[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.

                          ____________________