[DOCID: f:hr222.110] From the House Reports Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] 110th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110-222 ====================================================================== RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT RECYCLED WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY ACT OF 2007 _______ July 10, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 1725] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 1725) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Rancho California Water District Southern Riverside County Recycled/Non-Potable Distribution Facilities and Demineralization/Desalination Recycled Water Treatment and Reclamation Facility Project, 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. 1725 is to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Rancho California Water District Southern Riverside County Recycled/Non-Potable Distribution Facilities and Demineralization/Desalination Recycled Water Treatment and Reclamation Facility Project. Background and Need for Legislation H.R. 1725 authorizes funds for the implementation of the Rancho California Water District's Regional Integrated Resources Plan (IRP). Through partnerships with Western Municipal Water District (WMWD) and Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), the components of the IRP will create a new supply of 16,000 acre-feet (AF) of water per year, sustain open space, maximize local water storage, and relieve 144 cubic feet per second (cfs) of treated water demand from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) during peak times. These water recycling projects will free up enough treated water supply to meet the demands of up to 70,000 households. Currently, the Rancho California Water District (District) imports over half of its water supply from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the Colorado River. Groundwater resources are used to meet the remainder of the District's water demand. The District decided to pursue water recycling and desalination as cost-effective and sustainable methods to reduce dependence on traditional water supplies. When completed, the project will increase Rancho California's recycled water supply significantly, from 6,000 acre-feet to 25,000 acre-feet. Committee Action Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA-45) introduced H.R. 1725 on March 28, 2007. Reps. Calvert, Lewis, and Issa are cosponsors. There is no Senate companion bill. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power on April 4, 2007. On May 17, 2007, the Subcommittee met to consider the legislation. No amendments were offered and the proposed legislation was approved by unanimous consent and forwarded to the full Committee on Natural Resources. On June 27, 2007, the full Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. No amendments were introduced. H.R. 1725 was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. Section-by-Section Analysis Section 1. Title of section Section 1 lists the short title of H.R. 1725 as the ``Rancho California Water District Recycled Water Reclamation Facility Act of 2007.'' Section 2. Project authorizations Section 2 amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (Public Law 102-575, title XVI; 43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design and construction of permanent facilities for water recycling, demineralization, and desalination, and distribution of non-potable water supplies in Southern Riverside County, California. The legislation specifies that the Federal government is responsible for 25 percent of the total cost of the project, but is not responsible for the operation and maintenance of the facility. This bill authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 for the project. 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. Constitutional Authority Statement Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill. Compliance With House Rule XIII 1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) 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)(3)(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. 2. 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, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 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 amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Rancho California Water District Southern Riverside County Recycled/ Non-Potable Distribution Facilities and Demineralization/ Desalination Recycled Water Treatment and Reclamation Facility Project. 4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. 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. 1725--Rancho California Water District Recycled Water Reclamation Facility Act of 2007 Summary: H.R. 1725 would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to participate in the design, planning, and construction of permanent facilities for water recycling, demineralization, desalination, and distribution of nonpotable water supplies in Southern Riverside County, California. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amount, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $10 million over the 2008-2012 period and another $10 million after 2012 to complete the project. Enacting the legislation would have no effect on direct spending or revenues. H.R. 1725 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would benefit the Rancho California Water District. Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1725 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By fiscal year, in millions of dollars-- ------------------------------------------------- 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION Estimated Authorization Level................................. 1 10 9 0 0 Estimated Outlays............................................. * 2 2 3 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: * = less than $500,000. Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted before the start of fiscal year 2008 and that the authorized amounts will be appropriated for each year. H.R. 1725 would authorize BOR to participate in the design, planning, and construction of permanent facilities for water recycling, demineralization, desalination, and distribution of nonpotable water supplies in Southern Riverside County, California. The total estimated cost for the project is $103 million. The legislation would authorize the agency to contribute the lesser of $20 million, or 25 percent of the total project costs. Based on information provided by the agency, CBO understands that construction on all components of the project would be completed in approximately 10 years. The first year would be dedicated to planning and design, and the next nine years would be spent completing the project. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $10 million over the 2008-2012 period and an additional $10 million after 2012. Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1725 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. The Rancho California Water District would benefit from federal assistance authorized by the bill; any costs to the district for the project would be incurred voluntarily. Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Tyler Kruzich and David Reynolds; Impact on State, local, and tribal governments: Leo Lex; Impact on the private sector: Amy Petz. Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. Compliance With Public Law 104-4 This bill contains no unfunded mandates. Earmark Statement H.R. 1725 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI. Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in italic and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): RECLAMATION PROJECTS AUTHORIZATION AND ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1992 (Public Law 102-575) SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992''. SEC. 2. DEFINITION AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. For purposes of this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. TABLE OF CONTENTS Sec. 1. Short title. * * * * * * * TITLE XVI--RECLAMATION WASTEWATER AND GROUND WATER STUDIES Sec. 1601. Short title. * * * * * * * Sec. 16__. Rancho California Water District Project, California. * * * * * * * TITLE XVI--RECLAMATION WASTEWATER AND GROUNDWATER STUDIES SEC. 1601. SHORT TITLE. This title may be referred to as the ``Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act''. * * * * * * * SEC. 16----. RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT PROJECT, CALIFORNIA. (a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the Rancho California Water District, California, may participate in the design, planning, and construction of permanent facilities for water recycling, demineralization, and desalination, and distribution of non-potable water supplies in Southern Riverside County, California. (b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the project or $20,000,000, whichever is less. (c) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary under this section shall not be used for operation or maintenance of the project described in subsection (a). * * * * * * * <all>