[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 72 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4953-S4954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. Mack:)
  S. 2711. A bill to authorize the Administrator of the Environment 
Protection Agency to make grants to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority 
and other appropriate agencies for the purpose of improving water 
quality throughout the marine ecosystem of the Florida Keys; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.


             the florida keys water quality improvement act

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, the Florida Keys are a unique 
natural resource area that we must value and protect. This 158 mile-
long string of islands at the southern tip of Florida attracts two and 
a half million visitors each year to fish, swim, snorkel, dive, and 
otherwise enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
  One of the most striking characteristics of the Florida Keys is their 
pristine marine environment. The Keys support one of the largest sea 
grass communities in this hemisphere and more than 6000 species of 
plants fish, and invertebrates. The diversity of this reef ecosystem is 
considered the underwater equivalent of the tropical rainforests.
  But that ecosystem--and the economy it supports--is at grave risk. 
The degradation of water quality in the Florida Keys threatens the 
health of the living coral reef, sea grasses, fisheries, and other 
marine life. This decline threatens to transform the Keys from one of 
Florida's most treasured resources to one of its most poisoned.
  Mr. President, the great irony is that we are loving the Florida Keys 
to death. While we are pleased that these islands attract new residents 
and visitors from all over the world, improvements in wastewater 
treatment and management practices have not kept pace with population 
and tourism growth.
  Why is this significant? Ongoing research has determined that 
nutrients from wastewater have significantly contributed to the decline 
of water quality in the Florida Keys. It will take a strong partnership 
of federal, state, and local governments working in conjunction with 
environmental advocates and other interests to build the better sewage 
treatment systems needed to improve canal and nearshore water quality.
  Fortunately for the Florida Keys, such a partnership is already in 
place and at work. In 1990, Congress established the Florida Keys 
National Marine Sanctuary to protect the marine habitat while 
continuing to allow for its appropriate use. The sanctuary program has 
brought together representatives of necessary interests to develop a 
plan for challenges like water quality.
  Central to this effort is the Monroe County government, which has 
developed a Wastewater Master Plan to identify long-term solutions to 
the water quality problem. The plan estimates that infrastructure 
projects implemented to improve water quality will incur total capital 
costs of $346 million--a major undertaking that will require funding at 
every level.
  Mr. President, I have long said that any federal assistance for Keys 
wastewater improvements would first require a strong show of local 
support. Monroe County has done its fair share. Through a combination 
of revenue bonds, user fees and an infrastructure sales tax, the County 
has made a commitment of over $150 million over 10 years.
  Mr. President, it is time for this Congress to hold up its end of the 
bargain. Today, Senator Mack and I are introducing the Florida Keys 
Water Quality Improvements Act of 2000. Similar legislation passed the 
House on May 4, 2000 with almost unanimous support.
  The Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Act authorizes the 
Environmental Protection Agency to make grants for construction of 
wastewater treatment works. These grants are only awarded to projects 
that already have a significant investment. Successful applicant 
projects will be those that have completed the planning and design 
phase, demonstrated substantial water quality benefits and proven 
compliance with the Marine Sanctuary and other master plans for the 
area. And as is appropriate in a partnership, these grants will fund a 
portion of project costs, with an least 25 percent of the cost paid by 
local and state entities.
  Mr. President, the prospect of treating wastewater for an 
increasingly crowed 158-mile-long string of islands is not a simple 
one. But it is vital that we preserve this beautiful area not just for 
current residents and visitors--but also for our children and 
grandchildren. With this legislation, we can put the federal government 
on the side of this worthy goal, and support the investment that has 
been made by the residents and protectors of the Florida Keys.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2711

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Florida Keys Water Quality 
     Improvements Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. FLORIDA KEYS WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS.

       Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 121. FLORIDA KEYS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Administrator may make grants to the 
     Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, appropriate agencies of 
     municipalities of Monroe County, Florida, and other 
     appropriate public agencies of the State of Florida or Monroe 
     County for the planning and construction of treatment works 
     to improve water quality in the Florida Keys National Marine 
     Sanctuary.
       ``(b) Criteria for Projects.--To be eligible for a grant 
     for a project under subsection (a), an agency described in 
     subsection (a) shall demonstrate that--
       ``(1) the agency has completed adequate planning and design 
     activities for the project;
       ``(2) the agency has completed a financial plan identifying 
     sources of non-Federal funding for the project;
       ``(3) the project complies with--
       ``(A) applicable growth management ordinances of Monroe 
     County, Florida;
       ``(B) applicable agreements between Monroe County, Florida, 
     and the State of Florida to manage growth in Monroe County, 
     Florida; and
       ``(C) applicable water quality standards; and
       ``(4) the project is consistent with the master wastewater 
     and stormwater plans for Monroe County, Florida.
       ``(c) Consideration.--In selecting projects to receive 
     grants under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider 
     whether a project will have substantial water quality 
     benefits relative to other projects under consideration.
       ``(d) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Administrator shall consult with--
       ``(1) the Steering Committee established under section 
     8(d)(2)(A) of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and 
     Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1433 note; 106 Stat. 5054);
       ``(2) the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force 
     established by section 528(f) of the Water Resources 
     Development Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 3771);
       ``(3) the Commission on the Everglades established by 
     Executive Order of the Governor of the State of Florida; and
       ``(4) other appropriate State and local government 
     agencies.
       ``(e) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
     project carried out using amounts from grants made under 
     subsection (a) shall be not more than 75 percent.

[[Page S4954]]

       ``(f) Sense of Congress.--
       ``(1) Purchase of equipment and products produced in the 
     united states.--In the case of any equipment or product that 
     may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance 
     provided under this section, it is the sense of Congress that 
     agencies receiving the financial assistance should, in 
     expending the assistance, purchase only equipment and 
     products that are produced in the United States.
       ``(2) Notice to Recipients of Assistance.--In providing 
     financial assistance under this section, the Administrator 
     shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a notice 
     describing the statement of Congress under paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Reporting of Expenditures.--Not later than 180 days 
     after an agency that receives funds under this section makes 
     any expenditure on an item that is produced in a country 
     other than the United States, the agency shall report the 
     expenditure to Congress.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, to 
     remain available until expended--
       ``(1) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
       ``(2) $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
       ``(3) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 through 
     2005.''.

  Mr. MACK. Mr. President, I rise with my friend and colleague Senator 
Graham to introduce the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Act. 
This bill is identical to legislation that passed the House on May 4, 
2000 by a vote of 411-7, and would provide Federal resources to help 
improve and maintain one of our Nation's real treasures, the Florida 
Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
  The Florida Keys are a spectacular natural resource of international 
significance. Within the Florida Keys lies the only living coral reef 
bed in the United States and the third largest living coral reef in the 
world. The reef is home to plants and animals unique to this area and 
that comprise a rare and sensitive ecosystem at the southern end of the 
Everglades ecosystem. While the spectacular coral reef is the Keys' 
most popular feature, they are also known for native seagrass beds, 
lush tropical hardwood hammocks, mangrove forests, rocky pinelands, the 
endangered key deer, and a wide array of aquatic life.
  The Florida Keys marine ecosystem is dependent upon clean, clear 
water with low nutrient levels for its survival. Water quality experts 
have found that the inadequate wastewater treatment and storm water 
management systems are major contributors of pollution in the nearby 
waters off the Florida Keys. This increased pollution has had 
devastating effects on the marine environment, and is threatening the 
reefs on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Unless decisive 
action is taken to stop the flow of pollution, scientists warn the 
ecosystem will continue its decline towards total collapse.
  The source of the problem is clear. The Keys have almost no water 
quality infrastructure. Lacking adequate technology, untreated 
wastewater now travels easily through porous limestone rock into the 
near-shore waters. Polluted stormwater also flows from developed land 
into the same near-shore waters.
  Our bill is a natural extension of the Federal commitment to the 
Florida Keys made under the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 
Protection Act approved by Congress in 1990. This legislation 
established a Federal role in the research and protection of the Keys 
marine ecosystem. The Act directed the Environmental Protection Agency 
and the State of Florida to establish a Water Quality Steering 
Committee which was charged with developing a comprehensive water 
quality protection program. In fulfilling this directive, the steering 
committee worked closely with dedicated citizens, scientists, and 
technical experts. In the final analysis, it found that inadequate 
wastewater and stormwater systems are the single largest source of 
pollution in the Keys.
  This bill authorizes Federal assistance to help local officials 
afford the necessary improvements to protect the Florida Keys National 
Marine Sanctuary. It establishes a grant program under the 
Environmental Protection Agency for the construction of treatment works 
projects aimed at improving the water quality of the Florida Keys 
National Marine Sanctuary. The administrator of EPA, after consultation 
with State and local officials, would be authorized to fund treatment 
works projects that comply or are consistent with local growth 
ordinances, plans and agreements, as well as current water quality 
standards. Projects funded under this program would be cost-shared, 
with local sponsors providing a minimum of 25 percent of the project 
costs.
  This bill authorizes $213 million in Federal funding for the 
deployment of water quality technology throughout the Keys. To make the 
necessary wastewater improvements, the estimated cost to improve near-
shore water quality in the Florida Keys is between $184 million and 
$418 million. To make the necessary storm water management 
improvements, the estimated cost is between $370 million and $680 
million. The Federal government is not going to bear the entire cost, 
even though this is a national resource. The State of Florida is 
obligated to come up with 25 percent cost share.
  Moneys authorized by this bill will be utilized to replace the dated, 
inefficient system of sludge ponds and septic tanks currently being 
used in the Keys with modern waste and storm water treatment works. By 
ensuring that the nutrients associated with such wastes are not 
discharged or released into the surrounding waters, we can prevent 
further damage to the marine environment and achieve dramatic 
improvement to the water quality in the National Marine Sanctuary.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this reasonable 
approach to maintaining an essential national resource. I hope there 
will be a broad, bipartisan support for this bill.

                          ____________________