Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2011 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) establish the Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program to provide grants to owners or operators of water systems for programs or projects to increase the resiliency or adaptability of the systems to any ongoing or forecasted changes to the hydrologic conditions of a U.S. region; and (2) give priority to owners or operators of water systems that are at the greatest and most immediate risk of facing significant negative impacts due to changing hydrologic conditions.
Requires the Administrator to ensure that the list of grant applications funded includes a substantial number that propose to utilize innovative approaches that: (1) promote more efficient water use, water conservation, water reuse, or recycling; (2) use decentralized, low-impact development technologies and nonstructural approaches, including practices that use, enhance, or mimic the natural hydrological cycle or protect natural flows; (3) reduce stormwater runoff or flooding by protecting or enhancing natural ecosystem functions; (4) modify, upgrade, enhance, or replace existing water system infrastructure in response to changing hydrologic conditions; (5) improve water quality or quantity for agricultural and municipal uses, including through salinity reduction; and (6) provide multiple benefits, including to water supply enhancement or demand reduction, water quality protection or improvement, increased flood protection, and ecosystem protection or improvement.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2738 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2738
To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
to establish a program of awarding grants to owners or operators of
water systems to increase resiliency or adaptability of the systems to
any ongoing or forecasted changes to the hydrologic conditions of a
region of the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2011
Mrs. Capps (for herself, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Carnahan, Ms.
Berkley, Ms. Schwartz, Ms. Hirono, Mr. George Miller of California, Ms.
Woolsey, and Ms. Lee of California) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and
Commerce and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
to establish a program of awarding grants to owners or operators of
water systems to increase resiliency or adaptability of the systems to
any ongoing or forecasted changes to the hydrologic conditions of a
region of the United States.
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 ``Water Infrastructure Resiliency and
Sustainability Act of 2011''.
SEC. 2. WATER INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Hydrologic conditions.--The term ``hydrologic
conditions'' means the quality, quantity, or reliability of the
water resources of a region of the United States.
(3) Owner or operator of a water system.--
(A) In general.--The term ``owner or operator of a
water system'' means an entity (including a regional,
State, Tribal, local, municipal, or private entity)
that owns or operates a water system.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``owner or operator of a
water system'' includes--
(i) a non-Federal entity that has
operational responsibilities for a federally,
tribally, or State-owned water system; and
(ii) an entity established by an agreement
between--
(I) an entity that owns or operates
a water system; and
(II) at least one other entity.
(4) Water system.--The term ``water system'' means--
(A) a community water system (as defined in section
1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f));
(B) a treatment works (as defined in section 212 of
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1292)), including a municipal separate storm sewer
system (as such term is used in the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.));
(C) a decentralized wastewater treatment system for
domestic sewage;
(D) a groundwater storage and replenishment system;
(E) a system for transport and delivery of water
for irrigation or conservation; or
(F) a natural or engineered system that manages
floodwaters.
(b) Program.--The Administrator shall establish and implement a
program, to be known as the Water Infrastructure Resiliency and
Sustainability Program, under which the Administrator awards grants in
each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016 to owners or operators of water
systems for the purpose of increasing the resiliency or adaptability of
the systems to any ongoing or forecasted changes (based on the best
available research and data) to the hydrologic conditions of a region
of the United States.
(c) Use of Funds.--As a condition on receipt of a grant under this
section, an owner or operator of a water system shall agree to use the
grant funds exclusively to assist in the planning, design,
construction, implementation, operation, or maintenance of a program or
project that meets the purpose described in subsection (b) by--
(1) conserving water or enhancing water use efficiency,
including through the use of water metering and electronic
sensing and control systems to measure the effectiveness of a
water efficiency program;
(2) modifying or relocating existing water system
infrastructure made or projected to be significantly impaired
by changing hydrologic conditions;
(3) preserving or improving water quality, including
through measures to manage, reduce, treat, or reuse municipal
stormwater, wastewater, or drinking water;
(4) investigating, designing, or constructing groundwater
remediation, recycled water, or desalination facilities or
systems to serve existing communities;
(5) enhancing water management by increasing watershed
preservation and protection, such as through the use of natural
or engineered green infrastructure in the management,
conveyance, or treatment of water, wastewater, or stormwater;
(6) enhancing energy efficiency or the use and generation
of renewable energy in the management, conveyance, or treatment
of water, wastewater, or stormwater;
(7) supporting the adoption and use of advanced water
treatment, water supply management (such as reservoir
reoperation and water banking), or water demand management
technologies, projects, or processes (such as water reuse and
recycling, adaptive conservation pricing, and groundwater
banking) that maintain or increase water supply or improve
water quality;
(8) modifying or replacing existing systems or constructing
new systems for existing communities or land currently in
agricultural production to improve water supply, reliability,
storage, or conveyance in a manner that--
(A) promotes conservation or improves the
efficiency of utilization of available water supplies;
and
(B) does not further exacerbate stresses on
ecosystems or cause redirected impacts by degrading
water quality or increasing net greenhouse gas
emissions;
(9) supporting practices and projects, such as improved
irrigation systems, water banking and other forms of water
transactions, groundwater recharge, stormwater capture,
groundwater conjunctive use, and reuse or recycling of drainage
water, to improve water quality or promote more efficient water
use on land currently in agricultural production;
(10) reducing flood damage, risk, and vulnerability by--
(A) restoring floodplains, wetlands, and uplands
integral to flood management, protection, prevention,
and response;
(B) modifying levees, floodwalls, and other
structures through setbacks, notches, gates, removal,
or similar means to facilitate reconnection of rivers
to floodplains, reduce flood stage height, and reduce
damage to properties and populations;
(C) providing for acquisition and easement of
flood-prone lands and properties in order to reduce
damage to property and risk to populations; or
(D) promoting land use planning that prevents
future floodplain development;
(11) conducting and completing studies or assessments to
project how changing hydrologic conditions may impact the
future operations and sustainability of water systems; or
(12) developing and implementing measures to increase the
resilience of water systems and regional and hydrological
basins, including the Colorado River Basin, to rapid hydrologic
change or a natural disaster (such as tsunami, earthquake,
flood, or volcanic eruption).
(d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, the owner or
operator of a water system shall submit to the Administrator an
application that--
(1) includes a proposal of the program, strategy, or
infrastructure improvement to be planned, designed,
constructed, implemented, or maintained by the water system;
(2) cites the best available research or data that
demonstrate--
(A) the risk to the water resources or
infrastructure of the water system as a result of
ongoing or forecasted changes to the hydrological
system of a region, including rising sea levels and
changes in precipitation patterns; and
(B) how the proposed program, strategy, or
infrastructure improvement would perform under the
anticipated hydrologic conditions;
(3) explains how the proposed program, strategy, or
infrastructure improvement is expected--
(A) to enhance the resiliency of the water system,
including source water protection for community water
systems, to the anticipated hydrologic conditions; or
(B) to increase efficiency in the use of energy or
water of the water system; and
(4) describes how the proposed program, strategy, or
infrastructure improvement is consistent with an applicable
State, tribe, or local climate adaptation plan, if any.
(e) Priority.--
(1) Water systems at greatest and most immediate risk.--In
selecting grantees under this section, subject to subsection
(h)(2), the Administrator shall give priority to owners or
operators of water systems that are, based on the best
available research and data, at the greatest and most immediate
risk of facing significant negative impacts due to changing
hydrologic conditions.
(2) Goals.--In selecting among applicants described in
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall ensure that, to the
maximum extent practicable, the final list of applications
funded for each year includes a substantial number that propose
to utilize innovative approaches to meet one or more of the
following goals:
(A) Promoting more efficient water use, water
conservation, water reuse, or recycling.
(B) Using decentralized, low-impact development
technologies and nonstructural approaches, including
practices that use, enhance, or mimic the natural
hydrological cycle or protect natural flows.
(C) Reducing stormwater runoff or flooding by
protecting or enhancing natural ecosystem functions.
(D) Modifying, upgrading, enhancing, or replacing
existing water system infrastructure in response to
changing hydrologic conditions.
(E) Improving water quality or quantity for
agricultural and municipal uses, including through
salinity reduction.
(F) Providing multiple benefits, including to water
supply enhancement or demand reduction, water quality
protection or improvement, increased flood protection,
and ecosystem protection or improvement.
(f) Cost-Sharing.--
(1) Federal share.--The share of the cost of any program,
strategy, or infrastructure improvement that is the subject of
a grant awarded by the Administrator to the owner or operator
of a water system under subsection (b) paid through funds
distributed under this section shall not exceed 50 percent of
the cost of the program, strategy, or infrastructure
improvement.
(2) Calculation of non-federal share.--In calculating the
non-Federal share of the cost of a program, strategy, or
infrastructure improvement proposed by a water system in an
application submitted under subsection (d), the Administrator
shall--
(A) include the value of any in-kind services that
are integral to the completion of the program,
strategy, or infrastructure improvement, including
reasonable administrative and overhead costs; and
(B) not include any other amount that the water
system involved receives from the Federal Government.
(g) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the
Administrator shall submit to the Congress a report on progress in
implementing this section, including information on project
applications received and funded annually.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there is
authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2012 through 2016.
(2) Limitation.--Of the amount made available to carry out
this section for a fiscal year, not more than 20 percent may be
made available to grantees for activities described in
subsection (c)(10) (relating to reducing flood damage, risk,
and vulnerability).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
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