I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2664 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 27, 2011 Mrs. Napolitano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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 reauthorize the Water Desalination Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reauthorization of Water Desalination Act of 2011.

2.

Water desalination activities

(a)

In general

The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretary) shall operate, manage and maintain facilities to carry out research, development, and demonstration activities to develop technologies and methods that promote brackish groundwater desalination as a viable method to increase water supply in a cost-effective manner. (b)

Objectives; activities

(1)

Objectives

The Secretary shall conduct demonstration projects— (A)to develop new water and energy technologies with widespread applicability; and (B)to create new supplies of usable water for municipal, agricultural, industrial, or environmental purposes. (2)

Activities

In operating, managing, and maintaining the facilities under subsection (a), the Secretary shall carry out— (A)as a priority, the development of renewable energy technologies for integration with desalination technologies— (i)to reduce the capital and operational costs of desalination; (ii)to minimize the environmental impacts of desalination; and (iii)to increase public acceptance of desalination as a viable water supply process; (B)research regarding various desalination processes, including improvements in reverse and forward osmosis technologies; (C)the development of innovative methods and technologies to reduce the volume and cost of desalination concentrated wastes (including the disposal of desalination concentrated wastes) in an environmentally sound manner; (D)an outreach program to create partnerships with States, academic institutions, private entities, local public agencies, and other appropriate organizations to conduct research, development, and demonstration activities, including the establishment of rental and other charges to provide revenue to help offset the costs of operating and maintaining the facility; and (E)an outreach program to educate the public on— (i)desalination and renewable energy technologies; and (ii)the benefits of using water in an efficient manner. (c)

Authority of secretary

The Secretary may enter into contracts or other agreements with, or make grants to, appropriate entities to manage, operate, or otherwise carry out this section, including an agreement with a local or regional academic institution or a consortium of institutions to manage research activities. (d)

Reauthorization

Section 8 of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10301 note; Public Law 104–298) is amended— (1)in subsection (a), in the first sentence, by striking 2011 and inserting 2016; and (2)in subsection (b), by striking $25,000,000 for fiscal years 1997 through 2011 and inserting $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.