[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1371 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1371

 To ensure the protection of the coastal marine coral environment off 
 the west coast of Puerto Rico by requiring the Director of the United 
  States Geological Service to assess the environmental and economic 
costs and benefits of relocating an existing wastewater treatment plant 
        outfall to a deepwater location, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 30, 1995

Mr. Romero-Barcelo introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
    the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To ensure the protection of the coastal marine coral environment off 
 the west coast of Puerto Rico by requiring the Director of the United 
  States Geological Service to assess the environmental and economic 
costs and benefits of relocating an existing wastewater treatment plant 
        outfall to a deepwater location, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY BY THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the Geological Survey (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Director''), upon entering into a cooperative 
agreement under subsection (c) and subject to the availability of 
appropriations, shall conduct a mapping and study of the marine 
environment of Anasco Bay off the coast of the Mayaguez region of 
Puerto Rico, and of the marine environment in the ocean area adjacent 
to Anasco Bay, to determine the feasibility of constructing a deepwater 
outfall for the publicly owned treatment works located at Mayaguez, 
Puerto Rico, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The 
Director shall conduct the mapping and study in coordination and 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and in cooperation with the 
government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    (b) Contents of Study.--The study under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) determine whether environmental and economic benefits 
        can be achieved by constructing a new, deepwater outfall for 
        the publicly owned treatment works located at Mayaguez, Puerto 
        Rico;
            (2) determine and map possible locations for such a 
        deepwater outfall and determine for each location the effects 
        of such an outfall on wildlife resources, fisheries, the marine 
        coral environment, other marine communities, and water quality; 
        and
            (3) determine and compare the environmental and economic 
        costs and benefits of--
                    (A) relocating the existing wastewater treatment 
                plant outfall to any of one or more possible deepwater 
                locations; and
                    (B) operating the existing outfall modified to meet 
                secondary treatment standards.
    (c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the costs of a study under 
subsection (a) may not exceed 50 percent. The Director shall seek to 
enter into a cooperative agreement with the government of Puerto Rico 
under which the government of Puerto Rico is required to pay at least 
50 percent of the costs of the study.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Congress a report on the 
study under subsection (a) that includes--
            (1) a recommendation on the best location for construction 
        of a deepwater outfall for the publicly owned treatment works 
        located at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, based on the effects of such 
        an outfall on marine resources and the environment; and
            (2) if appropriate, a finding that the current discharge of 
        the treatment works from an outfall at that location would not 
        adversely affect the coastal marine environment.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $1,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1996.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION FOR A DEEPWATER OUTFALL.

    Notwithstanding section 301(j)(1)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1311(j)(1)(A)), any publicly owned treatment 
works for which the Director determines that environmental and economic 
benefits would result from relocation of its existing outfall to a new 
deepwater location may apply for a modification under section 301(h) of 
that Act (33 U.S.C. 1311(h)), for construction of a deepwater outfall 
at any location which the Director has reviewed, recommended, and found 
to be a point where the current discharge from the treatment works 
would not adversely affect the coastal marine environment. Such an 
application shall be filed within 1 year after the date the Director 
issues such a recommendation for the treatment works.
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