[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 100 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5939-H5940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECLAMATION WASTEWATER AND GROUNDWATER STUDY AND FACILITIES ACT
AMENDMENTS
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 142) 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 water recycling project, to
authorize the Secretary to carry out a program to assist agencies in
projects to construct regional brine lines in California, and to
authorize the Secretary to participate in the Lower Chino Dairy Area
desalination demonstration and reclamation project, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 142
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PRADO BASIN NATURAL TREATMENT SYSTEM PROJECT.
(a) 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. PRADO BASIN NATURAL TREATMENT SYSTEM PROJECT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the
Orange County Water District, shall participate in the
planning, design, and construction of natural treatment
systems and wetlands for the flows of the Santa Ana River,
California, and its tributaries into the Prado Basin.
``(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 the 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.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section
2 of Public Law 102-575 is further amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 1634 the following:
``Sec. 1636. Prado Basin Natural Treatment System Project.''.
SEC. 2. REGIONAL BRINE LINES.
(a) 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 further amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 1637. REGIONAL BRINE LINES.
``(a) Southern California.--The Secretary, in cooperation
with units of local government, may carry out a program under
the Federal reclamation laws to assist agencies in projects
to construct regional brine lines to export the salinity
imported from the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean as
identified in--
``(1) the Salinity Management Study prepared by the Bureau
of Reclamation and the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California; and
``(2) the Southern California Comprehensive Water
Reclamation and Reuse Study prepared by the Bureau of
Reclamation.
``(b) Agreements and Regulations.--The Secretary may enter
into such agreements and promulgate such regulations as are
necessary to carry out this section.
``(c) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of a
project to construct regional brine lines described in
subsection (a) shall not exceed--
``(1) 25 percent of the total cost of the project; or
``(2) $40,000,000.
``(d) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall
not be used for operation or maintenance of any project
described in subsection (a).''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section
2 of Public Law 102-575 is further amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 1635 the following:
``Sec. 1637. Regional brine lines.''.
SEC. 3. LOWER CHINO DAIRY AREA DESALINATION DEMONSTRATION AND
RECLAMATION PROJECT.
(a) 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 further amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 1638. LOWER CHINO DAIRY AREA DESALINATION
DEMONSTRATION AND RECLAMATION PROJECT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the
Chino Basin Watermaster, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency,
and the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority and acting
under the Federal reclamation laws, shall participate in the
design, planning, and construction of the Lower Chino Dairy
Area desalination demonstration and reclamation project.
``(b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the
project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed--
``(1) 25 percent of the total cost of the project; or
``(2) $50,000,000.
``(c) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall
not be used for operation or maintenance of the project
described in subsection (a).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to
carry out this section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section
2 of Public Law 102-575 is further amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 1636 the following:
``Sec. 1638. Lower Chino dairy area desalination
demonstration and reclamation project.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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 within which 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. 142, introduced by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Gary G. Miller), provides Federal assistance for three water
projects to produce dependable water supplies in Southern California.
The bill provides for the strategic placement of wetlands to naturally
clean surface water in the Santa Ana Watershed. The bill also
authorizes Federal funding for the design and construction of a
regional brine wastewater pipeline from local groundwater treatment
plans. Thirdly, the bill provides for the design and construction of a
desalter to treat brackish groundwater. At full build-out, these
projects will produce an estimated 50,000 acre-feet of new water.
This legislation, Mr. Speaker, is another example of how communities
are utilizing new water technologies to provide water from varied
sources of supply that are dependable and drought-proof. I urge my
colleagues to support this important 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, H.R. 142 would support the construction of
desalting and 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 project, and they do deserve our support.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise
in support of H.R. 142, legislation I have sponsored to dramatically
improve the water supply reliability of the Santa Ana watershed and the
water basins in San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties. I thank
Committee Chairman Pombo and Water Subcommittee Chairman Calvert for
recognizing the importance of this bill to providing innovative
solutions to the challenges posed by chronic water shortages in
Southern California.
Many states today are faced with the formidable task of providing
reliable and safe water resources for a rapidly increasing population.
This is no exception to California and its growing population of more
than 30 million people. Southern California's arid climate makes it
difficult for this region to find variable and dependable sources of
water. The Interior Department's ruling to reduce the availability of
Colorado River water to Southern California has exacerbated the area's
water supply problems by reducing approximately 700,000 acre
[[Page H5940]]
feet of water this year alone. Such water supply deficiencies
discourage economic growth, imperil the environment and compromise the
health and safety of Southern California residents.
As a result of dwindling supplies and increasing demands, communities
continue to seek non-traditional methods to produce dependable water
sources, including through water recycling and desalination. H.R. 142
would enhance Southern California's water supply by constructing a
water recycling project, a desalination demonstration and reclamation
project, and a regional brine lines project. Upon full implementation,
these projects will create an estimated 50,000 new acre feet of water
annually for the region.
prado basin natural treatment system
H.R. 142 will provide Southern California with additional new water
annually through the construction of a water recycling project. The
Prado Basin Natural Treatment System will naturally treat the Santa Ana
River flow through wetlands development. By assisting Mother Nature in
the creation of these wetlands, we will improve the water quality of
the Santa Ana River, thereby recharging the Orange County Water
District's groundwater basin.
Currently-constructed wetlands have demonstrated an ability to reduce
nitrate contaminants to level that permit water supply use. The
expanded program will result in more than 1,200 acres to treat three
tributaries to the Santa Ana River. This will mean additional treated
water that can be made available to the citizens of the region. The new
system will help drought-proof the region and protect against salt
water intrusion. In addition, the restoration of natural wetlands
allows for the amount of water to be stored behind the currently
underutilized Prado Dam to be increased.
In a region that is prone to droughts, the expansion of this water
supply will deliver non-potable (non-drinkable) water for irrigation
and industrial purposes so that our limited supply of potable water can
be reserved for drinking water purposes.
lower chino dairy area desalination demonstration and reclamation
project
H.R. 142 expands groundwater desalination in the Chino Basin from the
current 9,000 acre feet per year to 40,000 acre feet per year, which
would provide a vital new drinking water supply for a rapidly
increasing population in San Bernardino County, including Jurupa
Community Services District, Santa Ana Mutual Water Company in
Riverside County, and the cities of Norco, Chino, Chino Hills and
Ontario in San Bernardino County.
As former President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, ``We need a
farsighted program for meeting urgent water needs by converting
saltwater to fresh water.'' Once deemed impractical and costly,
desalination has evolved into one of America's most effective and
reliable solutions to water supply shortages. Desalination provides
drinking water directly into the delivery system and is blended with
other sources of potable water in many cases. The construction of a
desalination demonstration and reclamation project in the Lower Chino
Dairy Area offers a viable method of meeting the region's water supply
needs into the future.
basin natural treatment system project
One of the main challenges to desalination is the transport of the
salts, also known as brine, to outfall stations. H.R. 152 seeks to
address this obstacle by providing a means to safely and efficiently
discard excess brine from desalination plants. Specifically, this
legislation calls for the construction of a regional line to transport
excess brine to the Pacific Ocean, where it can be safely filtered
through an ocean-outfall pump station. This will prevent many of the
environmental hazards that can occur from inadequate disposal of excess
brine, thus protecting groundwater reserves for the over six million
resident of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
These projects will help ensure the water needs of Southern
California's communities are met, and I urge my colleagues to support
this critical legislation.
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 have no further requests for time, and 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. 142, 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.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend
the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Prado
Basin Natural Treatment System Project, to authorize the Secretary to
carry out a program to assist agencies in projects to construct
regional brine lines in California, and to authorize the Secretary to
participate in the Lower Chino Dairy Area desalination demonstration
and reclamation project.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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