[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INHOFE:
  S. 802. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow 
the storage and conveyance of nonproject water at the Norman project in 
Oklahoma, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the Senate's 
attention The Lake Thunderbird Efficient Use Act of 2011.
  This bill allows the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District to 
import and store non-project water into Lake Thunderbird, if the 
Secretary of the Interior determines there is enough capacity to do so. 
Allowing additional water to be stored at Lake Thunderbird would help 
increase municipal and industrial supplies for the cities served by the 
District, which include Norman, Midwest City, and Del City.
  There is no cost associated with this bill. Any additional 
infrastructure needs will be the responsibility of the non-Federal 
establishment contracting with the Secretary.
  This legislation does not change the capacity of Lake Thunderbird and 
will help increase water supplies in a growing metropolitan area. Over 
the last decade, the Norman area grew by 15 percent making it one of 
the fastest growing areas in the State. As the area continues to grow, 
and as Tinker Air Force Base requires a growing water supply, there 
will be a greater need for access to the water supplies of the Lake 
Thunderbird reservoir.
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