109 HR 4798 IH: California Perchlorate Contamination U.S. House of Representatives 2006-02-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4798 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 16, 2006 Mr. Pombo introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 facilitate remediation of perchlorate contamination in water sources in the State of California, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the California Perchlorate Contamination Remediation Act.

2.

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are— (1)to provide grants for remediation of perchlorate contamination of water sources and supplies (including wellheads) in the State; (2)to provide grants for research and development of perchlorate remediation technologies; and (3)to express the sense of Congress that the Administrator should establish a national drinking water standard for perchlorate.

3.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2)

California water authority

The term California water authority means a public water district, public water utility, public water planning agency, municipality, or Indian tribe that is— (A)located in a region identified under section 4(b)(3)(B); and (B)in operation as of the date of enactment of this Act. (3)

Fund

The term Fund means the California Perchlorate Cleanup Fund established by section 4(a)(1). (4)

State

The term State means the State of California.

4.

California perchlorate remediation grants

(a)

Perchlorate cleanup fund

(1)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the California Perchlorate Cleanup Fund, consisting of— (A)any amount appropriated to the Fund under section 7; and (B)any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under paragraph (3). (2)

Expenditures from Fund

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), on receipt of a request by the Administrator, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Administrator such amounts as the Administrator determines to be necessary to provide grants under subsections (b) and (c). (B)

Administrative expenses

An amount not to exceed 0.4 percent of the amounts in the Fund may be used to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this subsection. (3)

Investment of amounts

(A)

In general

The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current withdrawals. (B)

Interest-bearing obligations

Investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. (C)

Acquisition of obligations

For the purpose of investments under subparagraph (A), obligations may be acquired— (i)on original issue at the issue price; or (ii)by purchase of outstanding obligations at the market price. (D)

Sale of obligations

Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the market price. (E)

Credits to Fund

The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund. (b)

Cleanup grants

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (3), the Administrator shall provide grants to California water authorities, the total amount of which shall not exceed $50,000,000, to pay the Federal share of the cost of activities relating to cleanup of water sources and supplies (including wellheads) in the State that are contaminated by perchlorate. (2)

Federal share

The Federal share of the cost of an activity described in paragraph (1) shall not exceed 50 percent. (3)

Eligibility; priority

(A)

Eligibility

A California water authority that the Administrator determines to be responsible for perchlorate contamination shall not be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection. (B)

Priority

In providing grants under this subsection, the Administrator shall give priority to an activity described in paragraph (1) that is carried out in 1 or more of the following regions in the State: (i)The Santa Clara Valley. (ii)A region within the natural watershed of the Santa Ana River. (iii)The San Gabriel Valley. (iv)Sacramento County. (v)Any other region that has a damaged water source as a result of perchlorate contamination, as determined by the Administrator. (c)

Research and development grants

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall provide grants, the total amount of which shall not exceed $8,000,000, to qualified non-Federal entities (as determined by the Administrator) for use in carrying out research and development of perchlorate remediation technologies. (2)

Maximum amount of grant

The amount of a grant provided under paragraph (1) shall not exceed $1,000,000.

5.

Effect of Act

Nothing in this Act affects any authority or program of a Federal or State agency in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.

6.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator should establish a national drinking water standard for perchlorate as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act.

7.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $58,000,000, to remain available until expended.