[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 100 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5933-H5935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1445
AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN RECYCLING PROJECTS
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2991) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
participate in the Inland Empire regional recycling project and in the
Cucamonga County Water District recycling program, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2991
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H5934]]
SECTION 1. INLAND EMPIRE AND CUCAMONGA COUNTY RECYCLING
PROJECTS.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Inland
Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative''.
(b) In General.--The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater
Study and Facilities Act (Public Law 102-575, Title XVI; 43
U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 1636. INLAND EMPIRE REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING PROJECT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the
Inland Empire Utilities Agency, may participate in the
design, planning, and construction of the Inland Empire
regional water recycling project described in the report
submitted under section 1606(c).
``(b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the
project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25
percent of the total cost of the project.
``(c) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall
not be used for operation and maintenance of the project
described in subsection (a).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000.
``SEC. 1637. CUCAMONGA COUNTY WATER RECYCLING PROJECT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the
Cucamonga County Water District, may participate in the
design, planning, and construction of the Cucamonga County
Water District pilot satellite recycling plant in Rancho
Cucamonga, California, to reclaim and recycle approximately 2
million gallons per day of domestic wastewater.
``(b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the
project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25
percent of the capital cost of the project.
``(c) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall
not be used for operation and maintenance of the project
described in subsection (a).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections in
section 2 of Public Law 102-575 is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 1635 the following:
``Sec. 1636. Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Program.
``Sec. 1637. Cucamonga County Water Recycling Project.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentlewoman from Guam
(Ms. Bordallo) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).
General Leave
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2991, introduced by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Dreier), provides Federal resources for two water recycling
projects in southern California. The projects authorized in the bill
would add an estimated 75,000 acre-feet of water annually to one of the
largest recycled water distribution systems in the Santa Ana River
Watershed. The projects will treat contaminated surface and ground
waters and deliver the recycled water to nearby localities, including
underground storage. The bill limits the Federal cost share to 25
percent of the total cost of the projects.
This bill is yet another step toward utilizing currently untapped
sources of water and providing clean and dependable water supplies for
future generations. I urge my colleagues to support this important
piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the drought in the Colorado River Basin is
a serious crisis. H.R. 2991 would help support the construction of
regional water recycling projects in southern California. These
projects can help stabilize water supplies and reduce the need to use
water from the Colorado River. Local communities have made substantial
investments in the projects, and they deserve our support.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation authored by my
colleague from California (Mr. Dreier).
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of
the Committee on Rules and the author of this legislation.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise obviously in strong support of this
legislation. I thank my friend from Guam for her very nice remarks, and
I would especially like to express my appreciation to my friend from
Arizona. This initiative deals with water, and both of our States right
now are dealing with very serious fire problems. Obviously, I would
like to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims in both
of our States, Arizona and California, of those who are suffering and
have been over the last several weeks. I would also like to express
appreciation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the very
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Resources, as well as my
friend from California (Mr. Calvert), chairman of the Subcommittee on
Water and Power. We appreciate their hard work and that of all the
members of the committee, and I see a lot of staff members here on the
floor. I know they have played a big role in helping us move H.R. 2991
to the floor here.
This measure was introduced as the Inland Empire Regional Water
Recycling Initiative to authorize water recycling projects under the
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's title XVI program. This initiative
includes two projects which, combined, will produce 75,000 acre-feet of
new water annually. With the passage of the CalFed authorization
legislation, which we have been working for a decade and a half on, and
I mentioned the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentleman
from California (Mr. Calvert) last when we brought this measure up 2
weeks ago, it is very imperative that we continue to approve measures
preventing water supply shortages in the western United States. This
recycling initiative will help meet the water needs of the Inland
Empire and begin a strategic Federal-local partnership to bring a
significant amount of new water supply to our region.
I am very pleased that this bill has the support of all member
agencies of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency as well as the water
agencies downstream in Orange County. The IEUA encompasses
approximately 242 square miles and serves the cities of Chino, Chino
Hills, Fontana, Ontario, Upland, Montclair, and Rancho Cucamonga.
The Inland Empire Utilities Agency produces recycled water for a
variety of nonpotable purposes, such as landscape irrigation,
agricultural irrigation, construction and industrial cooling. By
replacing these water-intensive applications with high-quality recycled
water, fresh water can be conserved or used for drinking, thereby
reducing the dependence on expensive imported water.
In addition, by recycling water which would otherwise be wasted and
unavailable, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency provides that the water
available goes through at least one more cycle of beneficial use before
it is ultimately returned to the environment.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate my thanks to the Committee on
Resources which under the leadership of the gentleman from California
(Mr. Pombo) and the subcommittee led by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Calvert) has really accomplished landmark water legislation this
year. This is just a small but, for me, a very important part of that.
I also want to express appreciation to the bipartisan delegation from
southern California that joined as cosponsors of this legislation: the
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), whom I share
representing the San Gabriel Valley with, has long been very involved
in water issues; the gentleman from Diamond Bar, California (Mr. Gary
G. Miller), who has spent a lot of time representing actually three
counties, Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County,
and has been very focused on these issues; and, of course, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) who represents a large part
[[Page H5935]]
of the Inland Empire. Those were the lead cosponsors we had on this
legislation.
Last but not least I do want to express my appreciation for the hard
work and dedication of Mr. Robert DeLoach, the general manager of the
Cucamonga County Water District, and Mr. Rich Atwater, the CEO and
general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, who have worked
tirelessly in behalf of the Inland Empire.
Again, I thank my friend from Arizona for generously yielding me this
time. I will join with my friends from Guam and from Arizona in urging
all of our colleagues to provide unanimous support for this effort.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here with my colleagues who serve on
the House Resources Committee, and extend my appreciation to Chairman
Pombo and Subcommittee Chairman Calvert, for their hard work in moving
this bill to the House floor. I introduced the Inland Empire Regional
Water Recycling Initiative, H.R. 2991, to authorize water recycling
projects under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Title XVI program.
This initiative includes two projects, the first of which will be
constructed by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and will
produce 70,000 acre-feet of new water annually. This project is
expected to be fully constructed and on-line by 2008. The second of
these projects, to be constructed by the Cucamonga County Water
District (CCWD), will produce an additional 5,000 acre-feet of new
water annually. This project is expected to be fully constructed and
on-line by 2010. Between these two projects, 75,000 acre-feet of new
water will be produced annually before the end of the decade.
With the recent passage of the CalFed authorization, it is imperative
that we continue to approve measures preventing water supply shortages
in the Western United States. This recycling initiative will help meet
the water needs of the Inland Empire, and help alleviate California's
dependence on the Colorado River. The passage of H.R. 2991 will begin a
strategic Federal-local partnership to bring a significant amount of
new water supply to the region.
IEUA produces recycled water for a variety of non-potable purposes,
such as landscape irrigation, agricultural irrigation, construction,
and industrial cooling. By replacing these water-intensive applications
with high-quality recycled water, fresh water can be conserved or used
for drinking, thereby reducing the dependence on expensive imported
water. In addition, by recycling water which would otherwise be wasted
and unavailable, IEUA provides that the water available goes through at
least one more cycle of beneficial use before it is ultimately returned
to the environment.
The Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative has the support
of all member agencies of IEUA, as well as the water agencies
downstream in Orange County. IEUA encompasses approximately 242 square
miles and serves the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana (through the
Fontana Water Company), Ontario, Upland, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga
(through the Cucamonga County Water District), and the Monte Vista
Water District.
I want to reiterate my thanks to the House Resources Committee, which
under the leadership of Chairman Pombo and Subcommittee Chairman Ken
Calvert, has really accomplished landmark water legislation this year.
I also want to thank my colleagues Grace Napolitano, Gary Miller, and
Joe Baca for cosponsoring H.R. 2991. And last but certainly not least,
I appreciate the hard work and dedication of Mr. Robert DeLoach,
general manager of the Cucamonga County Water District, and Mr. Rich
Atwater, CEO and general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency
who work tirelessly on behalf of the Inland Empire.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2991, 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.
____________________