I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 469 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To encourage research, development, and demonstration of technologies to facilitate the utilization of water produced in connection with the development of domestic energy resources, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Produced Water Utilization Act of 2009.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Produced water

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 coalbed methane, oil, natural gas, or any other substance to be used as an energy source. (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

3.

Purposes

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall carry out under this Act a program of research, development, and demonstration of technologies for environmentally sustainable utilization of produced water for agricultural, irrigational, municipal, and industrial uses, or other environmentally sustainable purposes. The program shall be designed to maximize the utilization of produced water in the United States by increasing the quality of produced water and reducing the environmental impacts of produced water. (b)

Program Elements

The program under this Act shall address the following areas, including improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts of activities within each area: (1)Produced water recovery, including research for desalination and demineralization to reduce total dissolved solids in the produced water. (2)Produced water utilization for agricultural, irrigational, municipal, and industrial uses, or other environmentally sustainable purposes. (3)Re-injection of produced water into subsurface geological formations to increase energy production. (c)

Program Administration

To carry out the purposes under this Act, the Secretary may enter into an agreement with a consortium whose members have collectively demonstrated capabilities and experience in planning and managing research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs for unconventional natural gas and other petroleum production and produced water utilization. (d)

Activities at the National Laboratories

The Secretary, through the appropriate National Laboratory, shall carry out a program of research, development, and demonstration activities complementary to and supportive of the research, development, and demonstration programs under subsection (b).

4.

Consultation and coordination

(a)

Consultation

In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (b)

Coordination

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the activities under this Act are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs at the Department of Energy and other government agencies.

5.

Funding

(a)

Allocation

Amounts appropriated for this Act for each fiscal year shall be allocated as follows: (1)75 percent shall be for activities under section 3(a), (b), and (c). (2)25 percent shall be for activities under section 3(d) and other activities under section 3, including administrative functions such as program direction, overall program oversight, and contract management. (b)

Authorization of Appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Passed the House of Representatives February 11, 2009.Lorraine C. Miller,Clerk.