[Senate Report 106-369]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 746
106th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     106-369

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        REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT OF 1984

                                _______
                                

                August 25, 2000.--Ordered to be printed

   Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of July 26, 2000

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, from the Committee on Environment and 
                 Public Works, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [to accompany S. 2297]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 2297) to reauthorize the Water Resources 
Research Act of 1984, having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.

                    General Statement and Background

    The Water Resources Research Act (42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) 
was originally enacted in 1964. The Act authorizes a program of 
water-related research and training of scientists and engineers 
to enter fields of water research and management. The program 
is administered by Institutes at each of the 54 land grant 
colleges in each of the 50 States, and in the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The program is 
under the general guidance of the Secretary of the Interior. 
These Institutes award grant funds for research projects. The 
strength of the Institutes is their location within the 
university community, where a multitude of disciplines can be 
concentrated on water problems, offering new and innovative 
approaches. Funds are distributed to the Institutes in every 
State, assuring the widest possible geographic search for new 
information. The grants must be matched by two non-Federal 
dollars for each Federal dollar.
    In administering the water resources research program, the 
Secretary of the Department of the Interior distributes 
appropriated funds equally among the Institutes. The 
Institutes, in turn, award research funds through a 
competitive, peer review process. Each Institute maintains one 
or more advisory panel comprised of local, State, and Federal 
water officials, representatives from water user groups, and 
other interested parties. Annually, these groups develop 
research priorities for their States and review the allocation 
of funds among various competing projects. In this way, each 
Institute is able to focus grants on the most pressing water 
problems and issues affecting their State. This program has 
worked well.
    However, since the research agenda for this program is 
established by each State to meet its individual needs, the 
Department should continue the cooperative relationship with 
each State water resources research programs and that it 
considers the priorities and funding recommendations of the 
State advisory panels. The Department shall maintain a level of 
funding for the institutional grants at each Institute 
sufficient to maintain the basic infrastructure for efficient 
State, regional, and national research coordination, 
collaboration, education and information transfer.
    S. 2297 continues the partnership between the Federal 
Government and non-Federal water resources researchers, a 
partnership that is centered at the university community. 
Specifically, S. 2297 extends the authorization for the State 
water resources research institutes to provide grants and 
address water resources management problems, such as the 
quantity and quality of water supplies, the sources of water 
contaminants and methods of remediation, and the training of 
research scientists, engineers and technicians. The Institute-
sponsored research funding, authorized by Section 104(b), 
requires a match of two non-Federal dollars for each Federal 
dollar.
    The Interstate Research Grants program, Section 104(g), is 
reauthorized in this bill. The Interstate Research Grants 
provide competitive Federal grants focusing on regional and 
interstate water resources problems beyond those effecting a 
single State and must be matched by at least one non-Federal 
dollar to each Federal dollar. By continuing and enhancing 
these collaborative efforts, the Institutes can better address 
critical issues on long-term water planning and supply that may 
exceed the resources of any one State.
    The authorized funding levels for the Section 104(b) and 
104(g) programs in fiscal year 2000 are $9 million and $3 
million. The actual appropriation for the programs in fiscal 
year 2000 was $4.062 million and $1 million, respectively.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1. Reauthorization of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984
    S. 2297 authorizes the Section 104(b) institutional grants 
program at $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2001; $10,000,000 for 
fiscal years 2002 and 2003; and $12,000,000 for fiscal years 
2004 and 2005, for a total of $53,000,000.
    S. 2297 authorizes the Section 104(g) competitive grants at 
$3 million for fiscal year 2001, $4 million for fiscal years 
2002 and 2003, and $6 million for each of fiscal years 2004 and 
2005, for a total of $23,000,000.

                                Hearings

    No hearings were held on the bill.

                             Rollcall Votes

    Section 7(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 
Senate and the rules of the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works require that any rollcall votes taken during 
consideration of legislation be noted in the report on that 
legislation. At the business meeting of the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works on April 13, 2000, a rollcall vote 
was taken for the bill, and S. 2297 was ordered reported by a 
vote of 18-0.

                           Regulatory Impact

    In compliance with Section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact of the bill.
    The bill does not create any additional regulatory burdens.

                          Mandates Assessment

    In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Public Law 104-4), the committee makes the following 
evaluation of the Federal mandates contained in the reported 
bill.
    S. 2297 imposes no Federal intergovernmental mandates on 
State, local or tribal governments.

                          Cost of Legislation

    Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the 
reported bill, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be 
included in the report. That statement follows:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, April 27, 2000.

Hon. Robert C. Smith, Chairman,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared 
the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2297, a bill to reauthorize 
the Water Resources Research Act of 1984.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan 
Carroll, who can be reached at 226-2860.
            Sincerely,
                                            Dan L. Crippen.
                              ----------                              


               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

S. 2297, A bill to reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act of 
        1984, As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works on April 13, 2000
Summary
    S. 2297 would reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act 
through 2005. Under that act, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 
provides grants for research and education to water resources 
research and technology institutes located in each of the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The 
bill would authorize the appropriation of $76 million over the 
2001-2005 period for the USGS to continue those grant programs.
    CBO estimates that implementing S. 2297 would cost $72 
million over the 2001-2005 period, assuming appropriation of 
the authorized amounts. The bill would not affect direct 
spending orreceipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would 
not apply. S. 2297 contains no intergovernmental or private-
sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
(UMRA) and would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal 
governments.
Estimated Cost to the Federal Government
    For purposes of this estimate, CBO assumes that the 
authorized amounts will be appropriated and that outlays will 
follow the historical spending patterns for these grant 
programs. The estimated impact of S. 2297 is shown in the 
following table. The costs of this legislation fall within 
budget function 300 (natural resources and the environment).


                                     By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   2000    2001    2002    2003    2004    2005
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Spending Under Current Law
    Budget Authority\1\.........................................       5       0       0       0       0       0
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       4       1       0       0       0       0

Proposed Changes
    Authorization Level.........................................       0      12      14      14      18      18
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0      10      13      14      17      18

Spending Under S. 2297
    Authorization Levels........................................       5      12      14      14      18      18
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       4      11      13      14      17      18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\The 2000 level is the amount appropriated for that year for USGS grants under the Water Resources Research
  Act.

Pay-As-You-Go Considerations: None.
Intergovernmental and Private-Sector Impact
    S. 2297 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on State, 
local, or tribal governments. Any costs to match Federal grants 
authorized by this bill would be incurred voluntarily.

Estimate Prepared By: Federal Costs: Megan Carroll (226-2860); 
Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Victoria Held 
Hall (225-3220); Impact on the Private Sector: Patrice Gordon 
(226-2940).

Estimate Approved by: Peter H. Fontaine Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill 
as reported are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be 
omitted is enclosed in [black brackets], new matter is printed 
in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown 
in roman:
                              ----------                              




                  WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT OF 1984

                    Public Law 98-242, 98th Congress

An ACT To authorize an ongoing program of water resources research, and 
                           for other purposes

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

                                Title I

    Sec. 101. This Act may be cited as the ``Water Resources 
Research Act of 1984''.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    Sec. 104. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (f)(1) For the purpose of carrying out this section, there 
is authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary the sum of 
$5,000,000 fiscal year 1996, $7,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1997 and 1998, and $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
1999 and 2000.] the Secretary $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and 
$12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, to remain 
available until expended.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (g)(1) There is further authorized to be appropriated to 
the [Secretary of the Interior the sum of $3,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 1996 through 2000] the Secretary $3,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2001, $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 
2003, and $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, to 
be available only for reimbursement of the direct cost expenses 
of additional research or synthesis of the results of research 
by institutes which focuses on water problems and issues of a 
regional or interstate nature beyond those of concern only to a 
single State and which relate to specific program priorities 
identified jointly by the Secretary and the institutes. Such 
funds when appropriated shall be matched on a not less than 
dollar-for-dollar basis by funds made available to institutes 
or groups of institutes, by States or other non-Federal 
sources. Funds made available under this subsection shall 
remain available until expended.

                                  
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