[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 902 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 902
To facilitate the use for irrigation and other purposes of water
produced in connection with development of energy resources.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 7, 2007
Mr. Udall of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Pearce)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate the use for irrigation and other purposes of water
produced in connection with development of energy resources.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE, FINDINGS, AND PURPOSE.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``More Water and
More Energy Act of 2007''.
(b) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Development of energy resources, including oil, natural
gas, coalbed methane, and geothermal resources, frequently
results in bringing to the surface water extracted from
underground sources.
(2) Some of this produced water is used for irrigation or
other purposes, but most of it is returned to the subsurface.
(3) Reducing the amount of produced water returned to the
subsurface, and increasing the amount that is made available
for irrigation and other uses--
(A) would augment water supplies;
(B) could reduce the costs to energy developers for
disposing of such water; and
(C) in some instances could increase the efficiency
of energy development activities.
(4) It is in the national interest to remove or reduce
obstacles to use of produced water for irrigation or other
purposes in ways that will not adversely affect water quality
or the environment.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the use of
produced water for irrigation and other purposes without adversely
affecting water quality or the environment, and to demonstrate ways to
accomplish that result.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Produced water.--The term ``produced water'' means
water from an underground source, that is brought to the
surface as part of the process of exploration for or
development of oil, natural gas, coalbed methane, or any other
substance to be used as an energy source.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``the Secretary'' means the
Secretary of the Interior.
(3) Upper basin states.--The term ``Upper Basin States''
means the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
(4) Lower basin states.--The term ``Lower Basin States''
means the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada.
SEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.
(a) Study.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of
Reclamation and the Director of the United States Geological Survey,
shall conduct a study to identify--
(1) the technical, economic, environmental, legal, and
other obstacles to increasing the extent to which produced
water can be used for irrigation and other purposes without
adversely affecting water quality or the environment; and
(2) the legislative, administrative, and other actions that
could reduce or eliminate such obstacles.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate regarding the results of the study
required by this section.
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION.
(a) Grants.--Within existing authorities and subject to the
availability of funds appropriated for the purpose, the Secretary shall
provide financial assistance for the development of facilities to
demonstrate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of processes to
increase the extent to which produced water may be recovered and made
suitable for use for irrigation, municipal or industrial uses, or other
purposes without adversely affecting water quality or the environment.
(b) Limitations.--Assistance under this section--
(1) shall be provided for--
(A) at least one project in one of the Upper Basin
States other than New Mexico;
(B) at least one project in either New Mexico or
one of the Lower Basin States other than California;
(C) at least one project in California; and
(D) at least one project in Texas;
(2) shall not exceed $1,000,000 for any project;
(3) shall be used to pay not more than 50 percent of the
total cost of a project;
(4) shall not be used for operation or maintenance of any
facility; and
(5) may be in addition to assistance provided by the United
States pursuant to other provisions of law.
SEC. 5. CONSULTATION, ADVICE, AND COMMENTS.
In implementing this Act, including preparation of the report
required by section 3 and the establishment of criteria to be used in
connection with award of financial assistance pursuant to section 4,
the Secretary shall--
(1) consult with the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency, and appropriate
Governors and local officials;
(2) review any relevant information developed in connection
with research carried out by others, including research carried
out pursuant to section 999 of Public Law 109-58, and to the
extent the Secretary considers advisable include such
information in the report required by section 3;
(3) seek the advice of individuals with relevant
professional or academic expertise and of companies or
individuals with industrial experience, particularly experience
related to production of oil, natural gas, or other energy
resources, including geothermal resources; and
(4) solicit comments and suggestions from the public.
SEC. 6. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as superseding, modifying,
abrogating, or limiting--
(1) the effect of any State law or any interstate authority
or compact with regard to any use of water or the regulation of
water quantity or quality; or
(2) the applicability or effect of any Federal law or
regulation.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated--
(1) $1,000,000 to implement section 3; and
(2) $5,000,000 to implement section 4.
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