[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.

                          ____________________