[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICES AT FOLSOM 
                                  DAM

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4079) to authorize the construction of temperature control 
devices at Folsom Dam in California, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4079

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO CONSTRUCT TEMPERATURE CONTROL 
                   DEVICES.

       (a) Folsom Dam.--The Secretary of the Interior is hereby 
     authorized to construct in accordance with the draft 
     environmental impact statement/environmental impact report 
     for the Central Valley Supply contracts under Public Law 101-
     514 (section 206) and the report entitled ``Assessment of the 
     Beneficial and Adverse Impacts of Operating a Temperature 
     Control Device (TCD) at the Water Supply Intakes of Folsom 
     Dam'', a temperature control device on Folsom Dam and 
     necessary associated temperature monitoring facilities. The 
     temperature control device and said associated temperature 
     monitoring facilities shall be operated as an integral part 
     of the Central Valley Project for the benefit and propagation 
     of fall-run chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the 
     American River, California.
       (b) Device on Non-CVP Facilities.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior is hereby authorized to construct or assist in the 
     construction of 1 or more temperature control devices on 
     existing non-Federal facilities delivering Central Valley 
     Project water supplies from Folsom Reservoir and necessary 
     associated temperature monitoring facilities. These costs of 
     construction of temperature control device and associated 
     temperature monitoring facilities shall be nonreimbursable 
     and operated by the non-Federal facility owner at its 
     expense, in coordination with the Central Valley Project for 
     the benefit and propagation of chinook salmon and steelhead 
     trout in the American River, California.
       (c) Authorization.--There is hereby authorized to be 
     appropriated for the construction of a temperature control 
     device on Folsom Dam and necessary associated temperature 
     monitoring facilities the sum of $5,000,000 (adjusted for 
     inflation based on October 1997 prices). There is also 
     authorized to be appropriated for the construction of a 
     temperature control device on existing non-Federal facilities 
     and necessary associated temperature monitoring facilities 
     the sum of $1,000,000 (October 1997 prices). There is also 
     authorized to be appropriated, in addition thereto, such 
     amounts as are required for operation, maintenance, and 
     replacement of the temperature control devices on Folsom Dam 
     and associated temperature monitoring facilities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Doolittle) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle).
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the primary purpose of H.R. 4079 is to authorize the 
construction of a temperature control device on Folsom Dam. The dam is 
located about 20 miles upstream from the city of Sacramento, California 
on the American River. A temperature control device is needed to allow 
the diversion of municipal water supplies from a point higher in the 
water column in the Folsom Reservoir than is now possible with the 
existing municipal water intakes. By diverting the water high on the 
water column, cold water can be released into the lower American River 
for steelhead and fall-run chinook salmon during the critical July 
through October period of the year when water temperatures tend to 
reach their annual highs. I would urge an aye vote on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4079 which will authorize 
Federal and non-Federal projects at the Bureau of Reclamation's Folsom 
Dam Reservoir. These projects are intended to help and control and 
monitor the temperature of water released from Folsom Dam so the fish 
may benefit from the releases of cooler water. The amount authorized by 
H.R. 4079 for the temperature control devices at Folsom Dam is $5 
million, although no specific requirements for reimbursing of these 
costs are set forth in the bill. It is my understanding the Bureau of 
Reclamation will consider these costs as capital improvements to the 
CVP project and will allocate the costs among CVP water and power 
customers in accordance with current CVP cost allocation procedures.
  The cost estimate report prepared by the Congressional Budget Office 
on H.R. 4079 clearly states that, quote, about 4 million, end quote, of 
the cost of constructing temperature control devices and monitoring 
apparatus at Folsom Dam would be repaid by the water and power users. 
With this understanding regarding the reimbursement of costs, the 
administration has advised us they do not object to this legislation. 
The control of water temperatures released from dams is a proven and 
cost-effective method of improving survival of fish.

                              {time}  1645

  I thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power for his 
commitment to this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 4079.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4079, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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