[House Report 112-367]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


112th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     112-367

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  INLAND EMPIRE PERCHLORATE GROUND WATER PLUME ASSESSMENT ACT OF 2011

                                _______
                                

January 18, 2012.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Hastings of Washington, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 200]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 200) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-Colton Basin 
in the State of California, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment 
and recommend that the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 200 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-
Colton Basin in the State of California.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Perchlorate is a synthetic and naturally occurring salt 
compound. In some areas, perchlorate groundwater contamination 
has occurred as a result of firework, rocket propellant, and 
road flare manufacturing. The National Academy of Sciences 
concluded in 2005 that perchlorate at levels generally 
encountered in the United States do not constitute a public 
health concern. However, in high doses, perchlorate can disrupt 
uptake of iodide to the thyroid, decreasing thyroid production. 
Insufficient thyroid hormone can impede brain development in 
fetuses and infants.
    Perchlorate contamination has occurred in the Rialto-Colton 
Basin in southern California. Specifically, a 2003 U.S. 
Geological Survey (USGS) Groundwater Assessment and Monitoring 
Program study identified perchlorate contamination in 
approximately 67 percent of the Basin's water wells. Although 
the perchlorate concentration in some of the wells exceeded 
California standards, no well had concentrations in excess of 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health reference 
level. The two major sources of synthetic perchlorate in the 
area are San Bernardino County's Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill 
(Landfill) and the 160-acre B.F. Goodrich Site near the 
Landfill. These two sites were used for storage and destruction 
of perchlorate-containing compounds such as explosives, 
propellants, and pyrotechnic devices. The County of San 
Bernardino, California, has spent $13 million treating 
perchlorate emanating from the County Landfill near Rialto, 
California.
    H.R. 200 requires the USGS to study the aquifers in the 
Rialto-Colton Basin and analyze the following: the quantity of 
water in the aquifers; the availability of groundwater 
resources for human use; the salinity level of the ground 
water; the identification of a recent surge in perchlorate 
concentrations; the identification of the sources of the 
perchlorate; potential for groundwater recharge; interaction 
between groundwater and surface water; and the susceptibility 
of the aquifers to contamination. The bill also requires that 
the study be carried out no later than two years after funds 
are made available. At a Subcommittee on Water and Power 
legislative hearing in 2011, USGS testified that it already has 
the administrative authorities necessary to perform a study 
addressing the issues presented in H.R. 200.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 200 was introduced on January 6, 2011, by Congressman 
Joe Baca (D-CA). The bill was referred to the Committee on 
Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 
on Water and Power. On September 14, 2011, the Subcommittee 
held a hearing on the bill. On November 17, 2011, the Natural 
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee 
on Water and Power was discharged by unanimous consent. No 
amendments were offered, and the bill was ordered favorably 
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) 
of that Rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has 
received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

H.R. 200--Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume Assessment Act 
        of 2011

    H.R. 200 would direct the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to 
conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-Colton Basin 
located east of Los Angeles, California. The study would 
identify the location of aquifers, evaluate the impact of 
perchlorate contamination, and include an analysis of other 
related water issues in the basin.
    Based on information from the USGS and assuming 
appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that 
implementing H.R. 200 would cost $4 million over the next two 
years. Those funds would be used to drill wells, collect data, 
and perform modeling activities necessary to complete the 
study. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct 
spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do 
not apply.
    H.R. 200 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. The 
estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

    2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required 
by clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974, this bill does not contain any new budget 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures. Based on information from the 
USGS and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 200 would cost $4 million over 
the next two years. Those funds would be used to drill wells, 
collect data, and perform modeling activities necessary to 
complete the study. Enacting the legislation would not affect 
direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures do not apply.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or 
objective of this bill is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-
Colton Basin in the State of California.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

     This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

     This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local, or 
tribal law.

                         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                  
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