[DOCID: f:sr111.110]
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Calendar No. 245
110th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 110-111
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CENTRAL OKLAHOMA MASTER CONSERVATORY DISTRICT FEASIBILITY STUDY
_______
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. 175]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 175) to provide for a feasibility study
of alternatives to augment the water supplies of the Central
Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and cities served by the
District, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
with an amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do
pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. CENTRAL OKLAHOMA MASTER CONSERVATORY DISTRICT FEASIBILITY
STUDY.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Commissioner of Reclamation (referred to in this
section as the ``Secretary''), shall--
(A) conduct a feasibility study of alternatives to
augment the water supplies of--
(i) the Central Oklahoma Master Conservatory
District (referred to in this section as the
``District''); and
(ii) cities served by the District;
(2) Inclusions.--The study under paragraph (1) shall include
recommendations of the Secretary, if any, relating to the
alternatives studied.
(b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--
(1) In general.--The Federal share of the total costs of the
study under subsection (a) shall not exceed 50 percent.
(2) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share
required under paragraph (1) may be in the form of any in-kind
services that the Secretary determines would contribute
substantially toward the conduct and completion of the study.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to conduct the study under subsection (a)
$900,000.
PURPOSE
The purpose of S. 175 is to provide for a feasibility study
of alternatives to augment the water supplies of the Central
Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and cities served by the
District.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
The Norman Project, authorized in 1960 (Public Law 86-529),
was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for
municipal and industrial (M&I) water supply, flood control,
recreation, and fish & wildlife purposes in central Oklahoma.
Thunderbird Lake, the reservoir created by Norman Dam, provides
water to the region, including the cities of Norman, Midwest
City, and Del City. The Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy
District (District) operates Thunderbird Lake and delivers
water to these cities via pipelines and pumping plants.
The population of Central Oklahoma continues to grow,
resulting in increased demands for M&I water. Along with
receiving water from Thunderbird Lake, the region relies on
groundwater from the Garber-Wellington aquifer to help meet
water demands. As the area population increases, the demand for
water is expected to grow beyond the combined yield of the
aquifer and Thunderbird Lake. Beginning in 1988, the city of
Norman first exceeded its allocation of Thunderbird Lake water,
and over the past decade has exceeded it for nine consecutive
years. To help meet needs during water emergencies, Norman
built a waterline to connect with Oklahoma City's treated water
supply in 1999. However, the high cost of operating this
waterline necessitates that it be used for emergency purposes
only. To meet future demand, the region began looking at other
potential solutions.
In 2005, Reclamation, in cooperation with the District,
completed an appraisal report on alternative measures to
augment water supplies at Lake Thunderbird. The report
concluded that a M&I water need exists and that there are a
range of alternatives to meet that need. A feasibility study is
needed to fully evaluate all the alternatives.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 175 was introduced by Senator Inhofe on January 4, 2007,
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
The Water and Power Subcommittee held a hearing on S. 175 on
April 25, 2007. At the business meeting on May 23, 2007, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 175
favorably reported, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in an
open business meeting on May 23, 2007, by voice vote of a
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 175, if
amended as described herein.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
During the consideration of S. 175, the Committee adopted
an amendment in the nature of a substitute which addresses
concerns raised during the committee hearing and in written
submissions.
The first change deletes all findings from section 1(a) of
the bill as introduced. The second change provides for a 3-year
period to conduct the study. The third change incorporates a
cost-share provision into the bill. The fourth and final change
increases the authorization of appropriations from $300,000 to
$900,000.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1(a) directs the Secretary, acting through the
Commissioner of Reclamation, to conduct a feasibility study to
augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master
Conservancy District and provide recommendations as
appropriate.
Section 1(b) requires that the Federal share of the costs
of the feasibility study not exceed 50% of the total costs and
authorizes the non-Federal share to be in the form of in-kind
services.
Section 1(c) authorizes $900,000 to be appropriated for the
Secretary to conduct the feasibility study.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The following estimate of the costs of this measure has
been provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
May 29, 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. 175, a bill to
provide for a feasibility study of alternatives to augment the
water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy
District and cities served by the district.
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. 175--A bill to provide for a feasibility study of alternatives to
augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master
Conservancy District and cities served by the district
S. 175 would require the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a
feasibility study of alternatives to augment the water supplies
of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and the
cities that it serves. Assuming appropriation of the amount
authorized by the bill, CBO estimates that implementing S. 175
would cost $900,000 over the 2008-2012 period. Enacting the
bill would not affect direct spending or revenues.
S. 175 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act; any
costs incurred by the Central Oklahoma Master Conservation
District 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. 175. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant responsibilities on private individuals and
business.
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. 175.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at
the Subcommittee hearing on S. 175 follows:
Statement of Robert Johnson, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S.
Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I am Robert
Johnson, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. I am
pleased to present the views of the Department of the Interior
on S. 175 concerning the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy
District (District) Feasibility Study.
S. 175 would authorize Reclamation to conduct a Feasibility
Study of alternatives to augment the water supplies of the
District and cities served by the District. S. 175 would also
require the study to be conducted within one year of the date
of enactment, and authorize $300,000 to be spent in conducting
the study. The Department does not support S. 175.
The one-year timeframe for the study described in S. 175 is
insufficient for a thorough evaluation of alternatives to meet
future water needs of surrounding communities not presently
served by the District and would be a very aggressive schedule.
This timeframe would also make completion of the Feasibility
Study, including preparation of the appropriate National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance document, extremely
problematic and may prove difficult to achieve with any degree
of accuracy.
The Department recognizes that a water need exists for the
District. Reclamation is currently preparing a scope of work in
coordination with the District, which focuses the plan of study
to be completed. However, the Department does not support
authorization of a Feasibility Study at this time.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on S. 175. This
concludes my statement and I am happy 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. 175, as ordered
reported.
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