[Senate Report 110-113]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 246
110th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                    110-113

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                AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDIES

                                _______
                                

                 June 28, 2007.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 542]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 542) to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct feasibility studies to address certain 
water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River 
systems in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                         PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE

    The purpose of S. 542 is to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct feasibility studies to address certain 
water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River 
systems in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    The State of Idaho continues to experience the effects of a 
prolonged drought as well as tremendous growth and urbanization 
in the Boise and Payette River basins. Projected population 
growth will eventually over-extend existing groundwater 
supplies for these rapidly growing areas. In light of this and 
other water resource issues in the State, the Idaho House of 
Representatives issued Joint Memorial No. 24 in 2004, which 
``recognizes the need for additional water to meet Idaho's 
emerging needs and encourages Federal and State agencies to 
cooperate with Idaho in identifying and developing such water 
supply projects.''
    Under existing authorities, Reclamation initiated an 
assessment level water supply study specifically in the Boise 
and Payette basins. Stakeholders with wide representation from 
the State, Federal, agricultural, environmental, and municipal 
sectors participated in that study. The Boise/Payette Water 
Storage Assessment Report was completed in July 2006 and 
distributed to local, State, Federal, agricultural, 
environmental, and municipal parties. A feasibility study is 
now needed to complete a more in-depth analysis of the water 
supply alternatives necessary to meet future demands in Idaho.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 542 was introduced by Senator Craig on February 8, 2007, 
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 
The Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on S. 542 on 
April 25, 2007. At its business meeting on May 23, 2007, the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 542 to be 
favorably reported.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on May 23, 2007, by voice vote of a quorum 
present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 542.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

    Section 1(a) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, 
acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to conduct 
feasibility studies on appropriate projects that address water 
shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in 
Idaho.
    Section 1(b) requires the studies to comply with Bureau of 
Reclamation policy standards and guidelines.
    Section 1(c) authorizes $3,000,000 in appropriations to 
carry out the Act.
    Section 1(d) terminates the authority contained in the Act 
on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The following estimate of costs of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:

                                                      May 31, 2007.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 542, a bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct feasibility 
studies to address certain water shortages within the Snake, 
Boise, and Payette River systems in the state of Idaho, and for 
other purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Tyler 
Kruzich.
            Sincerely,
                                                   Peter R. Orszag.
    Enclosure.

S. 542--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
        feasibility studies to address certain water shortages within 
        the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in the state of 
        Idaho, and for other purposes

    S. 542 would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct 
feasibility studies to address water shortages within the 
Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in Idaho. Assuming 
appropriation of the specified amount, CBO estimates that 
implementing S. 542 would cost $3 million over the 2008-2012 
period. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or 
revenues.
    S. 542 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 
The bill would authorize funding for studies that would benefit 
water agencies along river systems in the state of Idaho. Any 
costs they might incur to provide matching funds would result 
from complying with conditions of federal assistance.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Tyler Kruzich. 
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                      REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out S. 542. The bill is not a regulatory measure in 
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or 
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals 
and businesses.
    No personal information would be collected in administering 
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal 
privacy.
    Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the 
enactment of S. 542, as ordered reported.

                        EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

    The testimony provided by the Bureau of Reclamation at the 
Subcommittee hearing on April 25, 2007 on S. 542 follows:

Statement of Robert Johnson, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. 
                       Department of the Interior

    I am Robert Johnson, Commissioner for the Bureau of 
Reclamation. I am pleased to be here today to provide the 
Department of the Interior's views on S. 542, legislation to 
authorize the Secretary to conduct feasibility studies to 
address water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette 
River systems in Idaho.
    Reclamation previously provided testimony on September 21, 
2006, regarding the Administration's views on H.R. 2563 as 
referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, 
a bill equivalent to S. 542 introduced this Congress. 
Consistent with our testimony in the last Congress, we support 
S. 542.
    The State of Idaho continues to experience the effects of a 
prolonged drought as well as tremendous growth and urbanization 
in the Boise and Payette River basins. Projected population 
growth will eventually over-extend existing ground water 
supplies for these rapidly growing areas. In light of this and 
other water resource issues elsewhere in the state, the Idaho 
State House of Representatives issued Joint Memorial No. 24 in 
2004, which ``recognizes the need for additional water to meet 
Idaho's emerging needs and encourages Federal and State 
agencies to cooperate with Idaho in identifying and developing 
such water supply projects.''
    Under existing authorities, Reclamation initiated an 
assessment level water supply study specifically in the Boise 
and Payette basins. Stakeholders with wide representation from 
the State, Federal, agricultural, environmental and municipal 
sectors participated in that study. The Final Boise/Payette 
Water Storage Assessment Report was completed in July 2006 and 
was distributed to local State, Federal, agricultural, 
environmental and municipal parties.
    S. 542 would go the next step by authorizing Reclamation to 
conduct feasibility studies within the Snake, Boise, and 
Payette River systems. However, while the legislation provides 
authority for feasibility studies in the Snake River system, 
Reclamation's assessment report referenced in the legislation 
solely evaluated and identified projects for further 
consideration in the Boise and Payette River systems, thus 
limiting the scope of the bill's authorization.
    Reclamation supports focused, basin-by-basin water resource 
studies with input and local involvement from the State and the 
stakeholder communities. We recognize the need to address 
projected water supply shortages in the Boise and Payette River 
systems, and look forward to doing so in partnership with 
future beneficiaries. We would welcome the opportunity to be an 
active partner in addressing these water supply issues with the 
State of Idaho and its water users. However, any studies 
conducted under this new authority would still need to compete 
with other needs within the Reclamation program for funding 
priority in the President's Budget.
    This concludes my testimony. I am pleased to answer any 
questions.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no 
changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 542, as ordered 
reported.

                                  
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