[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9732-9736]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 NEWLANDS PROJECT HEADQUARTERS AND MAINTENANCE YARD FACILITY TRANSFER 
                                  ACT

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 540) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey the 
Newlands Project Headquarters and Maintenance Yard Facility to the 
Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 540

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

     SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Table of contents.

 TITLE I--NEWLANDS PROJECT HEADQUARTERS AND MAINTENANCE YARD FACILITY 
                                TRANSFER

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Conveyance of Newlands Project Headquarters and Maintenance 
              Yard Facility.

    TITLE II--INLAND EMPIRE AND CUCAMONGA VALLEY RECYCLING PROJECTS

Sec. 201. Inland Empire and Cucamonga Valley recycling projects.

            TITLE III--RIVERSIDE-CORONA FEEDER WATER PROJECT

Sec. 301. Planning, design, and construction of the Riverside-Corona 
              Feeder.
Sec. 302. Project authorizations.

TITLE IV--AINSWORTH UNIT, SANDHILLS DIVISION, PICK-SLOAN MISSOURI BASIN 
                                PROGRAM

Sec. 401. Ainsworth Unit, Sandhills Division, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin 
              Program.

              TITLE V--WICHITA PROJECT EQUUS BEDS DIVISION

Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Equus Beds Division.

  TITLE VI--LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND 
                              IMPROVEMENT

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Authorization of additional projects and activities under the 
              lower rio grande water conservation and improvement 
              program.
Sec. 603. Reauthorization of appropriations for lower rio grande 
              construction.
Sec. 604. Sunset provision.

    TITLE VII--BROWNSVILLE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD WATER RECYCLING AND 
                         DESALINIZATION PROJECT

Sec. 701. Brownsville Public Utility Board water recycling and 
              desalinization project.

       TITLE VIII--EL PASO, TEXAS, WATER RECLAMATION, REUSE, AND 
                         DESALINIZATION PROJECT

Sec. 801. El Paso, Texas, water reclamation, reuse, and desalinization 
              project.
 TITLE I--NEWLANDS PROJECT HEADQUARTERS AND MAINTENANCE YARD FACILITY 
                                TRANSFER

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

        This title may be cited as the ``Newlands Project 
     Headquarters and Maintenance Yard Facility Transfer Act''.

     SEC. 102. CONVEYANCE OF NEWLANDS PROJECT HEADQUARTERS AND 
                   MAINTENANCE YARD FACILITY.

       (a) Conveyance.--The Secretary of the Interior shall convey 
     to the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, Nevada, as soon as 
     practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     in accordance with all applicable law and the terms of the 
     memorandum of agreement between the District and the 
     Secretary dated June 9, 2003 (Contract No. 3-LC-20-8052), all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     real property within the Newlands Projects, Nevada, known as 
     2666 Harrigan Road, Fallon, Nevada, and identified for 
     disposition on the map entitled ``Newlands Project 
     Headquarters and Maintenance Yard Facility''.
       (b) Treatment of Proceeds From Fallon Freight Yard as 
     Consideration.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law to 
     the contrary, amounts received by the United States for the 
     lease and sale of Newlands Project lands comprising the 
     Fallon Freight Yard shall, for purposes of this section, be 
     treated as payment in full of consideration for the property 
     conveyed under subsection (a).
       (c) Report.--If the Secretary has not completed such 
     conveyance within 12 months after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress 
     explaining the reasons the conveyance has not been completed 
     and stating the date by which the conveyance will be 
     completed.
       (d) Environmental Review, Remediation, and Removal.--The 
     Secretary may not make any conveyance under this section 
     until the completion with respect to the conveyance, in 
     accordance with the memorandum of agreement referred to in 
     subsection (a), of--
       (1) compliance with requirements relating to the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. et seq. 4321 et 
     seq.) and cultural resources; and

[[Page 9733]]

       (2) environmental site assessments, remediation, or 
     removal.
       (e) Liability.--The United States shall not be liable for 
     damages of any kind arising out of any act or omission by, or 
     occurrence relating to, the Truckee-Carson Irrigation 
     District or its employees, agents, or contractors relating to 
     the property conveyed under this section and occurring prior 
     to, on, or after the date of such conveyance.
    TITLE II--INLAND EMPIRE AND CUCAMONGA VALLEY RECYCLING PROJECTS

     SEC. 201. INLAND EMPIRE AND CUCAMONGA VALLEY 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. 1637. 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.
       ``(e) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.

     ``SEC. 1638. CUCAMONGA VALLEY WATER RECYCLING PROJECT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
     Cucamonga Valley Water District, may participate in the 
     design, planning, and construction of the Cucamonga Valley 
     Water District satellite recycling plants 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.
       ``(e) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.''.
       (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 1636 the following:

``1637. Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Program.
``1638. Cucamonga Valley Water Recycling Project.''.
            TITLE III--RIVERSIDE-CORONA FEEDER WATER PROJECT

     SEC. 301. PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE 
                   RIVERSIDE-CORONA FEEDER.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, in 
     cooperation with the Western Municipal Water District, may 
     participate in a project to plan, design, and construct a 
     water supply project, the Riverside-Corona Feeder, which 
     includes 20 groundwater wells and 28 miles of pipeline in San 
     Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California.
       (b) Agreements and Regulations.--The Secretary may enter 
     into such agreements and promulgate such regulations as are 
     necessary to carry out this section.
       (c) Federal Cost Share.--
       (1) Planning, design, construction.--The Federal share of 
     the cost to plan, design, and construct the project described 
     in subsection (a) shall be the lesser of 35 percent of the 
     total cost of the project or $50,000,000.
       (2) Studies.--The Federal share of the cost to complete the 
     necessary planning study associated with the project 
     described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 50 percent of 
     the total study cost.
       (d) In-Kind Services.--In-kind services performed by the 
     Western Municipal Water District shall be considered a part 
     of the local cost share to complete the project described in 
     subsection (a).
       (e) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary under this 
     section shall not be used for operation or maintenance of the 
     project described in subsection (a).
       (f) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.

     SEC. 302. PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS.

       (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 adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 163_. YUCAIPA VALLEY REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY RENEWAL 
                   PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the Yucaipa Valley Water District, may participate in the 
     design, planning, and construction of projects to treat 
     impaired surface water, reclaim and reuse impaired 
     groundwater, and provide brine disposal within the Santa Ana 
     Watershed described in the report submitted under section 
     1606.
       ``(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 or 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.
       ``(e) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.

     ``SEC. 163_. CITY OF CORONA WATER UTILITY, CALIFORNIA, WATER 
                   RECYCLING AND REUSE PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of Corona Water Utility, California, is authorized 
     to participate in the design, planning, and construction of, 
     and land acquisition for, a project to reclaim and reuse 
     wastewater, including degraded groundwaters, within and 
     outside of the service area of the City of Corona Water 
     Utility, California.
       ``(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) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections in 
     section 2 of Public Law 102-575 is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 163_ the following:

``Sec. 163_. Yucaipa Valley Regional Water Supply Renewal Project.
``Sec. 163_. City of Corona Water Utility, California, water recycling 
              and reuse project.''.
TITLE IV--AINSWORTH UNIT, SANDHILLS DIVISION, PICK-SLOAN MISSOURI BASIN 
                                PROGRAM

     SEC. 401. AINSWORTH UNIT, SANDHILLS DIVISION, PICK-SLOAN 
                   MISSOURI BASIN PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall extend 
     for the period described in subsection (b) the water service 
     contract for the Ainsworth Unit, Sandhills Division, Pick-
     Sloan Missouri Basin Program, Nebraska, consisting of--
       (1) the water service contract entered into by the 
     Secretary of the Interior under--
       (A) section 9(e) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 
     U.S.C. 485h(e));
       (B) section 9(c) of the Act of December 22, 1944 (58 Stat. 
     887, chapter 665);
       (C) the Act of August 21, 1954 (68 Stat. 757, chapter 781); 
     and
       (D) the Act of May 18, 1956 (70 Stat. 160, chapter 285); 
     and
       (2) the water service contract for the set project located 
     in Cherry, Brown, and Rock Counties, Nebraska, for the use of 
     a part of the waters of the Snake River, a tributary of the 
     Niobrara River.
       (b) Period of Extension.--The water service contract 
     described in subsection (a) shall be extended for 4 years 
     after the date on which the contract expires under the water 
     service contract and law in existence before the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
              TITLE V--WICHITA PROJECT EQUUS BEDS DIVISION

     SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Wichita Project Equus Beds 
     Division Authorization Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 502. EQUUS BEDS DIVISION.

       The Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the construction 
     of the Cheney division, Wichita Federal reclamation project, 
     Kansas, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 86-787; 74 Stat. 
     1026) is amended by adding the following new section:

     ``SEC. 10. EQUUS BEDS DIVISION.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of the Interior may 
     assist in the funding and implementation of the Equus Beds 
     Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Component which is a part of 
     the `Integrated Local Water Supply Plan, Wichita, Kansas' 
     (referred to in this section as the `Equus Beds Division'). 
     Construction of the Equus Beds Division shall be in 
     substantial accordance with the plans and designs.
       ``(b) Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement.--Operation, 
     maintenance, and replacement of the Equus Beds Division, 
     including funding for those purposes, shall be the sole 
     responsibility of the City of Wichita, Kansas. The Equus Beds 
     Division shall be operated in accordance with applicable laws 
     and regulations.
       ``(c) Agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior may enter 
     into, or agree to amendments of, cooperative agreements and 
     other

[[Page 9734]]

     appropriate agreements to carry out this section.
       ``(d) Administrative Costs.--From funds made available for 
     this section, the Secretary of the Interior may charge an 
     appropriate share related to administrative costs incurred.
       ``(e) Plans and Analyses Consistent With Federal Law.--
     Before obligating funds for design or construction under this 
     section, the Secretary of the Interior shall work 
     cooperatively with the City of Wichita, Kansas, to use, to 
     the extent possible, plans, designs, and engineering and 
     environmental analyses that have already been prepared by the 
     City for the Equus Beds Division. The Secretary of the 
     Interior shall assure that such information is used 
     consistent with applicable Federal laws and regulations, 
     including principles and guidelines used in preparing 
     feasibility level project studies.
       ``(f) Title; Responsibility; Liability.--Nothing in this 
     section or assistance provided under this section shall be 
     construed to transfer title, responsibility, or liability 
     related to the Equus Beds Division (including portions or 
     features thereof) to the United States.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated as the Federal share of the total cost of 
     the Equus Beds Division, an amount not to not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost or $30,000,000 (January, 2003 
     prices), whichever is less, plus or minus such amounts, if 
     any, as may be justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations 
     in construction costs as indicated by engineering cost 
     indexes applicable to the type of construction involved 
     herein, whichever is less. Such sums shall be 
     nonreimbursable.
       ``(h) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.''.
  TITLE VI--LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND 
                              IMPROVEMENT

     SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Lower Rio Grande Valley 
     Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 602. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES 
                   UNDER THE LOWER RIO GRANDE WATER CONSERVATION 
                   AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) Additional Projects.--Section 4(a) of the Lower Rio 
     Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement 
     Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-576; 114 Stat. 3067) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(20) In Cameron County, Texas, Bayview Irrigation 
     District No. 11, water conservation and improvement projects 
     as identified in the March 3, 2004, engineering report by NRS 
     Consulting Engineers at a cost of $1,425,219.
       ``(21) In the Cameron County, Texas, Brownsville Irrigation 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects as 
     identified in the February 11, 2004, engineering report by 
     NRS Consulting Engineers at a cost of $722,100.
       ``(22) In the Cameron County, Texas Harlingen Irrigation 
     District No. 1, water conservation and improvement projects 
     as identified in the March, 2004, engineering report by 
     Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $4,173,950.
       ``(23) In the Cameron County, Texas, Cameron County 
     Irrigation District No. 2, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in the February 11, 2004, engineering 
     report by NRS Consulting Engineers at a cost of $8,269,576.
       ``(24) In the Cameron County, Texas, Cameron County 
     Irrigation District No. 6, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in an engineering report by Turner 
     Collie Braden, Inc., at a cost of $5,607,300.
       ``(25) In the Cameron County, Texas, Adams Gardens 
     Irrigation District No. 19, water conservation and 
     improvement projects as identified in the March, 2004, 
     engineering report by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of 
     $2,500,000.
       ``(26) In the Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, Texas, Hidalgo 
     and Cameron Counties Irrigation District No. 9, water 
     conservation and improvement projects as identified by the 
     February 11 engineering report by NRS Consulting Engineers at 
     a cost of $8,929,152.
       ``(27) In the Hidalgo and Willacy Counties, Texas, Delta 
     Lake Irrigation District, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in the March, 2004, engineering report 
     by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $8,000,000.
       ``(28) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 2, a water conservation and 
     improvement project identified in the engineering reports 
     attached to a letter dated February 11, 2004, from the 
     district's general manager, at a cost of $5,312,475.
       ``(29) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 1, water conservation and improvement 
     projects identified in an engineering report dated March 5, 
     2004, by Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of $5,595,018.
       ``(30) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 6, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in the March, 2004, engineering report 
     by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $3,450,000.
       ``(31) In the Hidalgo County, Texas Santa Cruz Irrigation 
     District No. 15, water conservation and improvement projects 
     as identified in an engineering report dated March 5, 2004, 
     by Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of $4,609,000.
       ``(32) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Engelman Irrigation 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects as 
     identified in an engineering report dated March 5, 2004, by 
     Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of $2,251,480.
       ``(33) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Valley Acres Water 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects as 
     identified in an engineering report dated March, 2004, by 
     Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $500,000.
       ``(34) In the Hudspeth County, Texas, Hudspeth County 
     Conservation and Reclamation District No. 1, water 
     conservation and improvement projects as identified in the 
     March, 2004, engineering report by Axiom-Blair Engineering at 
     a cost of $1,500,000.
       ``(35) In the El Paso County, Texas, El Paso County Water 
     Improvement District No. 1, water conservation and 
     improvement projects as identified in the March, 2004, 
     engineering report by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of 
     $10,500,000.
       ``(36) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Donna Irrigation 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects 
     identified in an engineering report dated March 22, 2004, by 
     Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of $2,500,000.
       ``(37) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 16, water conservation and 
     improvement projects identified in an engineering report 
     dated March 22, 2004, by Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of 
     $2,800,000.
       ``(38) The United Irrigation District of Hidalgo County 
     water conservation and improvement projects as identified in 
     a March 2004, engineering report by Sigler Winston, Greenwood 
     and Associates at a cost of $6,067,021.''.
       (b) Inclusion of Activities To Conserve Water or Improve 
     Supply; Transfers Among Projects.--Section 4 of such Act 
     (Public Law 106-576; 114 Stat. 3067) is further amended by 
     redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e), and by 
     inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Inclusion of Activities To Conserve Water or Improve 
     Supply.--In addition to the activities identified in the 
     engineering reports referred to in subsection (a), each 
     project that the Secretary conducts or participates in under 
     subsection (a) may include any of the following:
       ``(1) The replacement of irrigation canals and lateral 
     canals with buried pipelines.
       ``(2) The impervious lining of irrigation canals and 
     lateral canals.
       ``(3) Installation of water level, flow measurement, pump 
     control, and telemetry systems.
       ``(4) The renovation and replacement of pumping plants.
       ``(5) Other activities that will result in the conservation 
     of water or an improved supply of water.
       ``(d) Transfers Among Projects.--Of amounts made available 
     for a project referred to in any of paragraphs (20) through 
     (38) of subsection (a), the Secretary may transfer and use 
     for another such project up to 10 percent.''.

     SEC. 603. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR LOWER RIO 
                   GRANDE CONSTRUCTION.

       Section 4(e) of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources 
     Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-576; 
     114 Stat. 3067), as redesignated by section 602(b) of this 
     title, is further amended by inserting before the period the 
     following: ``for projects referred to in paragraphs (1) 
     through (19) of subsection (a), and $42,356,145 (2004 
     dollars) for projects referred to in paragraphs (20) through 
     (38) of subsection (a)''.

     SEC. 604. SUNSET PROVISION.

       The authority of the Secretary to carry out the projects 
     added by paragraphs (20) through (38) of the amendment made 
     by section 602(a) of this title shall terminate 10 years 
     after the date of the enactment of this section.
    TITLE VII--BROWNSVILLE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD WATER RECYCLING AND 
                         DESALINIZATION PROJECT

     SEC. 701. BROWNSVILLE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD WATER RECYCLING 
                   AND DESALINIZATION PROJECT.

       (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 adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 163__. BROWNSVILLE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD WATER 
                   RECYCLING AND DESALINIZATION PROJECT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
     Brownsville Public Utility Board, may participate in the 
     design, planning, and construction of facilities to reclaim, 
     reuse, and treat impaired waters in the Brownsville, Texas, 
     area.
       ``(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).

[[Page 9735]]

       ``(d) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section 
     2 of Public Law 102-575 is amended by inserting after the 
     last item relating to title XVI the following:

``163_. Brownsville Public Utility Board water recycling and 
              desalinization project.''.
       TITLE VIII--EL PASO, TEXAS, WATER RECLAMATION, REUSE, AND 
                         DESALINIZATION PROJECT

     SEC. 801. EL PASO, TEXAS, WATER RECLAMATION, REUSE, AND 
                   DESALINIZATION PROJECT.

       (a) Authorization.--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 new section:

     ``SEC. 16XX. EL PASO, TEXAS, WATER RECLAMATION, REUSE, AND 
                   DESALINIZATION PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the State and local authorities, is authorized to participate 
     in the design, planning, and construction of the El Paso 
     Water Reclamation, Reuse, and Desalinization project to 
     reclaim and reuse wastewater and to treat and reuse impaired 
     and brackish groundwater in the service area of the El Paso 
     Water Utilities Public Service Board, El Paso, Texas.
       ``(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) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
     any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this section.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 2 
     of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating 
     to section 16xx the following:

``Sec. 16xx. El Paso, Texas, water reclamation, reuse, and 
              desalinization project.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi).


                             General Leave

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 540.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 540 directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer 35 acres 
of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District as soon as practicable. 
Before the transfer takes place, all environmental analyses will be 
completed in accordance with Federal, State and local laws.
  As amended, this important bill also includes a number of other 
bipartisan water measures either favorably reported by the Committee on 
Resources in the waning days of the 108th Congress or those which were 
passed in the last Congress but were not considered by the Senate. 
Today's effort is an attempt to make it easier for Senate to pass these 
measures.
  These bipartisan bills include H.R. 386, legislation offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) and some of his lower Rio Grande, 
Texas colleagues, to help local irrigation districts and communities 
preserve their water supplies; H.R. 802, a bill authored by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) and the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano), to authorize Federal assistance for a 
water recycling project in California's Inland Empire; H.R. 855, 
legislation introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), to 
provide Federal dollars to the City of Brownsville's desalinization 
project; H.R. 863, a bill sponsored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Reyes), to provide Federal assistance to the City of El Paso's 
alternative water supply project; H.R. 1008, legislation authored by 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lewis), to allow Federal assistance for water projects 
in southern California; H.R. 1197, a bill sponsored by the gentleman 
from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), to extend irrigation contracts in 
Nebraska; and finally, H.R. 1327, legislation offered by the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt), to provide Federal assistance to the City of 
Wichita's aquifer recharge project.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. Speaker, these are bipartisan bills and deserve unanimous 
support.
  Once again, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 540 and the measures 
included therewith.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we support passage of H.R. 540 and the amendment to the 
bill which adds seven new titles. The amendment authorizes several 
important projects for water recycling, improvements to irrigation 
efficiency, conservation of groundwater and surface water, and 
desalination of water.
  I particularly want to draw attention to titles VI, VII and VIII of 
this legislation. These titles incorporate the text of H.R. 386, H.R. 
855 and H.R. 863, respectively.
  These bills, introduced by the gentlemen from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa, 
Mr. Ortiz, and Mr. Reyes), my colleagues, will help finance projects to 
stretch the limited water supplies in their districts. I commend my 
friends from Texas for their leadership in introducing these bills and 
for working hard to secure their passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank my good friend and 
colleague from Arizona for allowing me the privilege to rise today in 
support of legislation I introduced, the Newlands Project Headquarters 
and Maintenance Yard Facility Transfer Act, H.R. 540.
  This legislation passed the House under suspension of the rules last 
year, but was not considered in the Senate prior to the adjournment of 
the 108th Congress. I truly appreciate the opportunity to stand before 
my colleagues again in support of this legislation that is so important 
for the people of the Second District of the State of Nevada.
  The purpose of this legislation is to transfer all right, title, and 
interest in the Newlands Project to the Truckee-Carson Irrigation 
District, otherwise known as TCID. This conveyance consists of 
approximately 35 acres and will allow TCID to make permanent 
improvements on this land for the continued operation of the Newlands 
Reclamation Project.
  In 1996, the Bureau of Reclamation certified that TCID had repaid the 
original construction costs designated for repayment to the United 
States. The original construction costs included the cost of the land 
on which the initial headquarter facilities were located. In the late 
1970s, however, TCID had outgrown the original facilities and moved to 
the current site, which is the area to be conveyed through this 
legislation.
  TCID paid for the land where the original facilities were located; 
however, they were never compensated when they vacated these lots, 
despite the fact that a Federal post office now sits on the original 
tract of land that housed the project headquarters.
  Critics will charge that this bill unfairly favors the TCID and that 
the land is a taxpayer asset and should be treated accordingly. Those 
assertions simply do not make sense.
  The Bureau of Reclamation certified that the Newlands Project had 
been paid for and asking the TCID to pay for their land that their 
headquarters is currently located on would be in effect asking them to 
pay for it twice.
  To say that H.R. 540 is a giveaway is simply incorrect and 
misrepresents the intent of this important legislation. This bill is a 
fair solution to an unfair situation.
  Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator John Ensign 
and Senator Harry Reid and Governor Kenny Guinn of Nevada and the local 
leaders of Churchill County and the city of Fallon, Nevada, in 
supporting this legislation.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi), my good 
friend

[[Page 9736]]

and colleague, once again for allowing me to speak on this bill. I 
appreciate the consideration of this legislation that is so very 
important to my constituents in Nevada.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman 
from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) for his leadership on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from El Paso, Texas (Mr. Reyes), and also recognize his crucial 
leadership on water issues in the border area.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time 
this afternoon.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation which will 
help several local communities around the country address their water 
management issues.
  Like many communities in the West, one of the greatest challenges 
facing my congressional district of El Paso, Texas, has been providing 
an adequate water supply to our rapidly growing population.
  Fortunately, our community is meeting this challenge successfully, in 
part through the construction of a major inland desalination plant that 
will treat the brackish water of the Hueco Bolson so it can be utilized 
by the people of El Paso and the surrounding region, as well as Fort 
Bliss military base. The project, which is a partnership of the El Paso 
Water Utilities and the Department of Defense, is set to begin 
construction and should be completed within the year.
  I am proud to say that El Paso is leading the way when it comes to 
inland desalination, in addition to our ongoing conservation and 
reclamation initiatives. This bill will further our efforts by 
authorizing the city of El Paso to expand the soon-to-be constructed 
desalination plant or to construct an additional plant if and when 
additional capacity is required over the next 10 years.
  Ensuring a reliable, long-term water source for El Paso and the El 
Paso region is essential for the community's future. Desalination, and 
therefore, this legislation, is an integral part of that effort.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), 
the chairman and ranking member of the full committee, and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano), the chairman and ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on Water and Power, for their assistance in moving this 
important legislation forward.
  I would also like to thank my two colleagues from Arizona and from 
New Mexico for granting me the opportunity to speak this afternoon. Mr. 
Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 540, a bill that 
will authorize a variety of water projects including several in my 
congressional district. I want to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking 
Member Rahall for including my legislation, H.R. 386, in this bill.
  I represent a region of the country that is subject to periodic 
droughts and yet is experiencing phenomenal population growth.
  The 2000 Census showed that the population of Hidalgo County, in my 
district, increased by 48 percent. On the Mexican side of the border, 
millions have come to work in the maquiladoras and to take advantage of 
the economic boom that has come from NAFTA.
  This growth has placed an enormous strain on water delivery systems 
along the Texas-Mexico border. Agriculture irrigation water often flows 
through open dirt ditches and studies show that much is lost to seepage 
and evaporation.
  Municipalities rely on the water from the irrigation delivery systems 
to meet the water needs of growing communities.
  H.R. 540 will authorize 19 projects that will allow border water 
districts to continue upgrading and modernizing our antiquated water 
delivery systems through the installation of water pipes and canal 
linings. Similar projects were authorized in the 106th and 107th 
Congresses.
  We have already made a great deal of progress because this has been a 
collaborative effort. The irrigation districts have provided matching 
funds. The Texas Water Development Board and Texas A&M University have 
paid for many of the engineering studies. Federal appropriators have 
provided more than $10 million. As a result, we are seeing water 
savings of almost 80 percent in the projects that have been completed.
  Most importantly, Federal authorization has allowed us to tap into 
the resources of the North American Development Bank. To date, NADBank 
has approved almost $24 million for these projects and passage of H.R. 
540 will make these new projects eligible for NADBank assistance.
  These funds are being put to good use. Numerous projects are already 
underway and some are almost completed.
  When the metering system is fully installed, irrigation districts 
will have a much clearer picture of water usage and water savings. This 
data will be vital to improving water management throughout the region.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank House Resources 
Chairman Richard Pombo and Subcommittee on Water and Power Chairman 
George Radanovich, for their hard work in moving H.R. 802 as a part of 
this larger resources package bill, H.R. 540 as amended, to the House 
floor.
  I introduced this Inland Empire Water Recycling Initiative, H.R. 802, 
to authorize $30 million total for the Inland Empire Utilities Agency 
(IEUA) and the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) to assist in 
constructing two water recycling projects which will nearly 100,000 
acre-feet of new water annually to the area's water supply.
  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 
begin a strategic federal-local partnership to bring a significant 
amount of new water supply to the region.
  I am pleased that this initiative has the support of all member 
agencies of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, 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, 
Ontario, Upland, Montclair, and Rancho Cucamonga.
  IEUA and CVWD are replacing water-intensive applications like 
landscape and agricultural irrigation, construction, and industrial 
cooling 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, these agencies provide that the water available goes 
through at least one more cycle of beneficial use before it is 
ultimately returned to the environment.
  I want to reiterate my thanks to the House Resources Committee, as 
well as to my colleagues, Ken Calvert, Grace Napolitano, Gary Miller, 
and Joe Baca for cosponsoring H.R. 802.
  And last but certainly not least, I appreciate the visionary 
leadership of Mr. Robert DeLoach, General Manager of the Cucamonga 
Valley Water District and Mr. Rich Atwater, CEO and General Manager of 
the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, having no additional speakers, 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California). The 
question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Renzi) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 540, 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.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Newlands Project 
Headquarters and Maintenance Yard Facility to the Truckee-Carson 
Irrigation District.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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