A bill to amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes.

New rules for public land recharge

If enacted, this bill would let holders or public entities use existing rights-of-way, easements, permits, or other authorizations on public land for aquifer recharge without a new Secretary authorization, so long as the use is not an expansion, modification, major Federal action, or substantial deviation. Users would have to give the Bureau of Land Management at least 30 days' notice. The notice would need to name the State, subdivision, Tribe, or public entity; identify the specific authorization (including ditches and canals built on or before October 21, 1976 under 43 U.S.C. 661); describe scope and intended use; and include the agreement permitting the use. The bill would exempt covered non-profit uses from paying additional rent to BLM, but for-profit uses and for-profit entities would not get the exemption. It would allow construction, modification, or expansion of existing covered infrastructure. The bill would also waive certain environmental law obligations for affected holders, including the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, for those covered authorizations.