111 HR 7793 IH: Rio Grande Water Security Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2022-05-17
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Rio Grande Water Security Act
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Title I—Rio Grande water securitySec. 101. Definitions.Sec. 102. Integrated water resources management plan for the Rio Grande Basin.Sec. 103. Rio Grande Basin Working Group.Sec. 104. Effect of title.Title II—Pueblo irrigationSec. 201. Reauthorization of Pueblo irrigation infrastructure grants.<enum>I</enum><header>Rio Grande water security</header><section id="H54E1C82AE14748EBA8664978C2AB6B9A"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="H8C02047818184EB08323E5A848D1DBFA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Basin Plan</header><text>The term <term>Basin Plan</term> means the integrated water resources management plan for the Rio Grande Basin developed under section 102(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5A692A6D1D7342699AE0441994D683AC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Basin State</header><text>The term <term>Basin State</term> means each of the following States:</text><subparagraph id="HD094807EF4A44EA7A4CA331CEEB2297A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Colorado.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F9BED5B4D564BBD99670203B9FA1B9A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>New Mexico.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H350F9B272E984451BCD732DCCA595148"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Texas.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id11608D5874AD4F18B27794BB313A4383"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Indian Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBB8380A853AE4D62BED79CB67D4A1CF7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Nature-based feature</header><text>The term <term>nature-based feature</term> has the meaning given the term in section 9502 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/10362">42 U.S.C. 10362</external-xref>). </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H491ACA6B98DA48B4AE97E89E2749287C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Rio Grande Basin</header><text>The term <term>Rio Grande Basin</term> means the mainstem of the Rio Grande from the headwaters of the Rio Grande in Colorado to the mouth of the Rio Grande in Texas and any hydrologically connected groundwater, aquifers, and tributaries, including tributaries that provide water via basin transfers.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD3F2292269AA4C8A8DD5D0BD0EEE96E9"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H60A1F995867F402ABB4F84896A9CBBDD"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Working group</header><text>The term <term>Working Group</term> means the Rio Grande Basin Working Group convened under section 102(a).</text></paragraph></section><section id="H5B6122FECFBC4AB7AC20F2573DA26DB9"><enum>102.</enum><header>Integrated water resources management plan for the Rio Grande Basin</header><subsection id="H3D97A528783343E6B07B51045E1FAEFC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a Federal Working Group, to be known as the “Rio Grande Basin Working Group”, to consult and collaborate with the Basin States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, irrigation districts, conservation districts, acequias, land grant-mercedes, and other local partners in the Rio Grande Basin to develop and implement an integrated water resources management plan for the Rio Grande Basin using the best available science, data, and local knowledge.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1C5BA0F750FC470BAA5A1D5198DFE3A4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The purpose of the Basin Plan is to improve—</text><paragraph id="HB746D414D2A64726B467FF70504BF534"><enum>(1)</enum><text>water security and quality for communities throughout the Rio Grande Basin;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H213AB2F8AAE94DD5B3D5EA3B219F9D3B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>river and watershed health for ecosystems, fish, and wildlife in the Rio Grande Basin;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8EF7090A0B724039A7068C5633ECDF93"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the resilience of communities and ecosystems in the Rio Grande Basin to drought and hydrologic change; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAFBB9FCA956A4D2EA83038E81B3ED506"><enum>(4)</enum><text>consultation, collaboration, and partnerships among Federal agencies, Basin States, Indian Tribes, and local partners within the Rio Grande Basin.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF4B96E6AC47147C4A348B87BF37A6824"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The Basin Plan shall include—</text><paragraph id="H3160D5C2C93247CD835E5BD631719B85"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a list of recommended projects and activities to achieve the purpose described in subsection (b), using the best available science for current and future conditions in the Rio Grande Basin, including recommendations for—</text><subparagraph id="HD33C5DCD7A0B475482AA625DB123913E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improving infrastructure design, maintenance, repair, planning, management, and operations throughout the Rio Grande Basin;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B7774338BEF47F49461C81C12ECAB3E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improving science, data, monitoring, and collaboration to improve understanding of the Rio Grande Basin, including—</text><clause id="H8B8EA46574A84A09AE2ACA217B481E18"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the hydrology and other processes of the Rio Grande Basin; and</text></clause><clause id="H002A0B07AA154E26889179EBE6DAD6DE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the long-term availability of water across the Rio Grande Basin;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA370865BA1F6497B8555A41BED3D4131"><enum>(C)</enum><text>increasing water conservation in the Rio Grande Basin through partnerships with communities and water users;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B9ECB1533234F04A07F62A852D2FAC2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>investments in nature-based features, infrastructure, and habitat improvements to improve river health, resilience, water security, and hazard mitigation in the Rio Grande Basin;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H66B78AE3CE984922825729ADBC37F5EC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>updating reservoir operations authorities and water control manuals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE1BB07F9B0744300BDB791A147DDDA4F"><enum>(F)</enum><text>improving consultation, collaboration, and partnerships throughout the Rio Grande Basin to achieve the objectives described in subparagraphs (A) through (E);</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H41E73E3EC13B49FE97D742FD8A54F75C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a list of potential changes to existing Federal authorities that may be needed to implement the Basin Plan; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H28C86D62B37E40B297C7599A5DC9FCB1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a timeline for implementing the Basin Plan over a 30-year period.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7048A8AAF73744F08BD115A6C3939052"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="H990CA16751874ACE9C83929A05BE4B37"><enum>(1)</enum><text>submit the Basin Plan to—</text><subparagraph id="HE4B30CD79FA54C3DA0569AF708A1E887"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the appropriate committees of Congress; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC7E5E84AA4FB419D8170F52FF87A49E4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Basin States, Indian Tribes located within the Rio Grande Basin, and local partners; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6805ED840D71449B8D2C597A24AA25DF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make the Basin Plan publicly available online.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H11F3E4B675034D779B0F90AF72C3ED51"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Implementation</header><paragraph id="H7C61B31DBFE04A24A9AACCEE78A713C0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>On submission of the Basin Plan to Congress under subsection (d)(1)(A), the relevant agencies of the Working Group may implement recommended projects and activities from the Basin Plan to achieve the purposes of this title, including—</text><subparagraph id="H6AA98808BB9F42EABF648DE5D240489E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>water conservation and restoration projects;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H25036E47EEC742ED9EA4643A59DBD1D6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>streamflow and groundwater recharge improvements;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD721EE9C7AE7433DA2E617643FC5164E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>optimization of Federal project management, including—</text><clause id="HB0CD2500E11B4D80811ED8F92217A8BF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>improvements and flexibility in reservoir, irrigation, and flood control project operations; and</text></clause><clause id="HC2D88319BD8043A180A69950446470B2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>updates and amendments to particular reservoir operations authorities, contracts, and water control manuals within the Rio Grande Basin, consistent with the recommendations provided in subsection (c)(1)(E);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H210F2F36D1C94F4BBAD9FF7D6FA75894"><enum>(D)</enum><text>studies of relevant projects and activities requiring further authorization;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H851E65133B6D4AEBA1C13A7E2653E0FE"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the establishment of a collaborative science, data, and monitoring program for the Rio Grande Basin; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7CFF3BF4A9B543FF8E48E5EC9981B91C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the establishment of a coordinated technical assistance program to support Rio Grande Basin stakeholders in accessing resources and programs to achieve the purposes of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H674AF4BB563242FABC9CF2831D02A1EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>In implementing this subsection, the relevant agencies of the Working Group may waive or reduce Federal cost-share requirements for projects and activities that demonstrate significant public benefits in accordance with the purpose described in subsection (b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H311F9382B31646F68874F45BD2F6E31B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The projects and activities implemented pursuant to subsection (e) shall be—</text><paragraph id="HD0ECEE8AF1714673A5152B4374D9A0F1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>subject to required authorization and appropriation by Congress;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H66264594E08644B095C20496D6A2EBD0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>contingent on the completion of applicable feasibility studies, environmental reviews, and cost-benefit analyses that include favorable recommendations for the proposed projects and activities; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5AEF4D1EF1234F049ECFB362D0F705A5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>implemented—</text><subparagraph id="HD1951C8835F84EDBAAACBAA350A66A78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in accordance with applicable law, including—</text><clause id="H3D7AD1812AFE456A89ABB38DF3BA2537"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="HFE6F913B98984689B7EE750CBB77ACBB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></clause><clause id="H04E5B26052324769A9A9264FABB039A5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1251">33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H17FF6A50D46F4DAAA931E355622B6453"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in consultation with and in accordance with State, Tribal, and local authorities in the Basin States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6E6955D8F07443BF91410960A14E638F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in accordance with interstate and international agreements applicable to the Rio Grande Basin; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3AAF3C81196C4B7383CEC1D03A4FC453"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in accordance with the water rights of any Indian Tribe or agreements between any Indian Tribe and the United States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H81A8A82AEE2B4C9E9AAB1F48AE038BF9"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the heads of the agencies represented on the Working Group such sums as are necessary to carry out this title for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2052. </text></subsection></section><section id="HE47A524611C1421A8BBD37319CD58248"><enum>103.</enum><header>Rio Grande Basin Working Group</header><subsection id="HCC2253D801584EBF96F9E1F7BE45A98B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>The Working Group shall be composed of the following members:</text><paragraph id="H29168BCE01694155890D0E51E4CE6F91"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF682C896C07344D2995E51919BEF5624"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H82B0EAEC562F4BD39684D8B2F325B095"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Chief of the Forest Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H69F3855A04AE4CC98EF810DEF29E1080"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H607071031F51443395712283698D77E6"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCD1EB74FB50F4A50B7B279791A08EE83"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Commissioner of Reclamation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBFFBE916B4554DFD82DEE6C01796ECD0"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The Director of any National Laboratory located in a Basin State.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA5004B093DFA47D2A789A781C856120A"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7E5782F548CD41F1919D76BDDE3D106C"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The Director of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5212521077064A99B34C59669CCABAAB"><enum>(10)</enum><text>The Director of the National Park Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3DED8E87BC3545D1953E3718D82A75A8"><enum>(11)</enum><text>The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9C8459EEA9D24E238626AC989DDC25DB"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The Director of the United States Geological Survey.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC16D59FB13E145D2AF49546F19FFD568"><enum>(13)</enum><text>The Secretary of Energy.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H11283E6B000D4651AE9AC170EC253E35"><enum>(14)</enum><text>The Under Secretary for Rural Development.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5CC6DEAD69CB44D0812FDCF212868593"><enum>(15)</enum><text>The heads of any other relevant Federal agencies, as determined to be appropriate by a majority of the members of the Working Group described in paragraphs (1) through (14).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H854CCB19DE2B4EABAE6A3E1A141258F2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Working Group shall consult, collaborate, and work with Basin States, Indian Tribes located within the Rio Grande Basin, and local partners—</text><paragraph id="H6899A91297FF4545A797FBA954796EA0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to develop and implement a Basin Plan; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB0D24A5EC72949A0BD52975E1657700D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>on submission of the Basin Plan to Congress under section 102(d)(1)(A), to support ongoing collaboration across the Rio Grande Basin among Federal stakeholders and non-Federal stakeholders within the Rio Grande Basin.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H710C5B2EA18A4E59877EB2EAB6D3CFD4"><enum>104.</enum><header>Effect of title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this title—</text><paragraph id="H7B8D7E0E094C41159D5970659037E62F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>affects, waives, abrogates, diminishes, defines, or interprets any water right of any Indian Tribe or agreement between any Indian Tribe and the United States;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7D36A160C07D4E87B9FD6462184BFBC6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>affects a contract or benefit in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that was executed pursuant to the reclamation laws, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to the contract or benefit;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCD461B1AF92A4987BEF9AC880FC2FB26"><enum>(3)</enum><text>affects any interstate or international agreement regarding the Rio Grande and the waters of the Rio Grande, or any other interstate compact or agreement regarding water;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0102B76282454FA3A07F37C695B1E600"><enum>(4)</enum><text>affects any ongoing treaty obligations; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE581C5FDF38946B0A56474A6DD9818F4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>limits or affects any Basin State or Indian Tribe in the management of water quantity or quality in accordance with State or Tribal laws, as applicable.</text></paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Pueblo irrigation</header><section id="H0562894BFD79450385BC1174EAF2C6E5"><enum>201.</enum><header>Reauthorization of Pueblo irrigation infrastructure grants</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 9106(g)(2) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/11">Public Law 111–11</external-xref>; 123 Stat. 1309) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H71B30F5AA4FA4D3DA1CADF805D705460"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>is authorized</quote> and inserting <quote>are authorized</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF28D62AE375A4C8BA8C333277A3AA757"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$6,000,000</quote> and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting <quote>such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2032.</quote>. </text></paragraph></section>