[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5770 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5770

To provide for a study by the National Academy of Sciences of potential 
    impacts of climate change on water resources and water quality.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2008

 Mr. Hall of New York (for himself, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. George Miller of 
California, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, and Ms. Lee) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, 
      and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources and 
  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 provide for a study by the National Academy of Sciences of potential 
    impacts of climate change on water resources and water quality.

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

SECTION 1. STUDY OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATER 
              RESOURCES AND WATER QUALITY.

    (a) National Academy Study.--Not later than 60 days after funds are 
appropriated to carry out this Act, the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall enter into an arrangement with 
the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall prepare 
a 2-part study that includes the following:
            (1) Hydrology and water quality.--One part of the study 
        shall consist of--
                    (A) an identification of the potential impacts of 
                climate change on--
                            (i) the Nation's watersheds and water 
                        resources, including the potential for impacts 
                        to wetlands, shoreline erosion, and saltwater 
                        intrusion as a result of sea level rise, and 
                        other hydrological and ecological impacts;
                            (ii) significant regional variation in 
                        precipitation events from historic patterns, 
                        and the resulting impacts on watersheds, water 
                        resources, and water quality; and
                            (iii) water quality, including the extent 
                        to which Federal and State efforts under the 
                        Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
                        1251 et seq.) and other ocean and coastal 
                        protection laws may be affected by climate 
                        change; and
                    (B) information, analyses, and data that identify, 
                to the maximum extent practicable, hydrological and 
                temperature changes by watershed in the United States 
                and that support the findings made under subparagraph 
                (A).
            (2) Policy considerations.--Another part of the study shall 
        consist of--
                    (A) an identification of the scientific consensus, 
                assumptions, and uncertainties related to predictions 
                of climate change in the United States;
                    (B) an assessment of the extent to which Federal 
                and State efforts under the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act and other ocean and coastal laws may be 
                affected by climate change;
                    (C) an identification of steps to assess emerging 
                information and identifying the appropriate response 
                actions to meet the requirements of such Act, including 
                provisions to attain or maintain water quality 
                standards and for adequate stream flows for wetlands 
                and aquatic resources; and
                    (D) recommendations, if necessary, of potential 
                legislative or regulatory changes to address impacts of 
                global climate change on efforts to restore and 
                maintain the chemical, physical, and biological 
                integrity of the Nation's waters.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report of the results of 
the study in subsection (a), together with any additional comments of 
the Administrator, to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this Act.
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