[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1709 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1709

  To provide favorable treatment for certain projects in response to 
 Hurricane Katrina, with respect to revolving loans under the Federal 
          Water Pollution Control Act, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 15, 2005

 Mr. Inhofe (for himself, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
    Chafee, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Warner, Mr. Carper, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. 
 Landrieu, and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was 
  read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 
                                 Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide favorable treatment for certain projects in response to 
 Hurricane Katrina, with respect to revolving loans under the Federal 
          Water Pollution Control Act, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf Coast Emergency Water 
Infrastructure Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LOANS.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Project.--In this section, the term 
``eligible project'' means a project--
            (1) to repair or rebuild a publicly-owned treatment works 
        (as defined in section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution 
        Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292)) in an area affected by Hurricane 
        Katrina or a related condition; or
            (2) that is a water quality project directly related to 
        relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina or a related 
        condition, as determined by the State in which the project is 
        located.
    (b) Additional Subsidization.--For the 2-year period beginning on 
the date of enactment of this Act, a State may provide additional 
subsidization to an eligible project that receives funds through a 
revolving loan under section 603 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1383), including--
            (1) forgiveness of the principal of the revolving loan; or
            (2) a zero-percent interest rate on the revolving loan.
    (c) Extended Terms.--For the 2-year period beginning on the date of 
enactment of this Act, a State may extend the term of a revolving loan 
under section 603 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) for an eligible project 
described in subsection (b), if the extended term--
            (1) terminates not later than the date that is 30 years 
        after the date of completion of the project that is the subject 
        of the loan; and
            (2) does not exceed the expected design life of the 
        project.

SEC. 3. INTENDED USE PLANS.

    (a) Definition of State.--In this section, the term ``State'' 
means--
            (1) the State of Alabama;
            (2) the State of Louisiana; and
            (3) the State of Mississippi.
    (b) Projects by States.--For the 2-year period beginning on the 
date of enactment of this Act, a State may provide assistance to a 
public water system that is not included on the intended use plan of 
the State under section 1452(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300j-12(b)), if the project--
            (1) involves damage caused by Hurricane Katrina or a 
        related condition; and
            (2) is in accordance with section 1452(b)(3)(A) of that Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(b)(3)(A)).

SEC. 4. TESTING OF PRIVATELY-OWNED DRINKING WATER WELLS.

    On receipt of a request from a homeowner, the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency may conduct a test of a drinking water 
well owned or operated by the homeowner that is, or may be, 
contaminated as a result of Hurricane Katrina or a related condition.
                                 <all>