[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1015-S1016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST:
  S. 240. a bill to authorize studies on water supply management and 
development; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, I introduce the Water Resource Study 
Act of 2001. The purpose of this bill is to ensure an adequate supply 
of fresh water for Tennessee's future.
  Currently, Tennessee is one of the fastest growing states in the 
country. We rank 9th out of the 50 states in projected population 
growth over the next 25 years. Though we welcome this growth, it is 
beginning to place a strain on our water supply. For example, public 
water use increased from 380 million gallons in 1960 to 777 million 
gallons in 1995. As industry and population increase, it will not be 
long before growth outpaces available water supply. We must act now to 
avoid serious problems.
  Specifically, this legislation would allow Tennessee to work with the 
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to select 
a geographical area within the state having ``consistent, emerging 
water supply needs'' and to take a serious look at the water supply in 
that particular area. After gathering relevant data, the study would 
consider available federal resources, identify areas for improvement 
and detect outdated programs. It would also begin determining the 
appropriate role of the federal government in helping local communities 
to develop an adequate water supply.
  This legislation is not the full solution, but it will assist in 
understanding the complexity of water supply development and the 
different alternatives to meeting future water supply needs. It is a 
good step in addressing this important issue for all Tennesseans.
  I ask that the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 240

       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 ``Water Resource Study Act of 
     2001''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) water resources in the United States are among the most 
     plentiful in the world;
       (2) for many years, the effective development and use of 
     water resources in the United States has been the focus of a 
     wide array of Federal policies and programs;
       (3) in recent years, unprecedented growth, multiple 
     competing water uses, and growing

[[Page S1016]]

     public interest in environmental protection have combined to 
     create an atmosphere of conflicting policy interests;
       (4) large-scale water conflicts continue to emerge between 
     communities, States, and stakeholder interests in the 
     southeastern region of the United States; and
       (5) Federal support is needed to assess the utility and 
     effectiveness of current Federal policies and programs as 
     they relate to resolving State and local water supply needs.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
     Tennessee.

     SEC. 4. STUDIES ON EMERGING WATER SUPPLY NEEDS.

       (a) Designation.--The Secretary shall offer to provide 
     assistance to the State to conduct studies under this 
     section.
       (b) Studies.--As a condition of receiving assistance under 
     this section, not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, in consultation with the Secretary, 
     the State shall--
       (1) select a geographic area within the State having 
     consistent, emerging, water supply needs; and
       (2) conduct a study on the emerging water supply needs of 
     the geographic area.
       (c) Administration.--A study conducted under this section 
     shall--
       (1) identify Federal and State resources, assistance 
     programs, regulations, and sources of funding for water 
     supply development and management that are applicable to the 
     geographic areas selected under subsection (b)(1);
       (2) identify potential weaknesses, redundancies, and 
     contradictions in those resources, assistance programs, 
     regulations, policies, and sources of funding;
       (3) conduct a water resource inventory in the geographic 
     study area to determine, with respect to the water supply 
     needs of the area--
       (A) projected demand;
       (B) existing supplies and infrastructure;
       (C) water resources that cannot be developed for water 
     supplies due to regulatory or technical barriers, including--
       (i) special aquatic sites (as defined in section 330.2 of 
     title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
     regulation)); and
       (ii) bodies of water protected under any other Federal or 
     State law;
       (D) water resources that can be developed for water 
     supplies, such as sites that have few, if any, technical or 
     regulatory barriers to development;
       (E) any water resources for which further research or 
     investigation, such as testing of groundwater aquifers, is 
     required to determine the potential for water supply 
     development for the site;
       (F) a description of the social, political, institutional, 
     and economic dynamics and characteristics of the geographic 
     study area that may affect the resolution of water supply 
     needs;
       (G) incentives for cooperation between water districts, 
     local governments, and State governments, including methods 
     that maximize private sector participation in the water 
     supply development; and
       (H) new water resource development technologies that merit 
     further analysis and testing.
       (d) Lead Agency.--For each study under this section, the 
     Corps of Engineers--
       (1) shall be the lead Federal agency; and
       (2) shall consult with the State for guidance in the 
     development of the study.
       (e) Participants.--
       (1) In general.--The United States Geological Survey and 
     the Tennessee Valley Authority shall participate in the 
     study.
       (2) Entities selected by the state.--In consultation with 
     the Secretary, the State shall select additional entities to 
     participate in the study.
       (3) University of tennessee.--The University of Tennessee 
     may elect to participate in the study.
       (f) Funding.--The Federal share of each study under this 
     section shall be 100 percent.
       (g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
     of a study under this section, the State shall submit a 
     report describing the findings of the study to--
       (1) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
     Senate.
       (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2002.
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