Overview

Title

An Act To amend the Central Utah Project Completion Act to authorize expenditures for the conduct of certain water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake basin, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act is a plan to spend money on saving water in the Great Salt Lake area. It wants to make sure they use the money wisely to help keep the lake healthy and full.

Summary AI

H. R. 4094, known as the "Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act," aims to modify the Central Utah Project Completion Act. It authorizes the use of certain funds for water conservation efforts in the Great Salt Lake basin. The bill establishes that these conservation activities must comply with a specific report under existing legislation. It was passed by the House on September 24, 2024, and is currently under consideration in the Senate.

Published

2024-09-25
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Placed on Calendar Senate
Date: 2024-09-25
Package ID: BILLS-118hr4094pcs

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
379
Pages:
4
Sentences:
15

Language

Nouns: 149
Verbs: 23
Adjectives: 9
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 24
Entities: 30

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.23
Average Sentence Length:
25.27
Token Entropy:
4.56
Readability (ARI):
14.50

AnalysisAI

The proposed legislation, titled the "Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act," seeks to make important changes to a previous law known as the Central Utah Project Completion Act. In essence, the bill aims to facilitate the allocation of existing funds to support water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake basin. This legislation is particularly significant given the environmental challenges and water scarcity issues in the region, which affect local ecosystems and communities.

General Summary of the Bill

The primary objective of this bill is to amend the existing Central Utah Project Completion Act. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use any leftover budget authority from specified sections of the act to fund water conservation efforts in the Great Salt Lake basin. The initiative must align with a specific document called the "Definite Plan Report." By directing leftover funds toward conservation, the bill attempts to make efficient use of existing resources without requiring new appropriations from Congress.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several notable issues arise from this legislation. Firstly, ambiguity exists around what specific "water conservation measures" entail. This lack of specificity could result in inefficient use of funds if actions are not clearly defined and prioritized. Additionally, the bill references sections of a larger act, which can complicate understanding for those without access to the full documentation. Another concern is the absence of clear criteria or oversight mechanisms. Without these, there is a risk of funds being spent ineffectively. Lastly, allowing for the use of unspent funds without detailed oversight could raise questions about financial accountability and appropriate use.

Impact on the Public

If effectively implemented, the bill could significantly benefit the public by addressing water scarcity issues in the Great Salt Lake basin. By optimizing leftover funds for conservation, it may improve water availability and quality, which are crucial for local communities and agricultural activities. However, due to the vagueness concerning the allocation and use of funds, there is a risk that the public might not see substantial improvements unless oversight and detailed plans are subsequently established.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For environmental groups and conservationists, the bill represents a potential win, as it promises action toward sustaining a crucial ecological region. However, if the measures are not defined clearly, stakeholders may not achieve the desired environmental impacts. Local governments and water management agencies stand to gain through access to additional resources for implementation. Nonetheless, they might also face challenges if there is confusion or a lack of direction concerning how the funds should be used. Lastly, residents in the region could benefit from enhanced water quality and availability, although the positive impact largely depends on the proper execution of the measures proposed.

Overall, while the Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act holds the promise of positive environmental and community outcomes, its success will largely hinge upon clarifying ambiguities, establishing clear guidelines, and ensuring robust oversight and accountability for the funds used.

Issues

  • The lack of specificity regarding the 'water conservation measures' in Section 213 could lead to ambiguity in the implementation and prioritization of actions, resulting in inefficient use of funds and potential financial wastage. This concern is mentioned in both Sections 2 and 213 and could affect the financial oversight of the bill.

  • The reference to 'subsections (a)(2) and (c) of section 202' in Section 213 requires external context to understand the scope of the funding, which might create confusion and accessibility issues for stakeholders who do not have full access to all sections of the Central Utah Project Completion Act.

  • Section 2 and Section 213 raise concerns about the lack of criteria or oversight mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the water conservation measures, which could lead to potential misuse of funds.

  • The mention of 'non-expended budget authority' in Section 213 without detailed legislative oversight raises ethical and financial concerns regarding how much money could be redirected, impacting financial accountability.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill is officially named the “Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act.”

2. Water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake basin Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The document amends the Central Utah Project Completion Act to allow the Secretary to use leftover funds for water conservation efforts in the Great Salt Lake basin, ensuring that these efforts comply with a previously completed plan.

213. Water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake basin Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section authorizes the Secretary to use available funds for implementing water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake basin, ensuring these actions align with a specific report's guidelines.