Quality Water Supply Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with specified Federal agencies (Water Resource Agencies or WRAs) and the lead facility described in the National Water Supply Technology Program White Paper (Program Coordinator), to establish and carry out a desalination and advanced water supply enhancement demonstration program and fund demonstration projects.
Directs the Program Coordinator to: (1) construct a facility for administering the program; (2) conduct peer review of proposals and research results; (3) create a roadmap to identify the best projects and make determinations about which would most substantially improve the use of existing supplies; (4) coordinate budgets for projects at, and provide funding to, Regional Centers; (5) establish a transfer program to identify and facilitate full commercialization of promising projects; (6) implement crosscutting research to develop sensor and monitoring systems for water and energy efficiency and management; (7) establish a Water Supply Advisory Panel; and (8) provide competitive funding mechanisms to eligible institutions and individuals for projects.
Designates the Utton Center at the University of New Mexico Law School as the National Water Policy Institute.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4835 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4835
To establish a water supply enhancement demonstration program,
including the demonstration of desalination, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 14, 2004
Mr. Pombo (for himself, Mr. Calvert, Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico, and Mr.
Pearce) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a water supply enhancement demonstration program,
including the demonstration of desalination, and for other purposes.
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 ``Quality Water Supply Enhancement
Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to provide for the development of economically viable
advanced water supply enhancement demonstration projects,
including desalination, that would--
(A) substantially improve access to existing water
supplies; and
(B) provide access to untapped water sources;
(2) to facilitate the widespread commercialization of newly
developed water supply for use in real-world applications;
(3) to provide objective analyses of water supply policies;
and
(4) to facilitate collaboration among Federal agencies in
the development of advanced water supply demonstration
projects, including desalination.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Advisory panel.--The term ``Advisory Panel'' means the
Water Supply Advisory Panel established under section 5(a).
(2) Regional center.--The term ``Regional Center'' means
the Regional Center referenced in the National Water Supply
Technology Program White Paper, with a specific region of the
nation and a specific water theme as designated under section
6(b).
(3) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means the Water
Supply Policy Institute designated by section 8(a).
(4) Program.--The term ``program'' means the water supply
program established under section 4(a).
(5) Program coordinator.--The term ``Program Coordinator''
means the lead Facility as described in the National Water
Supply Technology Program White Paper.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(7) Water resource agencies.--Federal agencies, as
identified in the Interagency Consortium, developed by the
Bureau of Reclamation, for Desalination and Membrane
Separation.
(8) Water supply enhancement.--
(A) In general.--The term ``water supply
enhancement'' means a demonstration project, including
desalination, designed to improve water quality or make
more efficient use of existing water sources.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``water supply
enhancement'' includes demonstration projects for--
(i) reducing water consumption in the
production or generation of energy;
(ii) desalination and related concentrate
disposal;
(iii) water reuse;
(iv) contaminant removal;
(v) agriculture, industrial, and municipal
efficiency; and
(vi) water monitoring and systems analysis.
SEC. 4. DESALINATION AND WATER SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall, in coordination with the
Water Resource Agencies, and the Program Coordinator, establish a
desalination and advanced water supply enhancement demonstration
program and fund demonstration projects for the development and
commercialization of, advanced water supply demonstration projects,
including desalination. The Secretary shall be responsible for
coordinating the Water Resource Agencies activities authorized under
this Act.
(b) Program Coordinator.--
(1) In general.--The program shall be carried out by the
Secretary, in coordination with the Water Resources Agencies
and the Program Coordinator.
(2) Duties.--In carrying out the program, the Program
Coordinator, in consultation with the Secretary and Water
Resource Agencies, shall--
(A) construct a facility at the office of the
Program Coordinator for administering the program;
(B) establish budgetary and contracting procedures
for the program;
(C) perform any administrative duties relating to
the program;
(D) administer funds under section 7;
(E) conduct peer review of water supply enhancement
demonstration proposals and research results;
(F) create a water supply enhancement demonstration
roadmap to--
(i) identify the best water supply
demonstration projects; and
(ii) make determinations about which water
supply demonstration projects would most
substantially improve the use of existing water
supplies;
(G) coordinate budgets for demonstration projects
at Regional Centers;
(H) coordinate research carried out under the
program;
(I) perform annual evaluations of demonstration
projects and the progress made by Regional Centers;
(J) establish a water supply demonstration transfer
program--
(i) to identify commercially promising
water supply demonstration projects; and
(ii) to facilitate prototyping of, business
planning for, regulatory acceptance of, and
full commercialization of promising water
supply demonstration projects through--
(I) project facilities;
(II) industry consortia; and
(III) collaboration with commercial
financing organizations;
(K) establish procedures and criteria to
periodically assess Regional Centers under section
6(f)(2);
(L) establish procedures for providing information
to the public on the results of demonstration projects
conducted under the program; and
(M) implement cross-cutting research to develop
sensor and monitoring systems for water and energy
efficiency and management.
SEC. 5. WATER SUPPLY ADVISORY PANEL.
(a) Establishment.--The Program Coordinator, in consultation with
the Secretary, shall establish an advisory panel, to be known as the
``Water Supply Advisory Panel'', to advise the Program with respect
to--
(1) the direction of the program;
(2) reviewing the performance of any demonstration project
carried out using amounts made available under the program;
(3) facilitating the commercialization of the water supply
demonstration successes developed under the program; and
(4) evaluating water policy.
(b) Membership.--The Advisory Panel shall include members, with
interest and expertise in water supply demonstration projects, that
represent--
(1) industry;
(2) educational institutions;
(3) the Federal Government;
(4) nongovernmental organizations;
(5) international water technology institutions; and
(6) the Regional Centers.
SEC. 6. REGIONAL CENTERS IN WATER SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT.
(a) In General.--A Regional Center shall partner with one or more
universities from the region, that shall be eligible for funding under
section 7(a) to conduct demonstration projects on specific advanced
water supply enhancement projects.
(b) Initial Regional Centers.--The Regional Centers as identified
in the National Water Supply Technology Program White Paper, shall be
grouped by region and theme, including, but not limited to the
following:
(1) Northeast region.--Reducing water quality impacts from
power plant outfall and decentralized water treatment.
(2) Central atlantic region.--Produced water purification
and use for power production and water reuse for mega-cities.
(3) Southeast region.--Shallow aquifer conjunctive water
use; energy reduction for sea water desalination and membrane
demonstration project development.
(4) Midwest region.--Water efficiency in manufacturing and
energy reduction in wastewater treatment.
(5) Central region.--Cogeneration of nuclear power and
water, energy systems for pumping irrigation and mining water
reuse.
(6) West region.--Conjunctive management of hydropower and
water; and watershed management.
(7) Southwest region.--Water for power production in arid
environments; energy reduction and waste disposal for brackish
desalination; high water and energy efficiency in arid
agriculture; and transboundary water management.
(8) Pacific region.--Point of use technology to reduce
water treatment and conveyance energy; co-located energy
production and water treatment; and water reuse for
agriculture.
(c) Selection of University Partners.--In consultation with the
Program Coordinator and the Advisory Panel, each Regional Center,
within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, shall select a
primary university partner and may nominate additional university
partners.
(d) Operational Procedures.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, each Regional Center shall submit to the
Program Coordinator operational procedures for such Regional Center.
(e) Additional Regional Centers.--Subject to approval by the
Advisory Panel, the Program Coordinator may, not sooner than 5 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, designate not more than 4
additional Regional Centers if the Program Coordinator determines that
there are additional water supply technologies that need to be
researched.
(f) Period of Designation.--
(1) In general.--A designation under subsection (b),
subsection (c), or subsection (d) shall be for a period of 5
years.
(2) Assessment.--A Regional Center shall be subject to
periodic assessments in accordance with procedures and criteria
established under section 4(b)(2)(K).
(3) Renewal.--After the initial period under paragraph (1),
a designation may be renewed for subsequent 5-year periods in
accordance with procedures and criteria established under
section 4(b)(2)(K).
(4) Probation, termination, or nonrenewal.--
(A) In general.--Based on a periodic assessment
conducted under paragraph (2) and after review by the
Secretary and Water Resource Agencies, the Secretary
may determine not to renew the designation of a
Regional Center.
(B) Termination.--In coordination with the Water
Resources Agencies, the Secretary may terminate or
choose not to renew the designation of a Regional
Center.
(g) Executive Director.--A Regional Center shall be administered by
an executive director.
(h) Publication of Research Results.--A Regional Center shall
periodically publish the results of any research carried out under the
program in appropriate peer-reviewed journals.
SEC. 7. PROGRAM FUNDING.
(a) Funding to Regional Centers.--
(1) In general.--The Program Coordinator, in coordination
with the Secretary, and Water Resource Agencies, shall provide
funding to the Regional Center subject to the provisions of
section 10(b) to carry out demonstration projects identified in
section 6(b) in coordination with other Regional Centers
without cost-share requirements.
(2) Distribution.--Of the funds made available to each
Regional Center, 50 percent shall be distributed to regional
university partners. Funds distributed to university partners
within the region shall be distributed following a plan
developed and included in the Regional Center's operational
procedures developed under section 6(d) without cost-share
requirements.
(b) Open-Call Funding.--
(1) In general.--The Program Coordinator, in coordination
with the Secretary, and Water Resource Agencies, shall provide
competitive funding mechanisms to eligible institutions and
individuals for water supply demonstration projects.
(2) Eligible collaborative institutions.--Each of the
following are eligible for funding under paragraph (1):
(A) Nongovernmental organizations.
(B) Department of Energy National Laboratories.
(C) Private corporations.
(D) Industry consortia.
(E) Universities or university consortia.
(F) Any other entity with expertise in the conduct
of research on water supply technologies.
(G) International research consortia.
(3) Distribution of funds.--Of the funds allotted for the
program funding, the following percentages and restrictions
apply:
(A) Nongovernmental organizations.--No less than 15
percent and no more than 25 percent of the total funds
shall be provided as block funding to nongovernmental
organizations subject to a 50 percent nonprogram cost
share that then may be redistributed by the
nongovernmental organization along with non-program
matching funds for individual projects.
(B) National laboratories.--No less than 20 percent
and no more than 30 percent of the total funds shall be
provided to support individual projects from Department
of Energy National Laboratories without matching fund
requirements.
(c) Federal Agencies.--No less than 15 percent and no more than 25
percent of the total funds shall be provided to support individual
projects that are recommended by at least one other Federal Agency that
is providing at least a 50 percent funding match.
(d) Other Entities.--The remainder of funds may be provided to
support individual projects subject to a 25 percent nonprogram cost
share.
(e) Term of Grant.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), funds
provided under this section shall be for a term of 2 years.
(2) Renewal.--The Program Coordinator, in consultation with
the Secretary, and Water Resource Agencies, may renew
demonstration project financing for up to 2 additional years as
appropriate.
(f) Reporting.--Organizations receiving funding under this section
shall report on a bi-annual basis the results and status of research
projects undertaken with funds from this Act.
(g) Treatment of Funds.--Amounts received under funding provided to
a non-Federal entity by this program shall be considered to be non-
Federal funds when used as matching funds by the non-Federal entity
toward a Federal cost-shared project outside this program.
(h) Criteria.--The Program Coordinator, in coordination with the
Secretary, and Water Resource Agencies, shall establish criteria for
the submission and review of grant applications and the provision of
funds under this section.
(i) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--A National Laboratory that receives
funding under this section shall not be subject to a cost-sharing
requirement.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL WATER SUPPLY POLICY INSTITUTE.
(a) Designation.--The Utton Center at the University of New Mexico
Law School is designated as the National Water Policy Institute.
(b) Duties.--The Institute shall--
(1) perform objective research on relevant water,
regulations, and policy pertinent to this Act;
(2) provide policy alternatives to increase national and
international water supplies;
(3) consult with the Regional Centers, industry,
municipalities, nongovernmental organizations, other
participants of the program, and any other interested persons,
with priority for consultation services to be given to
participants in the program; and
(4) conduct an annual water policy seminar to provide
information on demonstration projects carried out or funded by
the Institute.
(c) Partnerships.--The Institute may enter into partnerships with
other institutions to assist in carrying out the duties of the
Institute under subsection (b).
(d) Executive Director.--The Institute shall be administered by an
executive director, subject to approval by the Program Coordinator.
SEC. 9. REPORTS.
(a) Reports to Program Coordinator.--Any Regional Center, or
collaborative institution that receives funding under section 7 shall
submit to the Program Coordinator an annual report on activities
carried out using amounts made available under this Act during the
preceding fiscal year.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 fiscal years after the
date of enactment of this Act and every 5 years thereafter, the Program
Coordinator shall submit to the Secretary, and other Water Resource
Agencies, and Congress a report that describes the activities carried
out under this Act.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary, and Water Resource Agencies, for each of fiscal years 2005
through 2009--
(1) for the construction of a facility under section
4(b)(2)(A), $20,000,000;
(2) for the administration of the program by the Program
Coordinator and for administration of the facility constructed
under section 4(b)(2)(A), $5,000,000;
(3) for demonstration projects carried out under the
program, $200,000,000; and
(4) for Regional Centers to administer funding and to
update, maintain, and operate the facilities, as necessary,
$7,500,000.
(b) Allocation.--Of amounts made available under subsection (a)(3)
for a fiscal year--
(1) not more than the lesser of $10,000,000 or 5 percent
shall be made available to each Regional Center designated by
section 6(b) or under section 6(e) as block funding following
the funding procedures in section 7(a);
(2) not more than the lesser of $10,000,000 or 5 percent
shall be made available for the Institute designated by section
8(a);
(3) at least 15 percent shall be made available for
demonstration projects implemented under section 4(b)(2)(J);
and
(4) at least 30 percent shall be made available for the
open-call funding program described in section 7(b).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
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