[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE ALAMEDA COUNTY DESALINATION PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 1998

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of 
important legislation that will benefit the people in Alameda County, 
California.
  I have introduced a bill that would authorize the construction of the 
Alameda County Brackish Water Desalination plant. This plant would 
treat the water from San Francisco Bay that has been creeping into the 
groundwater used by residents of my district in Alameda County. The 
water would either be directed for residential use or be put back into 
the ground.
  This project will decrease our dependability on water imported from 
the San Francisco Bay Delta and help us reclaim our groundwater basin. 
Additionally, this plant will improve the water quality and 
availability for almost 300,000 people in Fremont, California and the 
surrounding areas.
  This bill would authorize construction of the plant under the 
Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Studies Act and will cost $30 
million. The bill makes specific provisions to exclude the U.S. 
Government from incurring any costs associated with the operation of 
the plant and limits the total federal expenditures to 25% of the total 
construction cost. This one-time appropriation for construction will go 
a long way to ensure water quality and accessibility for the people of 
Alameda County.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important project and to take 
action soon to allow the Bureau of Reclamation to proceed with the 
feasibility study.

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