[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16130-16132]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1445
        AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN RECYCLING PROJECTS

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2991) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the Inland Empire regional recycling project and in the 
Cucamonga County Water District recycling program, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2991

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

     SECTION 1. INLAND EMPIRE AND CUCAMONGA COUNTY RECYCLING 
                   PROJECTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Inland 
     Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative''.
       (b) 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. 1636. INLAND EMPIRE REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING PROJECT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
     Inland Empire Utilities Agency, may participate in the 
     design, planning, and construction of the Inland Empire 
     regional water recycling project described in the report 
     submitted under section 1606(c).
       ``(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 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 $20,000,000.

     ``SEC. 1637. CUCAMONGA COUNTY WATER RECYCLING PROJECT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
     Cucamonga County Water District, may participate in the 
     design, planning, and construction of the Cucamonga County 
     Water District pilot satellite recycling plant in Rancho 
     Cucamonga, California, to reclaim and recycle approximately 2 
     million gallons per day of domestic wastewater.
       ``(b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the capital cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall 
     not be used for 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.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections in 
     section 2 of Public Law 102-575 is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 1635 the following:

``Sec. 1636. Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Program.
``Sec. 1637. Cucamonga County Water Recycling Project.''.


  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentlewoman from Guam 
(Ms. Bordallo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days 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 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2991, introduced by the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Dreier), provides Federal resources for two water recycling 
projects in southern California. The projects authorized in the bill 
would add an estimated 75,000 acre-feet of water annually to one of the 
largest recycled water distribution systems in the Santa Ana River 
Watershed. The projects will treat contaminated surface and ground 
waters and deliver the recycled water to nearby localities, including 
underground storage. The bill limits the Federal cost share to 25 
percent of the total cost of the projects.
  This bill is yet another step toward utilizing currently untapped 
sources of water and providing clean and dependable water supplies for 
future generations. I urge my colleagues to support this important 
piece of legislation.

[[Page 16131]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the drought in the Colorado River Basin is a serious 
crisis. H.R. 2991 would help support the construction of regional water 
recycling projects in southern California. These projects can help 
stabilize water supplies and reduce the need to use water from the 
Colorado River. Local communities have made substantial investments in 
the projects, and they deserve our support.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation authored by my 
colleague from California (Mr. Dreier).
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on Rules and the author of this legislation.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise obviously in strong support of this 
legislation. I thank my friend from Guam for her very nice remarks, and 
I would especially like to express my appreciation to my friend from 
Arizona. This initiative deals with water, and both of our States right 
now are dealing with very serious fire problems. Obviously, I would 
like to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims in both 
of our States, Arizona and California, of those who are suffering and 
have been over the last several weeks. I would also like to express 
appreciation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the very 
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Resources, as well as my 
friend from California (Mr. Calvert), chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Water and Power. We appreciate their hard work and that of all the 
members of the committee, and I see a lot of staff members here on the 
floor. I know they have played a big role in helping us move H.R. 2991 
to the floor here.
  This measure was introduced as the Inland Empire Regional Water 
Recycling Initiative to authorize water recycling projects under the 
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's title XVI program. This initiative 
includes two projects which, combined, will produce 75,000 acre-feet of 
new water annually. With the passage of the CalFed authorization 
legislation, which we have been working for a decade and a half on, and 
I mentioned the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Calvert) last when we brought this measure up 2 
weeks ago, it is very imperative that we continue to approve measures 
preventing water supply shortages in the western United States. This 
recycling initiative will help meet the water needs of the Inland 
Empire and begin a strategic Federal-local partnership to bring a 
significant amount of new water supply to our region.
  I am very pleased that this bill has the support of all member 
agencies of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency as well as the water 
agencies downstream in Orange County. The IEUA encompasses 
approximately 242 square miles and serves the cities of Chino, Chino 
Hills, Fontana, Ontario, Upland, Montclair, and Rancho Cucamonga.
  The Inland Empire Utilities Agency produces recycled water for a 
variety of nonpotable purposes, such as landscape irrigation, 
agricultural irrigation, construction and industrial cooling. By 
replacing these water-intensive applications with high-quality recycled 
water, fresh water can be conserved or used for drinking, thereby 
reducing the dependence on expensive imported water.
  In addition, by recycling water which would otherwise be wasted and 
unavailable, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency provides that the water 
available goes through at least one more cycle of beneficial use before 
it is ultimately returned to the environment.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate my thanks to the Committee on 
Resources which under the leadership of the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Pombo) and the subcommittee led by the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Calvert) has really accomplished landmark water legislation this 
year. This is just a small but, for me, a very important part of that.
  I also want to express appreciation to the bipartisan delegation from 
southern California that joined as cosponsors of this legislation: the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), whom I share 
representing the San Gabriel Valley with, has long been very involved 
in water issues; the gentleman from Diamond Bar, California (Mr. Gary 
G. Miller), who has spent a lot of time representing actually three 
counties, Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County, 
and has been very focused on these issues; and, of course, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) who represents a large part of the 
Inland Empire. Those were the lead cosponsors we had on this 
legislation.
  Last but not least I do want to express my appreciation for the hard 
work and dedication of Mr. Robert DeLoach, the general manager of the 
Cucamonga County Water District, and Mr. Rich Atwater, the CEO and 
general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, who have worked 
tirelessly in behalf of the Inland Empire.
  Again, I thank my friend from Arizona for generously yielding me this 
time. I will join with my friends from Guam and from Arizona in urging 
all of our colleagues to provide unanimous support for this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here with my colleagues who serve on 
the House Resources Committee, and extend my appreciation to Chairman 
Pombo and Subcommittee Chairman Calvert, for their hard work in moving 
this bill to the House floor. I introduced the Inland Empire Regional 
Water Recycling Initiative, H.R. 2991, to authorize water recycling 
projects under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Title XVI program.
  This initiative includes two projects, the first of which will be 
constructed by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and will 
produce 70,000 acre-feet of new water annually. This project is 
expected to be fully constructed and on-line by 2008. The second of 
these projects, to be constructed by the Cucamonga County Water 
District (CCWD), will produce an additional 5,000 acre-feet of new 
water annually. This project is expected to be fully constructed and 
on-line by 2010. Between these two projects, 75,000 acre-feet of new 
water will be produced annually before the end of the decade.
  With the recent passage of the CalFed authorization, it is imperative 
that we continue to approve measures preventing water supply shortages 
in the Western United States. This recycling initiative will help meet 
the water needs of the Inland Empire, and help alleviate California's 
dependence on the Colorado River. The passage of H.R. 2991 will begin a 
strategic Federal-local partnership to bring a significant amount of 
new water supply to the region.
  IEUA produces recycled water for a variety of non-potable purposes, 
such as landscape irrigation, agricultural irrigation, construction, 
and industrial cooling. By replacing these water-intensive applications 
with high-quality recycled water, fresh water can be conserved or used 
for drinking, thereby reducing the dependence on expensive imported 
water. In addition, by recycling water which would otherwise be wasted 
and unavailable, IEUA provides that the water available goes through at 
least one more cycle of beneficial use before it is ultimately returned 
to the environment.
  The Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative has the support 
of all member agencies of IEUA, as well as the water agencies 
downstream in Orange County. IEUA encompasses approximately 242 square 
miles and serves the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana (through the 
Fontana Water Company), Ontario, Upland, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga 
(through the Cucamonga County Water District), and the Monte Vista 
Water District.
  I want to reiterate my thanks to the House Resources Committee, which 
under the leadership of Chairman Pombo and Subcommittee Chairman Ken 
Calvert, has really accomplished landmark water legislation this year. 
I also want to thank my colleagues Grace Napolitano, Gary Miller, and 
Joe Baca for cosponsoring H.R. 2991. And last but certainly not least, 
I appreciate the hard work and dedication of Mr. Robert DeLoach, 
general manager of the Cucamonga County Water District, and Mr. Rich 
Atwater, CEO and general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency 
who work tirelessly on behalf of the Inland Empire.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page 16132]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2991, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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