[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6793-H6794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WICHITA PROJECT EQUUS BEDS DIVISION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the Senate bill (S. 1025) to amend the Act entitled ``An Act
to provide for the construction of the Cheney division, Wichita Federal
reclamation project, Kansas, and for other purposes'' to authorize the
Equus Beds Division of the Wichita Project.
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 1025
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 ``Wichita Project Equus Beds
Division Authorization Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. EQUUS BEDS DIVISION.
The Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the construction
of the Cheney division, Wichita Federal reclamation project,
Kansas, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 86-787; 74 Stat.
1026) is amended by adding the following new section:
``SEC. 10. EQUUS BEDS DIVISION.
``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of the Interior may
assist in the funding and implementation of the Equus Beds
Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Component which is a part of
the `Integrated Local Water Supply Plan, Wichita, Kansas'
(referred to in this section as the `Equus Beds Division').
Construction of the Equus Beds Division shall be in
substantial accordance with the plans and designs.
``(b) Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement.--Operation,
maintenance, and replacement of the Equus Beds Division,
including funding for those purposes, shall be the sole
responsibility of the City of Wichita, Kansas. The Equus Beds
Division shall be operated in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations.
``(c) Agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior may enter
into, or agree to amendments of, cooperative agreements and
other appropriate agreements to carry out this section.
``(d) Administrative Costs.--From funds made available for
this section, the Secretary of the Interior may charge an
appropriate share related to administrative costs incurred.
``(e) Plans and Analyses Consistent With Federal Law.--
Before obligating funds for design or construction under this
section, the Secretary of the Interior shall work
cooperatively with the City of Wichita, Kansas, to use, to
the extent possible, plans, designs, and engineering and
environmental analyses that have already been prepared by the
City for the Equus Beds Division. The Secretary of the
Interior shall assure that such information is used
consistent with applicable Federal laws and regulations.
``(f) Title; Responsibility; Liability.--Nothing in this
section or assistance provided under this section shall be
construed to transfer title, responsibility, or liability
related to the Equus Beds Division (including portions or
features thereof) to the United States.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated as the Federal share of the total cost of
the Equus Beds Division, an amount not to not exceed 25
percent of the total cost or $30,000,000 (January, 2003
prices), whichever is less, plus or minus such amounts, if
any, as may be justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations
in construction costs as indicated by engineering cost
indexes applicable to the type of construction involved
herein, whichever is less. Such sums shall be
nonreimbursable.
``(h) Termination of Authority.--The authority of the
Secretary of the Interior to carry out any provision of this
section shall terminate 10 years after the date of enactment
of this section.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Jones) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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 North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
S. 1025, introduced by Senator Pat Roberts and supported by our
Kansas colleague Todd Tiahrt, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
to assist in the funding and implementation of an aquifer recharge
program near the city of Wichita.
The Equus Beds aquifer has supplied water to Wichita for over 60
years, but groundwater levels continue to decline. The bill's project
will use excess water flows from the Little Arkansas River to recharge
the aquifer and would provide significant new water storage capacity
for area water consumers. This enhanced aquifer recharge and storage
concept will help impede saline water intrusion and enhance the
region's long-term water needs.
I urge support of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Jones has explained very well this bill. We have no
objection to passage of S. 1025. The Committee on Resources approved
similar legislation in the 108th Congress. The Federal cost-share for
this project is not excessive, and the project itself will have a
beneficial effect on local groundwater supplies.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like
to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr.
Tiahrt).
Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from
North Carolina. He has not only been a good leader, but a great friend,
and I appreciate his yielding the time and the work he has done in
favor of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of the Wichita Project Equus Beds
Division Authorization Act, S. 1025. The bill authorizes the Equus Beds
aquifer recharge project in south-central Kansas and will help meet the
water needs of nearly 500,000 people in the State. This is an
environmentally sound project, and it will help ensure local residents,
agricultural irrigators, and industrial businesses have access to clean
water for decades.
{time} 1645
I want to thank Chairman Pombo for his leadership in assisting me
over the past few years on this important water project. Both he and
the staff on the House Resources Committee have been very good to work
with.
Chairman Pombo has helped ensure authorization for the needed
recharge of the Equus Beds aquifer, and ensured that it was done right
away. I appreciate my colleague and good friend, Senator Pat Roberts,
for his championing this effort in the authorization bill in the
Senate. He got the job done in the other body. Now it is time to finish
the process in the House today.
Because the House has already approved authorization language
contained in S. 1025 last year, passage of this bill today will be the
final step needed to send it to the President for his signature.
I should also thank the city of Wichita officials for their effort in
helping move this project forward. Their vision to ensure the greater
Wichita area has a sustainable source of water both now and in the
future is why this project started. Wichita's water supply projects
administrator, Gerry Blain, has been great to work with. Gerry has been
especially helpful to me and my staff in navigating the details of the
recharge project. I appreciate his dedication to public service.
The Equus Beds aquifer recharge project involves taking floodwater
from the Little Arkansas River and depositing that excess water into
the aquifer through water supply wells, after going through a
filtration system. Since the 1950s, the water levels in the aquifer
have dropped 40 feet because of water rights and pumping excesses. The
aquifer's natural recharge rate of 6 inches per year will not keep up.
Due to this overusage, saltwater from the Southwest and oil field
brine from the Northwest have threatened the aquifer. When the
aquifer's levels were higher, the elevated levels created a natural
barrier to keep the contamination at bay.
But now that the water levels have dropped, the natural barrier is no
longer there. If the aquifer is not replenished, the maximum chloride
levels will eventually exceed what is permitted in both agricultural
and municipal usage. This aquifer recharge project is a win-win project
for all of the communities that depend on its water.
The city of Wichita and surrounding municipalities benefit because
water can be safely stored to meet short-term
[[Page H6794]]
and long-term water supply needs. Agricultural irrigators benefit
because the risk of saltwater contamination is reduced. Without this
natural barrier, an elevated water level in the aquifer, the water
would eventually become contaminated to the point where it would not be
suitable even for use on crops. Irrigators should see reduced costs
associated with pumping, since the water levels of the aquifer will
rise.
The Little Arkansas River and its ecosystem will also benefit. During
the times of drought, a natural discharge from Equus Beds' aquifer into
the river will occur, creating a more stable base flow.
Under S. 1025 the city of Wichita will be required to maintain and
operate the recharge project, which ensures the Federal Government will
not bear the cost associated with this ongoing operation.
Recharging the Equus Beds is the most cost-efficient means to provide
water for the communities in south central Kansas. And it is the best
option available to keep salt and oil field brine out of its critical
water supply without greatly restricting water usage. So I urge my
colleagues to join me today in supporting S. 1025.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional
speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1025.
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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