[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5844-S5845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer):
  S. 1138. A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to expand the Bay Area Regional Recycling 
Program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise on behalf of myself and Senator 
Boxer to introduce the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program 
Expansion Act of 2009, which will reduce demand for limited fresh water 
supplies by providing recycled water to 6 communities across the Bay 
Area.
  It will make 6 additional Bay Area recycled water projects eligible 
for a 25 percent Federal cost-share, and expand the authorizations for 
two more, totaling $38,075,000. The activities authorized by the new 
legislation include installing new piping, storage tanks, and pump 
stations to convey the recycled water to a number of cities across the 
Bay Area.
  These projects collectively will save 2.6 billion gallons per year of 
regional water supply by providing a new water supply of clean treated 
wastewater for irrigation and industrial use. It will free up the 
amount needed to supply 24,225 households in the growing Bay Area 
region. And to the regional agencies, over 3,500 local green jobs will 
be supported by this legislation.
  The adoption of water recycling technology is an invaluable 
conservation method which will result in 8,000 acre-feet of new and 
reliable water which will reduce demand on fresh water from the Delta.
  California is facing phenomenal water supply challenges that are 
affecting our economy, our communities and our environment.
  California's water infrastructure is woefully out of date. Drought, 
population growth, climate variability, ecosystem needs and a broken 
Delta are making it even more difficult to manage our water system and 
deliver reliable supplies.
  And unless we take action to address climate change, we could lose a 
significant portion of the Sierra snowpack, which stores water for 2/3 
of California, by 2100.
  Increasing the capability for and use of recycled water will help 
address California's cycles of drought and reduce dependence on water 
from the troubled Bay-Delta ecosystem.
  Water recycling projects are already under way in several local Bay 
Area communities, and have qualified for Federal funding under the Bay 
Area Regional Water Recycling Program. This program allows local water 
managers to treat wastewater and use the clean, recycled water for 
landscape irrigation and other uses, including at golf courses, 
schools, city parks and other municipal facilities. Under the new 
legislation, the six additional Bay Area communities would be allowed 
to work with the Federal Bureau of Reclamation to use water supplies 
more efficiently.
  With the increasing strain on Bay-Delta and other natural resources, 
it is vital that we look to adopt innovative water recycling 
technologies which sustain permanent clean water supplies and support 
existing water resources and local economies.
  Nine Bay Area congressional representatives in the House put this 
regional approach together, and I'd like to recognize and thank them 
for their leadership: George Miller, D-Martinez, Pete Stark, D-Fremont, 
Ellen Tauscher, D-Concord, Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, Mike Honda, D-San 
Jose, Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, Zoe 
Lofgren, D-San Jose and Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, worked together to 
address the Bay Area's water needs.
  This bill reflects a federal-local partnership and will provide 
communities in the San Francisco Bay Area with reliable and sustainable 
water supplies, and be a benchmark for other major American cities.
  Declining water supplies affects people from all across the United 
States. Now is the time to invest in new water technologies, such as 
water recycling, to meet increasing needs. Wastewater recycling is an 
important part of a multifaceted water supply strategy that also 
includes surface and groundwater storage, improved conveyance, 
conservation, and desalination.
  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. 1138

       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 ``Bay Area Regional Water 
     Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
     Study and Facilities Act (43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) (as amended 
     by section 512(a) of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act 
     of 2008) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 1649. CCCSD-CONCORD RECYCLED WATER PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, California, is 
     authorized to participate in the design, planning, and 
     construction of recycled water distribution systems.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized 
     by this section.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,800,000.

     ``SEC. 1650. CENTRAL DUBLIN RECYCLED WATER DISTRIBUTION AND 
                   RETROFIT PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the Dublin San Ramon Services District, California, is 
     authorized to participate in the design, planning, and 
     construction of recycled water system facilities.

[[Page S5845]]

       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized 
     by this section.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,150,000.

     ``SEC. 1651. PETALUMA RECYCLED WATER PROJECT, PHASES 2A, 2B, 
                   AND 3.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of Petaluma, California, is authorized to 
     participate in the design, planning, and construction of 
     recycled water system facilities.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized 
     by this section.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000.

     ``SEC. 1652. CENTRAL REDWOOD CITY RECYCLED WATER PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of Redwood City, California, is authorized to 
     participate in the design, planning, and construction of 
     recycled water system facilities.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized 
     by this section.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000.

     ``SEC. 1653. PALO ALTO RECYCLED WATER PIPELINE PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of Palo Alto, California, is authorized to 
     participate in the design, planning, and construction of 
     recycled water system facilities.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized 
     by this section.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $8,250,000.

     ``SEC. 1654. IRONHOUSE SANITARY DISTRICT (ISD) ANTIOCH 
                   RECYCLED WATER PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD), California, is 
     authorized to participate in the design, planning, and 
     construction of recycled water distribution systems.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized 
     by this section.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $7,000,000.''.
       (b) Project Implementation.--In carrying out sections 1642 
     through 1648 of the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
     Study and Facilities Act, and sections 1649 through 1654 of 
     such Act, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     enter into individual agreements with the San Francisco Bay 
     Area Regional Water Recycling implementing agencies to fund 
     the projects through the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies 
     (BACWA) or its successor, and shall include in such 
     agreements a provision for the reimbursement of construction 
     costs, including those construction costs incurred prior to 
     the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of the 
     Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 
     (43 U.S.C. prec. 371) (as amended by section 512(a) of the 
     Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008) is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 1648 the 
     following new items:

``Sec. 1649. CCCSD-Concord recycled water project.
``Sec. 1650. Central Dublin recycled water distribution and retrofit 
              project.
``Sec. 1651. Petaluma recycled water project, phases 2a, 2b, and 3.
``Sec. 1652. Central Redwood City recycled water project.
``Sec. 1653. Palo Alto recycled water pipeline project.
``Sec. 1654. Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) Antioch recycled water 
              project.''.

     SEC. 3. MODIFICATION TO AUTHORIZED PROJECTS.

       (a) Antioch Recycled Water Project.--Section 1644(d) of the 
     Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities 
     Act (43 U.S.C. 390h-27) (as amended by section 512(a) of the 
     Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008) is amended by 
     striking ``$2,250,000'' and inserting ``$3,125,000''.
       (b) South Bay Advanced Recycled Water Treatment Facility.--
     Section 1648(d) of the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
     Study and Facilities Act (43 U.S.C. 390h-31) (as amended by 
     section 512(a) of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 
     2008) is amended by striking ``$8,250,000'' and inserting 
     ``$13,250,000''.
                                 ______