Friday
September 15, 2006
Senators
McCain and Kyl Applaud Senate Passage of Fort McDowell Indian Community
Water Rights Settlement Act of 2006
Source: US Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl
The agreement between Fort McDowell and the Department of the Interior makes perfect sense and completes the 1990 Water Rights Settlement Act - it's good for the Government and good for the Tribe, said Senator McCain.
“Resolving water claims in Arizona is vital to Arizona’s future,” said Senator Kyl. “This legislation is a win-win for all parties involved and brings to a close the final stages of implementation of this important water settlement.”
According to a review by the U.S. Department of the Interior, 227 of the acres to be irrigated on the reservation were significant cultural sites and were withdrawn from development. Subsequently, Congress authorized and directed the Secretary of the Interior to provide the Yavapai Nation a no-interest loan in the amount of $13 million to construct facilities for the delivery of water to 1584 acres on the Fort McDowell reservation.
Since the current value of the outstanding no-interest loan to the Tribe and the cost of the Department of the Interior's obligation to mitigate replacement acreage are nearly identical, the two agreed to resolve this issue by mutually releasing their remaining obligations under the reclamation provision of the settlement Act.
The bill is expected to be approved by the House.
Contact:
Chris Gallegos/Domenici (202) 224-7082
Jude McCartin/Bingaman (202) 224-1804