[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 166 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13581-S13582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 2259. 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 participate in the Lower Chino Dairy Area 
desalination demonstration and reclamation project, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, the urban demands we have placed on 
our water supplies and ecosystem have resulted in significant water 
shortages in communities across the Nation. Water quality and quantity 
are in jeopardy if local, State, and Federal Governments do not support 
the implementation of cost-effective projects that enhance and increase 
potable water supplies.
  Therefore, I am introducing this bill to authorize programs that will 
facilitate a comprehensive water supply and watershed project in 
southern California. Leaders and agencies across five counties in the 
Santa Ana Region of southern California have partnered to develop a 
comprehensive plan which addresses regional needs of their communities; 
communities whose population exceeds 3 million citizens. These 
communities are committed to leveraging over $1 billion in local and 
State funds to match the Federal Government's investment. Similar 
legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by 
Representative Gary Miller, together with Representatives Ken Calvert, 
David Dreier, Edward Royce, John Campbell, Dana Rohrabacher and Loretta 
Sanchez.
  Specifically, this bill would fund three distinct projects, which 
together will help address water needs of 64,000 households and 
increase the region's water supply by 31,000 acre-feet per year in an 
environmentally sustainable manner.

[[Page S13582]]

  This legislation could serve as a model for communities nationwide to 
help meet the challenges imposed by decreasing snow pack and 
precipitation and scarce potable water supplies that will be 
exacerbated by climate change.
  This bill would authorize the Federal Government to spend $10 million 
on a cost shared basis to create wetlands along the Santa Ana River, 
providing an expanded natural treatment system to purify the River 
before it replenishes Orange County's groundwater supplies. Like all of 
the projects in the plan, the construction of natural treatment systems 
using wetlands minimizes the impacts on the environment, reduces carbon 
emissions, and improves the quality of our groundwater supplies without 
costly control technologies.
  An authorization of $25 million in the expansion of groundwater 
desalination in the Chino Basin would increase desalination from the 
current 9,000 acre-feet per year to 40,000 acre-feet per year. This 
element of the program would provide a new fresh drinking water supply 
for 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. These communities serve the needs of 
millions of citizens.
  Because the Santa Ana River watershed crosses multiple jurisdictions, 
this legislation seeks to complement the ability to produce reclaimed 
water in one area with expanded desalination projects in the 
neighboring Chino Basin, providing a four-fold increase in the ability 
to desalinate groundwater supplies. The Chino Basin groundwater 
desalters will be the primary drinking water supply for over 40,000 new 
homes in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
  The Groundwater Replenishment System, which is expected to be fully 
operational in just weeks, is the largest indirect potable reuse 
project in the world. The focal point of the system is membrane 
purification technology. Thus, $12 million is being requested to build 
an advanced water filtration technologies research center to find 
better, more cost-effective approaches to water purification as it 
relates to municipal water supply needs.
  This regional plan will decrease reliability on imported water 
supplies from the Colorado River and California's deteriorating Bay-
Delta water supply system. It will also allow for banking millions of 
gallons of water in our groundwater basin, protecting the region 
against natural disasters that could disrupt the delivery of water to 
Southern California from the fragile Delta and Colorado systems.
  I am proud of the commitment our regional agencies have made to 
develop a response to meet the current and future demands for water 
supply. The regional plan has broad community support, solves multiple 
water supply problems, reduces energy consumption, restores habitat, 
and provides significant jobs and economic benefits to one of the 
Nation's most densely populated areas. I look forward to timely 
consideration of this legislation that could provide the road map to 
solving water demands across the country.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2259

       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 2007''.

     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. 16__. 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 $10,000,000.
       ``(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 last item the following:

``16__. Prado Basin Natural Treatment System Project.''.

     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. 16__. 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) $26,000,000.
       ``(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 last item the following:

``16__. Lower Chino dairy area desalination demonstration and 
              reclamation project.''.

     SEC. 4. 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 2008 through 2013. 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.
                                 ______