[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PRODUCED WATER UTILIZATION ACT OF 2009

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                               speech of

                           HON. PHIL GINGREY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2009

  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 469--the 
Produced Water Utilization Act of 2009--introduced by the Ranking 
Member of the Science Committee, Mr. Hall of Texas. I want to thank Mr. 
Hall for constructing this thoughtful legislation and for the constant 
leadership he has provided to both Energy and Commerce Committee and 
the Science Committee.
  Produced water is comprised mainly of salty water that is trapped in 
reservoir rock below ground. It comes to the surface when drilling for 
oil or natural gas and usually contains oil and metals from production. 
Approximately 10 barrels of produced water are captured for every 
barrel of oil derived, and that results in a total of 15-20 billion 
barrels of produced water generated here in the United States on an 
annual basis.
  Mr. Speaker, as the population of the United States continues to 
grow, additional potable water supplies will be required to sustain 
individuals, agriculture, and industry all over the country. H.R. 469 
represents an innovative way in which we can utilize the produced water 
resources that would otherwise go to waste.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation directs the Secretary of Energy to 
establish a program for research and development to harvest produced 
water in an environmentally safe way for irrigation, municipal, and 
industrial purposes. Once this program is established, we can help 
address the droughts that are occurring across the country--including 
in my Northwest Georgia district--simply by providing the public with 
additional water resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I have to commend my colleague from Texas on his 
leadership on this issue and working in a bipartisan manner to bring it 
to the floor today.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 469.

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