[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8868-H8869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SANTA ANA RIVER WATER SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 177) 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, to authorize
the Secretary to participate in the Lower Chino Dairy Area desalination
demonstration and reclamation project, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 177
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 ``Santa Ana River Water Supply
Enhancement Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. 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.
``(e) Sunset of Authority.--This section shall have no
effect after the date that is 10 years after the date of the
enactment of 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 1634 the following:
``1636. Prado Basin Natural Treatment System Project.''.
SEC. 3. 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, under Federal
reclamation laws and in cooperation with units of local
government, may 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).
``(e) Sunset of Authority.--This section shall have no
effect after the date that is 10 years after the date of the
enactment of 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 1635 the following:
``1637. Regional brine lines.''.
SEC. 4. 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.
``(e) Sunset of Authority.--This section shall have no
effect after the date that is 10 years after the date of the
enactment of 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:
``1638. Lower Chino dairy area desalination demonstration and
reclamation project.''.
SEC. 5. CEILING INCREASE ON FEDERAL SHARE OF WATER
RECLAMATION PROJECT.
Section 1631(d) of the Reclamation Wastewater and
Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (43 U.S.C.390h-13(d)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and
inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) The Federal share of the costs of the project
authorized by section 1624 shall not exceed the following:
``(A) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
``(B) $24,200,000 for fiscal year 2008.
``(C) $26,620,000 for fiscal year 2009.
``(D) $29,282,000 for fiscal year 2010.
``(E) $32,210,200 for fiscal year 2011.
``(F) $35,431,220 for fiscal year 2012.
``(G) $38,974,342 for fiscal year 2013.
``(H) $42,871,776 for fiscal year 2014.
``(I) $47,158,953 for fiscal year 2015.
``(J) $51,874,849 for fiscal year 2016.''.
SEC. 6. CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF MEMBRANE
TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
establish at the Orange County Water District located in
Orange County, California, a center for the expressed
purposes of providing--
(1) assistance in the development and advancement of
membrane technologies; and
(2) educational support in the advancement of public
understanding and acceptance of membrane produced water
supplies.
(b) Management of Center.--
(1) Contracts.--In establishing the center, the Secretary
shall enter into contracts with the Orange County Water
District for purposes of managing such center.
(2) Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation
with the Orange County Water District, shall jointly prepare
a plan, updated annually, identifying the goals and
objectives of the center.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to carry out subsections (a) and (b), $2,000,000, for each of
fiscal years 2006 through 2011. Such sums shall remain
available until expended.
(d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Orange County Water
District, shall provide a report to Congress on the status of
the center and its accomplishments.
(e) Sunset of Authority.--This section shall have no effect
after the date that is 10 years after the date of the
enactment of this section.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall)
each will control 20 minutes.
[[Page H8869]]
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave).
General Leave
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam 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
gentlewoman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume. H.R. 177, introduced by our colleague from California (Mr.
Gary G. Miller) provides Federal assistance for three water projects
aimed at drought-proofing Southern California.
The bill will help develop wetlands to naturally clean surface water
in the Santa Ana watershed. The bill also authorizes Federal assistance
for the design and construction of a regional wastewater pipeline and a
desalting plant.
The Federal cost share of these projects will not exceed 25 percent.
This legislation promotes the development of new water technologies
that create reliable water supplies and help reduces Southern
California's dependence on imported water.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time
as I may consume.
(Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, we support passage of H.R.
177, the water recycling and desalting projects authorized in this
bill. These projects will be eligible for limited financial assistance
under the Bureau of Reclamation's title XVI water recycling program.
These projects will reduce Southern California's dependency on imported
water from the Sacramento River Delta, and will dramatically improve
the reliability of water supplies in Southern California.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Gary G. Miller).
Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of
H.R. 177, the Santa Ana River Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2005.
I want to thank Resources Chairman Pombo and Water Subcommittee
Chairman Radanovich for recognizing the importance of this bill,
basically providing innovative water solutions to the challenges posed
by chronic water shortages in Southern California.
This bill will authorize water resource reliability projects in the
Southern California region and dramatically improve the water supply
reliability of the Santa Ana River watershed and the water basin in San
Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties.
Water scarcity issues and wastewater treatment are particularly
important to my region. If you want to sustain our Nation's economic
growth and provide for rapidly increasing population, we must ensure
there is an efficient and reliable access to water resources and pursue
modernized sanitation infrastructure. It is critical that we find
innovative solutions to the challenges posed by chronic water shortages
in Southern California.
In Southern California, water supply deficiency discourages economic
growth, endangers the environment, and compromises the health and
safety of residents. Because of limited supplies and increased demands,
Southern California communities continue to seek nontraditional methods
to produce reliable, dependable resources, including water through
recycling and desalination.
This bill would help reduce Southern California's dependence on
imported water supply by constructing the recycling project,
desalination demonstration reclamation project, the regional brine line
project and will help in the study of technologies of water recycling.
The Federal Government's specific role in water recycling and
desalination projects is in title XVI of the reclamation wastewater and
groundwater studies in the Facilities Act, which direct the Department
of the Interior to award Federal grants to communities developing
nontraditional water supplies.
The significant local cost share and minimal Federal share makes
these projects attractive to private financing partnerships and
encourages regional solutions to complex water problems.
Upon full implementation, these projects will create an estimated
200,000 new acre feet of water for the region, upon full
implementation, some 65.2 million gallons of water; and that is
significant for our region.
It reduces the impact of water from the Colorado River in Northern
California. As this bill moves forward, I ask my colleagues to support
this. This is good for the environment, good for people, and good for
the region.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the majority and minority staff and especially
Steve Lanich.
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in
strong support of H.R. 177, particularly with regard to Section 5,
which will increase the ceiling of the federal share for the Orange
County Groundwater Replenishment project. I introduced this section as
a stand-alone bill in the 108th Congress, and it was passed by the
House last year. I am pleased to see this legislation being passed
again in its current form.
Section 5 will increase the authorized Federal share for the Orange
County California Groundwater Replenishment, OCGWR. This will help
Orange County to complete this important and much-needed project, which
will serve about 2.3 million residents of north and central Orange
County, and it will create a new water supply of 72,000 acre-feet per
year.
The OCGWR project is not just important to Orange County, California,
but also to the entire western United States. By recycling our own
water, we in Orange County would not have to rely so heavily on water
from the Colorado River Aqueduct or the San Francisco Bay Delta.
Moreover, the OCGWR is a highly innovative recycling project--a pilot
project for other future water recycling projects. Experts in public
water management systems, from other states and from countries around
the world, have come to Orange County to look at the tertiary cleaning
system housed there. The project is of national and even international
significance.
I am pleased that this project has received strong support from
Members on both sides of the aisle. As I mentioned previously, the
Committee on Resources very generously allowed this same bill to be
considered under Suspension of the Rules last year. I would like to
take this opportunity to again thank Chairman Pombo from California,
Ranking Member Rahall from West Virginia, as well as former
Subcommittee Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Napolitano of
California for their overwhelming support of this bill.
I would also like to thank my colleagues from Orange County for their
continued support. Mr. Miller, the former Representative Mr. Cox, Mr.
Rohrabacher and Mr. Royce are strong supporters of this project.
Securing funding for the OCGWR has always been, and will continue to
be, a bipartisan effort.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 177 which contains this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam 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
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 177, 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.
____________________