[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 236 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 236
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to create a Bureau of
Reclamation partnership with the North Bay Water Reuse Authority and
other regional partners to achieve objectives relating to water supply,
water quality, and environmental restoration.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2007
Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Ms. Woolsey) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to create a Bureau of
Reclamation partnership with the North Bay Water Reuse Authority and
other regional partners to achieve objectives relating to water supply,
water quality, and environmental restoration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``North Bay Water Reuse Program Act of
2007''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
member agency of the North Bay Water Reuse Authority of the
State located in the North San Pablo Bay watershed in--
(A) Marin County;
(B) Napa County;
(C) Solano County; or
(D) Sonoma County.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
California.
(4) Water reclamation and reuse project.--The term ``water
reclamation and reuse project'' means a project carried out by
the Secretary and an eligible entity in the North San Pablo Bay
watershed relating to--
(A) water quality improvement;
(B) wastewater treatment;
(C) water reclamation and reuse;
(D) groundwater recharge and protection;
(E) surface water augmentation; or
(F) other related improvements.
SEC. 3. NORTH BAY WATER REUSE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through a cooperative
agreement with the State or a subdivision of a State, may offer to
enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities for the
planning, design, and construction of water reclamation and reuse
projects.
(b) Coordination With Other Federal Agencies.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary and the eligible entity shall, to the maximum
extent practicable, use the design work and environmental evaluations
initiated by--
(1) non-Federal entities; and
(2) the Corps of Engineers in the San Pablo Bay Watershed
of the State.
(c) Cooperative Agreement.--
(1) Requirements.--A cooperative agreement entered into
under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, specify the
responsibilities of the Secretary and the eligible entity with
respect to--
(A) ensuring that the cost-share requirements
established by subsection (e) are met;
(B) completing--
(i) a needs assessment for the water
reclamation and reuse project; and
(ii) the planning and final design of the
water reclamation and reuse project;
(C) any environmental compliance activity required
for the water reclamation and reuse project;
(D) the construction of facilities for the water
reclamation and reuse project; and
(E) administrating any contract relating to the
construction of the water reclamation and reuse
project.
(2) Phased project.--
(A) In general.--A cooperative agreement described
in paragraph (1) shall require that any water
reclamation and reuse project carried out under this
section shall consist of 2 phases.
(B) First phase.--During the first phase, the
Secretary and an eligible entity shall complete the
planning, design, and construction of the main
treatment and main conveyance system of the water
reclamation and reuse project.
(C) Second phase.--During the second phase, the
Secretary and an eligible entity shall complete the
planning, design, and construction of the sub-regional
distribution systems of the water reclamation and reuse
project.
(d) Financial Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide financial and
technical assistance to an eligible entity to assist in
planning, designing, conducting related preconstruction
activities for, and constructing a water reclamation and reuse
project.
(2) Use.--Any financial assistance provided under paragraph
(1) shall be obligated and expended only in accordance with a
cooperative agreement entered into under this section.
(e) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--
(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the total cost of
any activity or construction carried out using amounts made
available under this section shall be not more than 25 percent
of the total cost of a water reclamation and reuse project.
(2) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share may
be in the form of any in-kind services that the Secretary
determines would contribute substantially toward the completion
of the water reclamation and reuse project, including--
(A) reasonable costs incurred by the eligible
entity relating to the planning, design, and
construction of the water reclamation and reuse
project; and
(B) the fair-market value of land that is--
(i) used for planning, design, and
construction of the water reclamation and reuse
project facilities; and
(ii) owned by an eligible entity.
(f) Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Costs.--
(1) In general.--The eligible entity shall be responsible
for the annual operation, maintenance, and replacement costs
associated with the water reclamation and reuse project.
(2) Operation, maintenance, and replacement plan.--The
eligible entity, in consultation with the Secretary, shall
develop an operation, maintenance, and replacement plan for the
water reclamation and reuse project.
(g) Effect.--Nothing in this Act--
(1) affects or preempts--
(A) State water law; or
(B) an interstate compact relating to the
allocation of water; or
(2) confers on any non-Federal entity the ability to
exercise any Federal right to--
(A) the water of a stream; or
(B) any groundwater resource.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for the Federal share of the total cost of the first phase
of water reclamation and reuse projects carried out under this Act, an
amount not to exceed 25 percent of the total cost of those reclamation
and reuse projects or $25,000,000, whichever is less, to remain
available until expended.
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