A. The consumptive use of up to thirty-four thousand one hundred acre feet of water per year chargeable to the water apportioned to the state of Arizona under the provisions of article III, section (a) (1) of the upper Colorado river basin compact (act of April 6, 1949; 63 Stat. 31) for the operation of a thermal generating plant to be located in the state of Arizona and for the benefit of all of the participants in such thermal generating plant is hereby approved.

B. The phrase "for the operation of a thermal generating plant", as used in this section, shall include the use of water for thermal generation of electric energy and all other purposes necessary or related to the operation of the thermal generating plant, including but not limited to mining, coal transportation and ash disposal.