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Show 2 TRANSFER OF DUTIES TO SAN DIEGO AQUEDUCT, CALIF. had been directed to complete the plans and specifications for the construction of the aqueduct and the Navy had been instructed to proceed with the construction. In the letter of transmittal the President also stated that after the war emergency the Bureau of Reclamation would assume charge of the aqueduct. Navy-Interior agreement The Departments of the Navy and of the Interior agree that the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior is the agency best equipped to administer the San Diego aqueduct. The aqueduct is located in California which is one of the reclamation States, and the Bureau of Reclamation is fully equipped to handle the administration as part of the continuing water and reclamation programs which the Bureau conducts. FIRST BARREL CONSTRUCTION The actual construction of the first barrel by the Navy commenced in May 1945. On October 17, 1945, contract NOy-13300 was entered into by the Navy with the city of San Diego by which the city agreed to lease the aqueduct with an option to purchase at the "true cost" thereof as determined under the contract. The contract was subsequently assigned by the city to the San Diego County Water Authority. By Public Law 482 (80th Cong., 2d sess.) the Navy obtained congressional authorization to construct the first barrel and to enter into the contract. SECOND BARREL CONSTRUCTION In 1951 by Public Law 171 (82d Cong., 1st sess.) the Navy was authorized to construct the second barrel of the aqueduct and to enter into an amendment to contract NOy-13300 to include the second barrel and to grant to the San Diego County Water Authority the right to purchase the same over a 40-year period upon the terms and conditions prescribed in the law. On January 1, 1952, possession of the first barrel was turned over to the authority under the contract and on February 28, 1955, the second barrel, having been completed, possession thereof was turned over by the Nav}r to the authority. Thus, at the present time the Navy has turned over possession of both the first and second barrels to the authority and the Navy is presently administering the contract. NAVY POSITION The Navy is desirous of effecting the transfer of the administration of the contract and of the aqueduct to the Department of the Interior in accordance with the intention of the President expressed at the time the Navy was directed to construct the first barrel. Various memorandums of understanding which have been entered into between the two Departments likewise reflect this intention. LACK OF PRESENT AUTHORITY At the present time no legislative authority exists permitting the transfer of administration and of the aqueduct from the Navy to Interior, Public Law 482 (80th Cong., 2d sess.) and Public Law 171 (82d Cong., 1st sess.), which authorized the construction of the first |
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Original book: [State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California, defendants, United States of America, State of Nevada, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, interveners] : California exhibits. |