[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9757-H9758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING INTERIOR DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION IN OREGON WATER RECYCLING 
                                PROJECT

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2741) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the City of Hermiston, Oregon, water recycling and reuse 
project, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2741

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PROJECT AUTHORIZATION.

       (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 inserting after section 
     16__ the following:

     ``SEC. 16__. CITY OF HERMISTON, OREGON, WATER RECYCLING AND 
                   REUSE PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of Hermiston, Oregon, is authorized to participate 
     in the design, planning, and construction of permanent 
     facilities to reclaim and reuse water in the City of 
     Hermiston, Oregon.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the costs of the 
     project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project described in 
     subsection (a).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 2 
     of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act 
     of 1992 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     section 16__ the following:

``Sec. 16__. City of Hermiston, Oregon, water recycling and reuse 
              project.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) each 
will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H9758]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.

                              {time}  1445


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in 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 Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2741, introduced by our colleague, 
Representative Greg Walden, would authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation, to participate in the 
planning, the design, and the construction of the city of Hermiston 
water recycling and reuse project.
  This legislation is a good example of how the Title 16 water 
recycling program can be used in a predominantly agriculture community 
to meet water quality standards, create a new water supply for 
irrigation, and help endangered species in the Umatilla River.
  I ask my colleagues to support passage of this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise to support legislation offered by our colleague, the gentleman 
from Oregon (Mr. Walden). This bill authorizes limited Federal 
participation in a water recycling project for the city of Hermiston, 
Oregon. The goal of the bill is to help the city recycle wastewater, to 
provide extra water for endangered salmon, and deliver water for 
irrigated crops. It also helps the city meet unfunded Federal mandates.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).
  Mr. WALDEN. I want to thank my colleagues from Utah and Guam, as well 
as the chairwoman of the subcommittee, Grace Napolitano from 
California, and the ranking member, Tom McClintock from California, and 
their staffs for working with me and the folks from the city of 
Hermiston, Oregon, to move this bill through the committee process in a 
rather expedited way where it was unanimously approved and now awaits 
floor action today.
  As the author of the bill, I stand in strong support of H.R. 2741, 
which authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to work with the city in the 
planning, design, and construction of the city of Hermiston's new water 
recycling and reuse project.
  In short, this is one of those bills that is good for farmers and it 
is good for fish. It helps meet the Endangered Species Act, a 
requirement for a listed salmon species in the Umatilla River, and 
addresses long-term community growth in the process. It has strong 
local support from very diverse interests and is exactly the type of 
partnership and project that deserves investment from the Federal 
Government.
  The existing wastewater facilities in Hermiston are 30 years old; and 
after 30 years, those facilities have served the community well and 
outlived their usefulness. With new environmental requirements and 
needs, the community has come together with many parties to come up 
with this proposal, and this legislation will help move that forward 
with a nice cost share between the Federal Government at 25 percent and 
the local community at 75 percent.
  This project will achieve a list of objectives important to both the 
local community and Federal environmental obligations.
  First, it will enable the city to reliably meet new pollution 
reduction requirements for the next 20-plus years.
  Second, it will increase wastewater treatment capacity to match the 
growth in the region's economy and the human population.
  Third, 3,400 acre feet of top quality, class A water will return to 
the Umatilla River and provide additional protections for threatened 
salmon species. This is one of the key reasons that the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation support the legislation. I 
thank them for that and would like to enter into the Record their 
letter of support for H.R. 2741.

                                        Confederated Tribes of the


                                  Umatilla Indian Reservation,

                                     Pendleton, OR, July 15, 2009.
     Ed Brookshier,
     City Manager, City of Hermiston, Hermiston, OR.
       Dear Mr. Brookshier: the Confederated Tribes of the 
     Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) thank you for the 
     opportunity to review the proposed improvements to the 
     Hermiston waste water treatment plant. We understand that in 
     addition to upgrades at the plant itself this project 
     includes moving the location of effluent discharge to the 
     Umatilla River and a new discharge to the West Extension 
     Irrigation District. We appreciate the City's coordination 
     with us on this important project that will improve the water 
     quality of the Umatilla River over time.
       As you know the CTUIR has treaty fishing rights in the 
     Umatilla River. The Tribes value the health of Umatilla 
     fisheries and the Umatilla River that is enjoyed by all 
     residents of the Umatilla Basin. We are aware that Hermiston 
     is working with the Oregon Department of Environmental 
     Quality and other resource protection agencies to minimize 
     negative impacts to the river and maximize the benefits of 
     the project. We also understand that the Oregon Department of 
     Environmental Quality has requested a priority pollutant scan 
     of the facility's effluent and that the new discharge 
     locations be characterized for toxic contaminants. We ask 
     that you share the results of those studies with the 
     Confederated Tribes so that we can advance our mutual 
     interest in better understanding the conditions of the 
     Umatilla River.
       We understand that the City of Hermiston is also seeking to 
     obtain federal funding that might offset the costs of this 
     substantial project. We support the City's efforts and hope 
     your request will be successful.
       While the new summer discharge to the West Extension 
     Irrigation District will result in a decrease in summer 
     Umatilla River flows, the Tribes are working with Umatilla 
     basin partners including the City of Hermiston to restore 
     Umatilla River stream flows to natural levels. The CTUIR 
     appreciates your consultation with us and looks forward to 
     the successful completion of the improvements to Hermiston's 
     waste water treatment plant.
           Sincerely,
                                               Antone C. Minthorn,
                                      Chairman, Board of Trustees.

  The final component of the project is the drought-resistant water 
delivery of recycled water to the diverse agriculture community in the 
west extension irrigation district. This water will supplement current 
allocations. We all know a little extra water in a dry climate can help 
our farmers and their crops in a big way.
  The proposed project will comply with all applicable laws and 
regulations, and the city has already completed the required supporting 
environmental and biological assessments.
  The Federal partnership in the local investment will be of enormous 
assistance as the project moves forward from drawing board to 
construction.
  I thank you for your support and the opportunity to speak in favor of 
H.R. 2741, and I look forward to continuing to work with you and the 
city of Hermiston to ensure that this project of great importance 
becomes a reality.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time and 
would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional 
speakers.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2741.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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