[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 116 (Tuesday, September 26, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CHANDLER PUMPING PLANT WATER EXCHANGE FEASIBILITY STUDY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2000

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the benefit of the 
Members a copy of the cost estimate prepared by the Congressional 
Budget Office for H.R. 3986, a bill to provide for a study of the 
engineering feasibility of a water exchange in lieu of electrification 
of the Chandler Pumping Plant at Prosser Diversion Dam, Washington.

                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                               Washington, DC, September 20, 2000.
     Hon. Don Young,
     Chairman, Committee on Resources, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
     prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3986, a bill to 
     provide for a study of the engineering feasibility of a water 
     exchange in lieu of electrification of the Chandler Pumping 
     Plant at Prosser Diversion Dam, Washington.
       If you wish further details of this estimate, we will be 
     pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact if Rachel 
     Applebaum, who can be reached at 226-2860.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Barry B. Anderson
                                   (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
       Enclosure.

     Congressional Budget Office, Cost Estimate, September 20, 2000

     (H.R. 3986: A bill to provide for a study of the engineering 
   feasibility of a water exchange in lieu of electrification of the 
    Chandler Pumping Plant at Prosser Diversion Dam, Washington, as 
  reported by the House Committee on Resources on September 19, 2000)


                                SUMMARY

       The Kennewick and Columbia Irrigation Districts in 
     Washington use water diverted from the Yakima River. H.R. 
     3986 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
     a feasibility study, prepare an environmental assessment, and 
     acquire right-of-way areas necessary to divert water from the 
     Columbia River rather than the Yakima River to meet the needs 
     of these irrigation districts.
       Based on information from the Bureau of Reclamation, CBO 
     estimates that implementing H.R. 3986 would cost $6 million 
     over the 2001-2003 period, assuming the appropriation of the 
     necessary funds. Enacting H.R. 3986 would not affect direct 
     spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures 
     would not apply. H.R. 3986 contains no intergovernmental or 
     private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates 
     Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, 
     or tribal governments.


                ESTIMATED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

       The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 3986 is shown in the 
     following table. The costs of this legislation fall within 
     budget funding 300 (natural resources and environment).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          By fiscal year, in millions of
                                                     dollars
                                        --------------------------------
                                          2001   2002   2003  2004  2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
 
Estimated Authorization Level..........      6      0      0   0     0
Estimated Outlays......................      1      2      3   0     0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           BASIS OF ESTIMATE

       Based on information from the Bureau of Reclamation, CBO 
     estimates that the feasibility study and the environmental 
     assessment authorized by the bill would cost $4 million, and 
     that the acquisition of right-of-way areas for this water 
     diversion project would cost $2 million.
       Current law authorizes the appropriation of $4 million for 
     an electrification project at the Chandler pumping plant. 
     Although H.R. 3986 authorizes the exchange of water as an 
     alternative to this electrification project, appropriated 
     funds for the electrification project have already been spent 
     by the bureau to study this project and on other activities. 
     Consequently, H.R. 3986 appears to provide new authority to 
     study the exchange of water from the Yakima to the Columbia 
     River and for the acquisition of right-of-way areas.
       Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.


              INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE-SECTOR IMPACT

       H.R. 3986 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
     mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on 
     state, local or tribal governments.
       Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Rachel Applebaum (226-
     2860); Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: 
     Marjorie Miller (225-3220); Impact on the Private Sector: 
     Lauren Marks (226-2940).
       Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
     Director for Budget Analysis.

     

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