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H.C.R. 302

             1     

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON SCOFIELD LAND

             2     
TRANSFER

             3     
2011 THIRD SPECIAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Patrick Painter

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Utah's
             11      congressional delegation to sponsor legislation to resolve the Scofield land transfer
             12      issue.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This resolution:
             15          .    urges Utah's congressional delegation to sponsor legislation to resolve the Scofield
             16      land transfer issue as outlined in this resolution, and to make every effort to see it
             17      successfully pass the United States Congress.
             18      Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20     
             21      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             22          WHEREAS, the United States, acting through the United States Bureau of Reclamation
             23      (BOR) and in cooperation with Price River Water Conservancy District and Carbon Water
             24      Conservancy District, acquired lands to accommodate both normal and flood control storage of
             25      water;
             26          WHEREAS, in 1946, the United States, acting through the BOR, completed
             27      construction of the Scofield Dam to provide water for irrigation, municipal, and industrial


             28      purposes;
             29          WHEREAS, the only features of the Scofield Project are Scofield Dam and Reservoir,
             30      which are designed to impound both normal and flood flows;
             31          WHEREAS, in order to store flood flows, the dam and reservoir basin are designed
             32      with space for storage of water at levels between the normal water surface elevation and the
             33      flood surcharge elevation;
             34          WHEREAS, to safely accommodate the flood storage, the United States acquired lands,
             35      and interests in lands, up to and sufficiently beyond the flood surcharge elevation of the
             36      reservoir;
             37          WHEREAS, residents have paid Carbon County property taxes for the entire time that
             38      they have claimed title to the property and the United States has made Payments In Lieu of
             39      Taxes since acquisition of the property and completion of the project;
             40          WHEREAS, claimants have constructed private wells and other utilities on the United
             41      States property and a special service district was created to construct, operate, and maintain a
             42      sewer system within the subdivision;
             43          WHEREAS, claimants should have a choice of one of two options to resolve issues of
             44      trespass and encroachment;
             45          WHEREAS, the first option available to claimants should be: to authorize the Secretary
             46      of the Interior to transfer a fee interest in the claimed portion of the property above the
             47      elevation of the crest of the existing spillway, if the claimant remits to the United States the
             48      current fair market value of the fee interest in the claimed portion of the property, exclusive of
             49      the value of any permanent structures; to retain a flood easement by the United States over the
             50      entire tract; and to have deed restrictions requiring, among other things, the claimant to secure
             51      or tie down any and all structures so as to prevent them from being displaced during any flood
             52      event;
             53          WHEREAS, the second option to claimants should be to authorize the Secretary of the
             54      Interior to grant to a claimant an easement or life estate permitting the continued occupation of
             55      the claimed portion of the property above the elevation of the crest of the existing spillway
             56      elevation and the continued existence of existing structures, subject to the claimant remitting to
             57      the United States the current fair market value of the easement or life estate provisions under
             58      which the claimant agrees to hold the United States harmless for any and all claims arising


             59      from the design, construction, operation, or replacement of Scofield Dam and Reservoir; and
             60      an easement or life estate provisions requiring, among other things, the claimant to secure or tie
             61      down any and all structures to prevent them from being displaced during any flood event;
             62          WHEREAS, federal revenues generated from the exercise of either option should be
             63      retained in a trust fund administered by the United States Secretary of the Interior, acting
             64      through the BOR and used for the purpose of providing enhanced recreation opportunities at
             65      Scofield Reservoir;
             66          WHEREAS, Senator Orrin Hatch is the lead sponsor of the Scofield Land Transfer Act,
             67      legislation that is pending introduction before the United States Senate that is designed to
             68      resolve the Scofield land transfer issue; and
             69          WHEREAS, the efforts of Governor Herbert, Alan Christensen, John Jones, Boyd
             70      Bunnell, Sam Chiara, Wayne Pullan, Curt Pledger, Albert Spensko, Mike Milovich, Ed
             71      Vidmar, and Ted Wilson have helped to shape this solution to the issue:
             72          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
             73      Governor concurring therein, urge Utah's congressional delegation to sponsor legislation that
             74      resolves the Scofield land transfer issue as outlined in this resolution, and to make every effort
             75      to see it successfully pass the United States Congress.
             76          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor express
             77      appreciation to Governor Herbert, Alan Christensen, John Jones, Boyd Bunnell, Sam Chiara,
             78      Wayne Pullan, Curt Pledger, Albert Spensko, Mike Milovich, Ed Vidmar, and Ted Wilson for
             79      their efforts in developing a solution to this issue.
             80          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Majority
             81      Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
             82      the Carbon County Commission, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, Governor Herbert,
             83      Alan Christensen, John Jones, Boyd Bunnell, Sam Chiara, Wayne Pullan, Curt Pledger, Albert
             84      Spensko, Mike Milovich, Ed Vidmar, Ted Wilson, and to the members of Utah's congressional
             85      delegation.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 9-30-11 4:55 PM


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