[DOCID: f:sr012.110] From the Senate Reports Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] Calendar No. 37 110th Congress Report SENATE 1st Session 110-12 ====================================================================== NEW MEXICO WATER PLANNING ASSISTANCE ACT _______ February 15, 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. 255] The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was referred the bill (S. 255) to provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for the development of comprehensive State water plans, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. PURPOSE The purpose of S. 255 is to provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for the development of comprehensive State water plans. BACKGROUND AND NEED The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NM OSE) is statutorily required to perform assessments and investigations of the numerous stream systems and ground water basins located within New Mexico. In order to perform these assessments, it is necessary for the NM OSE to undertake hydrographic surveys and develop hydrologic models. These assessments assist Federal agencies by providing fundamental information on hydrologic conditions important for flood assessment, land management, Tribal water resources assessments, and Federal water project management. The NM OSE lacks adequate resources to perform necessary hydrologic models and data collection. This lack of resources impairs the NM OSE's ability to make informed decisions about the State's water resources, participate in state-Federal water management decisions, effectively perform water rights administration, and comply with New Mexico's compact deliveries. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY S. 255 was introduced on January 10, 2007, by Senators Domenici and Bingaman. During the 109th Congress, the Committee considered similar legislation, S. 178, also sponsored by Senators Domenici and Bingaman. The Committee ordered S. 178 favorably reported on February 9, 2005 (S. Rept. 109-16) and the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on July 26, 2005. No further action occurred prior to the sine die adjournment of the 109th Congress. During the 108th Congress, the Committee considered a similar measure, S. 2460. The Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on S. 2460 on June 17, 2004 (S. Hrg. 108-668) and the Committee ordered S. 2460, as amended, favorably reported on July 14, 2004 (S. Rept. 108-326). S. 2460 passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 15, 2004. At the business meeting on January 31, 2007, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 255 favorably reported. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in an open business meeting on January 31, 2007, by a voice vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 255. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1 provides the short title, the ``New Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act.'' Section 2 defines key terms used in the Act. Section 3(a) directs the Secretary, upon the request of the Governor of New Mexico, to provide technical assistance and grants for the development of State water plans, conduct water resources mapping in the State, and conduct a study of groundwater resources. Subsection (b) specifies what technical assistance the Secretary may provide. Subsection (c) allocates grants among projects. Subsection (d) provides that the non-Federal cost share shall be 50 percent, the non-Federal share may be in the form of any in-kind services, the grants provided to the State shall be made on a non-reimbursable basis, and the Secretary shall transfer any amount made available under the Act to one or more Federal agencies upon request of the State. Section 4 authorizes to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each fiscal year 2006 through 2010 to carry out the Act. Section 5 sunsets the authority provided by the act after 10 years. COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: S. 255 New Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act--As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on January 31, 2007 Summary: S. 255 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey, to provide technical assistance and grants to the state of New Mexico for developing comprehensive water plans, conducting water resources mapping, and implementing a study of groundwater resources (including potable, brackish, and saline water resources). The bill would authorize the appropriation of $3 million annually over the 2008-2012 period for technical assistance and grants. S. 255 would require nonfederal grantees to pay 50 percent of total project costs. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $14 million over the 2008-2012 period and an additional $1 million after that period. Enacting S. 255 would not affect direct spending or revenues. S. 255 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. Federal spending authorized by this bill would benefit the state of New Mexico, and any expenditures made by the state to satisfy the bill's matching requirement would be made voluntarily. Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 255 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 255 will be enacted near the end of 2007. Based on historical spending patterns for similar projects, CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $14 million over the 2008-2012 period and an additional $1 million after that period. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By fiscal year, in millions of dollars-- -------------------------------------------- 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION Authorization Level................................................ 3 3 3 3 3 Estimated Outlays.................................................. 2 3 3 3 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 255 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Federal spending authorized by this bill would benefit the state of New Mexico, and any expenditures made by the state to satisfy the bill's matching requirement would be made voluntarily. Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Julie Middleton; Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Lisa Ramirez- Branum; and Impact on the Private Sector: Amy Petz. Estimate 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. 255. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant 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. 255. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS Because S. 255 is similar to legislation considered during the 109th and 108th Congresses, the Committee did not request Executive Agency views. The testimony provided by the Bureau of Reclamation at the Subcommittee hearing on S. 2460 in the 108th Congress follows: Statement of John W. Keys, III, Commissioner Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior Madam Chair, my name is John W. Keys, III, Commissioner of Reclamation (Reclamation). I am pleased to be here today to present the views of the Department of the Interior (Department) regarding S. 2460, which would authorize assistance to be provided to the State of New Mexico for the development of comprehensive State water plans, and for other purposes. We share the views of the sponsor of this bill, Senator Domenici, that is, the importance of sound science for use by water resource planners. However, the Department is concerned about the financial resources that would be required for Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to carry out S. 2460 in the context of the availability of resources overall for Administration programs. Further, the provision for any assistance or grants to be made on a non- reimbursable basis and without a costsharing requirement is inconsistent with the funding arrangements that Reclamation and the USGS have for similar activities in other states. For these reasons, the Administration cannot support the bill as currently written. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through Reclamation and the USGS, to (1) provide technical assistance and grants to the State for the development of comprehensive State water plans; (2) conduct water resources mapping in the State; and (3) conduct a comprehensive study of groundwater resources (including potable, brackish, and saline water resources) to assess the quantity, quality, and interaction of groundwater and surface water resources in the State. This would be accomplished through technical assistance and grants. The technical assistance role identified for the Department in this bill is consistent with the USGS's leadership role in interpretation, research, and assessment of the earth and biological resources of the nation. It is likewise consistent with the Reclamation's leadership role in water resources research, modeling, analysis, assessment and management. However, the direction to provide these grants to the State on a noncompetitive basis is not in harmony with the Administration's efforts, such as through Water 2025, to use a competitive process to focus our existing resources in those areas where future water conflicts are most likely to occur. Even though some New Mexico projects would likely be very competitive in that process, the Administration would prefer that New Mexico's needs compete on an equal footing with other meritorious projects that apply for assistance. Let me briefly describe the activities of the USGS and Reclamation in this context. As the nation's largest water, earth, biological science, and civilian mapping agency, USGS conducts the most extensive groundwater and surface water investigations in the nation in conjunction with state and local partners. The USGS New Mexico District currently operates 209 streamflow stations and routinely measures groundwater levels at 1,658 well sites through cooperative programs with several local, state, tribal, and federal agencies. In addition to hydrologic monitoring programs, the USGS is providing hydrologic understanding to water agencies through the Cooperative Water Program by conducting several investigative projects that include describing the interaction of surface water and ground water in the Mesilla and Middle Rio Grande basins, evaluating modeling approaches in the Santa Fe Embayment and La Cienega areas of the Espanola Basin, and quantifying streamflow gains and losses in the Espanola Basin along the Rio Grande mainstem and its tributaries. In support of all water agencies within New Mexico, USGS technical specialists participate on work groups and committees each year. Currently, USGS personnel are involved in the New Mexico Brackish Water Task Force, the Rio Grande Environmental Assessment for Upper Rio Grande water operations, and the Department of the Interior's Southwest Strategy. Reclamation, as the nation's largest western water and hydro-electric power supplier and water management agency, conducts the most extensive river storage and delivery operations and related research in the seventeen western states in conjunction with tribal, state and local partners. Reclamation has provided technical and monetary assistance to two of the New Mexico state regional water plans, reviewed and commented on the draft State Water Plan, and provided water resource-related technical assistance through Reclamation's Technical Assistance to States planning program. In addition, Reclamation is actively involved in several Indian water supply projects within New Mexico, and has developed and maintains state-of-the-art, internet-delivered decision support data on evapotranspiration depletions to the Rio Grande system, and conducts daily river system modeling for water accounting, contracted deliveries and endangered species support. In summary, the goals of the bill are commendable, and the bill contains provisions that are within the scope and expertise of Reclamation and the USGS. However, it is the position of the Administration that funding for the activities in this bill be pursued through existing authorities and procedures, and not through specific Congressional direction that supersedes established processes, competitive or otherwise. Also, we believe that the cost-sharing provisions of this bill should conform to other similar programs undertaken by Reclamation and the USGS, such as Reclamation Title XVI program, which requires a 50 percent local share, or the USGS Cooperative Water Program, which requires a dollar for dollar match of federal and non-federal funds. Requiring these cost- shares not only stretches limited federal funds, but also emphasizes that States are primarily responsible for managing the water resources within their borders, and not the Federal government. Finally, we find that S. 2460 is sufficiently vague regarding the relative roles and functions of Reclamation and the USGS, which could cause significant delay in implementation, as well as the fact that the bill, as written, duplicates some existing agency programs and authorizations and sets a major precedent of providing federal funding for State water plans. Thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to present this testimony. I will be pleased to answer questions you and other Members of the Subcommittee might have. 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. 255 as ordered reported. <all>