# Plain Language Summary: Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act

This bill transfers ownership of a small hydroelectric power plant in Wyoming from the federal government to the Midvale Irrigation District, a local water management organization in Pavillion, Wyoming. Currently, the Pilot Butte Power Plant is owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of a larger federal water project. The bill directs the federal government to hand over complete ownership and control of this facility to the local irrigation district, which will then be responsible for running it, maintaining it, and dealing with any problems that arise.

The practical effect is that the Midvale Irrigation District will take over all the day-to-day responsibilities and costs of operating the power plant. In exchange, the federal government will no longer be liable for accidents, damages, or other issues related to the facility—except in cases where federal employees were negligent. The district will need to comply with all environmental laws, endangered species protections, and historic preservation rules before taking over. The bill gives the federal government and the district two years to negotiate the specific terms of the transfer, including how much the district will pay and what conditions will apply.

Both the federal government and the irrigation district will split the costs of the transfer process, including surveys, title searches, and environmental reviews. If the transfer hasn't been completed within a year, the federal government must report to Congress explaining why and when it expects to finish. This arrangement essentially shifts the burden of managing a small power plant from a federal agency to a local organization that serves the irrigation district's water needs.

Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act

Hageman, Harriet M.

Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act This bill directs the Bureau of Reclamation to negotiate with the Midvale Irrigation District in Wyoming to enter into an agreement to convey the Pilot Butte Power Plant and its facilities from Reclamation to the irrigation district.