[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8350-H8351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CHIMAYO WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND ESPANOLA FILTRATION FACILITY ACT OF 
                                  2004

  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2511) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a feasibility study of a Chimayo water supply system, to 
provide for the planning, design, and construction of a water supply, 
reclamation, and filtration facility for Espanola, New Mexico, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2511

       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 ``Chimayo Water Supply System 
     and Espanola Filtration Facility Act of 2004''.

                  TITLE I--CHIMAYO WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

     SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the Santa 
     Cruz River Valley in the eastern margin of the Espanola 
     Basin.
       (3) System.--The term ``system'' means a water supply 
     system described in section 102(a).
       (4) Town.--The term ``Town'' means the town of Chimayo, New 
     Mexico, located in Rio Arriba County and Santa Fe County, New 
     Mexico.

     SEC. 102. CHIMAYO WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM FEASIBILITY STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     appropriate State and local authorities, shall conduct a 
     study to determine the feasibility of constructing a water 
     supply system for the Town in the study area that includes 
     potable water transmission lines, pump stations, and storage 
     reservoirs.
       (b) Scope of Study.--In conducting the study under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) consider operating the system in connection with the 
     Espanola Water Filtration Facility;
       (2) consider various options for supplying water to the 
     Town, including connection to a regional water source, local 
     sources, sources distributed throughout the Town, and sources 
     located on adjacent Bureau of Land Management land;
       (3) consider reusing or recycling water from local or 
     regional sources;
       (4) consider using alternative water supplies such as 
     surface water, brackish water, nonpotable water, or deep 
     aquifer groundwater; and
       (5) determine the total lifecycle costs of the system, 
     including--
       (A) long-term operation, maintenance, replacement, and 
     treatment costs of the system; and
       (B) management costs (including personnel costs).
       (c) Deadline for Study.--As soon as practicable, but not 
     later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary shall complete the study.
       (d) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     study shall be 75 percent.
       (e) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate 
     activities of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land 
     Management, and the United States Geological Survey in the 
     furtherance of the study, including--
       (1) accessing any Bureau of Land Management land adjacent 
     to the study area that is necessary to carry out this 
     section; and
       (2) the drilling of any exploratory wells on Bureau of Land 
     Management land adjacent to the study area that are necessary 
     to determine water resources available for the Town.
       (f) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the results of the feasibility study not later than 
     the earlier of--
       (1) the date that is 1 year after the date of completion of 
     the feasibility study; or
       (2) the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 103. EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary may enter into contracts 
     with water authorities in the study area to provide emergency 
     water supply development assistance to any eligible person or 
     entity, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
       (b) Eligible Activities.--The Secretary may provide 
     assistance under subsection (a) for--
       (1) hauling water;
       (2) the installation of water purification technology at 
     the community wells or individual point-of-use;
       (3) the drilling of wells;
       (4) the installation of pump stations and storage 
     reservoirs;
       (5) the installation of transmission and distribution 
     pipelines to bring water to individual residential service 
     connections;
       (6) the engineering, design, and installation of an 
     emergency water supply system; and
       (7) any other eligible activity, as the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate.
       (c) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
     activity under this section shall be 75 percent.

     SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated--
       (1) to carry out section 102, $2,000,000 for the period of 
     fiscal years 2005 through 2008; and
       (2) to carry out section 103, $3,000,000 for the period of 
     fiscal years 2005 through 2010.
       (b) Limitation.--Amounts made available under subsection 
     (a)(1) shall not be available for the construction of water 
     infrastructure for the system.

              TITLE II--ESPANOLA WATER FILTRATION FACILITY

     SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Component.--The term ``component'' means a water 
     delivery infrastructure development described in section 
     202(b).
       (2) Facility.--The term ``facility'' means the Espanola 
     water filtration facility described in section 202(a).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of 
     Reclamation.

     SEC. 202. ESPANOLA WATER FILTRATION FACILITY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide financial 
     assistance to the city of Espanola, New Mexico, for the 
     construction of an Espanola water filtration facility 
     consisting of projects--
       (1) to divert and fully use imported water to meet future 
     demands in the greater Espanola, New Mexico region, including 
     construction of--
       (A) presedimentation basins for removal of sediments;
       (B) an influent pump station to supply water into treatment 
     facilities;
       (C) a pretreatment facility;
       (D) filtration facilities;
       (E) finished water storage facilities;
       (F) a finished water booster pump station;
       (G) sludge dewatering facilities; and
       (H) potable water transmission lines to connect into the 
     water distribution facilities of the city of Espanola, New 
     Mexico; and
       (2) to use reclaimed water to enhance groundwater resources 
     and surface water supplies.
       (b) Participation.--The Secretary may provide financial 
     assistance to the Santa Clara and San Juan Pueblos of New 
     Mexico and the non-Federal sponsors of the facility for the 
     study, planning, design, and construction of a water delivery 
     infrastructure development for the Santa Clara and San Juan 
     Pueblos as a component of the facility.
       (c) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the total cost of 
     the facility and the component shall not exceed 25 percent.
       (d) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Funds provided by the 
     Secretary may not be used for the operation or maintenance of 
     the facility or the component.

     SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated for the construction 
     of the facility $3,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 
     2005 through 2009.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Rodriguez) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo).
  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2511, authored by Senator Domenici of New Mexico, 
directs the Secretary of Interior to study the feasibility of 
constructing a potable water supply system for the town of Chimayo, New 
Mexico, in the Santa Cruz River Valley. The bill also directs the 
Secretary to plan, design, and construct a water filtration system for 
the city of Espanola, New Mexico.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. We have no objection to this consideration of this measure.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
2511, the Chimayo

[[Page H8351]]

Water Supply System and Espanola Filtration Facility Act of 2004. Both 
of these communities located in my district are in dire need of 
improvements to their water facilities and I am pleased that the House 
is acting today to address the needs.
  The unincorporated community of Chimayo, home to 3,000 citizens and 
the world-famous Santuario de Chimayo, currently relies on individual 
wells for their potable water. They also are forced to rely on largely 
deteriorated septic systems to dispose of wastewater. The absence or 
deterioration of sewer and water infrastructure in the region results 
in 75% of well samples taken having significant contamination. Also, 
because of the unreliability of the well water, some residents use 
free-flowing water from irrigation ditches for drinking, also 
containing high levels of different types of contamination. This 
situation is so badly in need of remedy, that in 2001 the region was 
declared an emergency area and required National Guard tanker trucks to 
bring potable water to the area. Still today Chimayo remains an 
emergency area.
  To address this situation, S. 2511 directs the Secretary of the 
Interior, in cooperation with State and local authorities to conduct a 
feasibility study of constructing a water supply system for Chimayo. In 
conducting the feasibility study, the Secretary is to consider various 
options for supplying water, long-term operation and maintenance costs, 
and local water resources. The bill would also direct the Secretary to 
provide emergency water assistance to Chimayo, which may include water 
treatment, installation of an emergency water supply system and 
installation of transmission and distribution lines.
  Similarly in need of improved water infrastructure is the City of 
Espanola. Currently the City's water system produces approximately 
1,000 gallons per minute less than is needed to provide for its current 
population. This production shortfall has resulted in inadequate water 
pressure throughout the city. The chronic lack of pressure is prevalent 
especially in the portion of the City where the Espanola Hospital is 
located. The City has twice declared a state of emergency due to lack 
of adequate water and water pressure, and has been forced to call on 
the National Guard to supply water to the hospital.
  S. 2511 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial 
assistance to the City of Espanola for the construction of a water 
filtration facility, and to the nearby Pueblos of Santa Clara and San 
Juan for related infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, both of these communities will greatly benefit from this 
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill, and 
I would like to thank the two New Mexico Senators for their work on 
this bill.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POMBO. 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 California (Mr. Pombo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 2511.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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