all their efforts on H.R. 4924.

As many of you are already aware, Chairman Hastings is leaving at the end of this Congress. Doc has served honorably since 1995. During my relatively short tenure in Congress, I have had the pleasure of working with Chairman Hastings on important matters, like protecting western water rights, improving our Nation's forest health, and increasing our access to American energy resources. Since this could be the last time I work with Doc on a bill, I would like to thank him for his leadership and for everything he has done to make our country a better place. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Chairman Hastings a friend and a mentor. He is one of the classiest individuals I have had the pleasure of serving with, and he will most certainly be missed.

Water in the West is critical to our future economic prosperity and, of course, is a limited resource on which there are many existing demands. H.R. 4924 is important legislation that will facilitate a fair and equitable settlement of certain claims within the Bill Williams Watershed in Arizona amongst the Hualapai Tribe; Freeport-McMoRan, a mining company; the Arizona Game and Fish Commission; and the Federal Government. My bill is good for property owners, good for local economies and jobs, settles an outstanding water rights dispute, and will result in a net water benefit to the basin.

The first of the two agreements codified by this legislation allows for certain private water rights owned by Freeport to be severed and transferred to provide water certainty for one of the company's mining operations. The Baghdad mine has an economic impact of $339.1 million to the State of Arizona and sustains nearly 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Under this first agreement, Freeport will also donate 3,400 acres of private land to Arizona Game and Fish Department to be managed as part of the Multi-Species Conservation Program.

Finally, this first agreement will benefit water users throughout the West as Freeport has agreed to cap its withdrawals of water in the Wikieup Wellfield at 10,055 acre-feet, despite being entitled to nearly 40,000 acre-feet of existing water rights. Thus, my bill will result in an overall net water use reduction in the basin of approximately 35,000 acre-feet per year.

The second of the two agreements approved by H.R. 4924 will secure certain water rights for the Hualapai Tribe as well as two non-Federal contributions that will be provided by Freeport to the tribe for an infrastructure fund and economic development fund.

In addition, there is a provision in H.R. 4924 that will allow for new public access for hunting and fishing on the lands involved with this legislation.

Furthermore, the local counties benefit from the good-paying jobs and tax revenue associated with the continued use of the mine.

H.R. 4924 passed the full House Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent on November 19.

Preliminary Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate that the bill costs nothing to the Federal Government and will not score. The entire bipartisan Arizona delegation and both Houses of Congress strongly support H.R. 4924 and signed on as original cosponsors of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this legislation that is extremely important to the State of Arizona. I urge immediate adoption by the House and hope my colleagues in the Senate will follow our lead and pass this critical bill in a timely manner this Congress.

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