1.Short title, findings, and
purpose
(a)This Act may be cited as the More Water, More Energy, and Less Waste Act of
2007
.
(b)The
Congress finds that—
(1)development of
energy resources, including oil, natural gas, coalbed methane, and geothermal
resources, frequently results in bringing to the surface water extracted from
underground sources;
(2)some of that
produced water is used for irrigation or other purposes, but most of the water
is returned to the subsurface or otherwise disposed of as waste;
(3)reducing the
quantity of produced water returned to the subsurface and increasing the
quantity of produced water that is made available for irrigation and other
uses—
(A)would augment
water supplies;
(B)could reduce the
costs to energy developers for disposing of the water; and
(C)in some cases,
could increase the efficiency of energy development activities; and
(4)it is in the national interest—
(A)to limit the quantity of produced water
disposed of as waste;
(B)to optimize the production of energy
resources; and
(C)to remove or reduce obstacles to use of
produced water for irrigation or other purposes in ways that will not adversely
affect water quality or the environment.
(c)The
purposes of this Act are—
(1)to optimize the
production of energy resources—
(A)by minimizing the
quantity of produced water; and
(B)by facilitating
the use of produced water for irrigation and other purposes without adversely
affecting water quality or the environment; and
(2)to demonstrate
means of accomplishing those results.
2.In this Act:
(1)The term Lower Basin State means any of the
States of—
(A)Arizona;
(B)California;
and
(C)Nevada.
(2)The term produced water means water from an
underground source that is brought to the surface as part of the process of
exploration for, or development of—
(A)oil;
(B)natural
gas;
(C)coalbed methane;
or
(D)any other
substance to be used as an energy source.
(3)The
term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4)The term Upper Basin State means any of the
States of—
(A)Colorado;
(B)New
Mexico;
(C)Utah; and
(D)Wyoming.
3.Identification of
problems and solutions
(a)The
Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, the Director of the
United States Geological Survey, and the Director of the Bureau of Land
Management shall conduct a study to identify—
(1)the technical,
economic, environmental, and other obstacles to reducing the quantity of
produced water;
(2)the technical, economic, environmental,
legal, and other obstacles to increasing the extent to which produced water can
be used for irrigation and other purposes without adversely affecting water
quality or the environment;
(3)the legislative,
administrative, and other actions that could reduce or eliminate the obstacles
identified in paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(4)the costs and
benefits associated with reducing or eliminating the obstacles identified in
paragraphs (1) and (2).
(b)Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report
describing the results of the study under subsection (a).
4.
(a)Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall provide financial assistance for the
development of facilities, technologies, and processes to demonstrate the
feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of—
(1)optimizing energy
resource production by reducing the quantity of produced water generated;
or
(2)increasing the extent to which produced
water may be recovered and made suitable for use for irrigation, municipal, or
industrial uses, or other purposes without adversely affecting water quality or
the environment.
(b)Assistance
under this section—
(1)shall be provided
for—
(A)at least 1 project
in each of the Upper Basin States; and
(B)at least 1 project
in at least 1 of the Lower Basin States;
(2)shall not exceed
$1,000,000 for any project;
(3)shall be used to
pay not more than 50 percent of the total cost of a project;
(4)shall not be used
for the operation or maintenance of any facility; and
(5)may be in addition
to assistance provided by the Federal Government pursuant to other provisions
of law.
5.Consultation,
advice, and commentsIn
carrying out this Act, including in preparing the report under section 3(b) and
establishing criteria to be used in connection with an award of financial
assistance under section 4, the Secretary shall—
(1)consult with the
Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency,
and appropriate Governors and local officials;
(2)(A)review any relevant
information developed in connection with research carried out by others,
including research carried out pursuant to subtitle J of title IX of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16371 et seq.); and
(B)to the extent the Secretary determines
to be advisable, include that information in the report under section
3(b);
(3)seek the advice
of—
(A)individuals with
relevant professional or academic expertise; and
(B)individuals or
representatives of entities with industrial experience, particularly experience
relating to production of oil, natural gas, coalbed methane, or other energy
resources (including geothermal resources); and
(4)solicit comments
and suggestions from the public.
6.Nothing in this Act
supersedes, modifies, abrogates, or limits—
(1)the effect of any
State law or any interstate authority or compact relating to—
(A)any use of water;
or
(B)the regulation of
water quantity or quality; or
(2)the applicability
or effect of any Federal law (including regulations).
7.Authorization of
appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated—
(1)$1,000,000 to carry out section 3;
and
(2)$7,500,000 to
carry out section 4.