Detailed Summary

Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act - Authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Settlement Agreement dated January 19, 2006, among New Mexico, the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque, the United States, the city of Santa Fe, and Santa Fe County and related agreements, including a Cost-Sharing and System Integration Agreement (that describes the location, capacity, and management of the Regional Water System and that allocates System costs).

Authorizes New Mexico and Santa Fe County, in agreement with the Pueblos, Santa Fe, and other signatories to the Cost-Sharing and System Integration Agreement, to modify the extent, size, and capacity of the County Distribution System (the portion of the Regional Water System that serves water customers on non-Pueblo land in the Pojoaque Basin) as set forth in that Agreement, which: (1) shall not affect implementation of the Settlement Agreement as long as specified conditions are satisfied; and (2) may result in an adjustment of the cost-share allocation between New Mexico and Santa Fe County.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to plan, design, and construct a Regional Water System to divert and distribute water to the Pueblos in accordance with the Agreement. Directs the Secretary, for the purpose of providing a reliable supply of water from the System for the Pueblos in accordance with the Agreement, to: (1) acquire rights to specified Nambe reserved water and water acquired by the County; (2) make a specified amount of water available to the Pueblos in accordance with the San Juan-Chama Project Act; and (3) obtain approval to divert such water for the System at points consistent with the Agreement.

Establishes in the Treasury the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos Fund.

Sets criteria for substantial completion of the Regional Water System.

Authorizes the Pueblos to execute a waiver and release of various specified claims.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/1/2010: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 265.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)