Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Investment Act
This bill requires the Department of the Interior to award grants to water or power delivery authorities for the planning, design, and construction of large-scale water recycling and reuse projects in drought-stricken regions of certain western states.
Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the selection process for each project.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4099 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4099
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to
provide grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for large-
scale water recycling and reuse projects, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 23, 2021
Mrs. Napolitano (for herself, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Huffman, and Mrs. Lee
of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to
provide grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for large-
scale water recycling and reuse projects, 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 ``Large-Scale Water Recycling Project
Investment Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State, Indian Tribe, municipality, irrigation
district, water district, wastewater district, or other
organization with water or power delivery authority;
(B) a State, regional, or local authority, the
members of which include 1 or more organizations with
water or power delivery authority; or
(C) an agency established under State law for the
joint exercise of powers or a combination of entities
described in subparagraphs (A) through (B).
(2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(3) Reclamation state.--The term ``Reclamation State''
means a State or territory described in the first section of
the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C.
391).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR LARGE-SCALE WATER RECYCLING AND
REUSE PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a
grant program to provide grants on a competitive basis to eligible
entities for the planning, design, and construction of large-scale
water recycling and reclamation projects that provide substantial water
supply and other benefits to drought stricken regions within the
Reclamation States.
(b) Eligible Project.--A project shall be considered eligible for
consideration under this Act if--
(1) the project reclaims and reuses--
(A) municipal, industrial, domestic, or
agricultural wastewater; or
(B) impaired ground or surface waters;
(2) the project has a total estimated cost of $500,000,000
or greater;
(3) the project is located within a Reclamation State;
(4) the project is constructed, operated, and maintained by
an eligible entity; and
(5) the project provides a Federal benefit in accordance
with the reclamation laws.
(c) Project Evaluation.--The Secretary may participate in an
eligible project under this Act if--
(1) an eligible entity determines through the preparation
of a feasibility or equivalent study, and the Secretary
concurs, that the eligible project--
(A) is technically and financially feasible;
(B) provides a Federal benefit in accordance with
the reclamation laws; and
(C) is consistent with applicable Federal and State
laws;
(2) the eligible entity has sufficient non-Federal funding
available to complete the eligible project;
(3) the eligible entity is financially solvent; and
(4) the Secretary submits to Congress a written
notification of the determinations under paragraph (1) by not
later than 30 days after the date of the determinations.
(d) Priority.--When funding projects under this Act, the Secretary
shall give funding priority to projects that meet one or more of the
following criteria:
(1) Provide multiple benefits, including water supply
reliability benefits for drought-stricken States and
communities, fish and wildlife benefits, and water quality
improvements.
(2) Are likely to reduce impacts on environmental resources
from water projects owned or operated by Federal and State
agencies, including through measurable reductions in water
diversions from imperiled ecosystems.
(3) Help advance water management plans across a multi-
state area, such as drought contingency plans in the Colorado
River Basin.
(4) Regional in nature.
(5) Collaboratively developed or supported by multiple
stakeholders.
(e) Federal Assistance.--
(1) Federal cost share.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), the Federal share of the cost of any eligible project
shall not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the eligible
project.
(2) Increased federal cost share for projects with
additional measurable benefits.--The Federal share of the cost
of an eligible project may be increased to a maximum of 75
percent of the total project costs, if the project advances at
least a proportionate share of non-reimbursable benefits
authorized under the reclamation laws, including fish and
wildlife benefits provided through measurable reductions in
water diversions from imperiled ecosystems.
(3) Total dollar cap.--The Secretary shall not impose a
total dollar cap on Federal contributions that applies to all
individual projects under the grant program established by this
Act.
(4) Nonreimbursable funds.--Funds provided by the Secretary
to an eligible entity under this Act shall be considered
nonreimbursable.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this Act $750,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
(6) Funding eligibility.--An eligible project shall not be
considered ineligible for assistance under this Act because the
project has received assistance authorized under title XVI of
Public Law 102-575 or section 4009 of Public Law 114-322.
(f) Environmental Laws.--In providing a grant for an eligible
project under this Act, the Secretary shall comply with all applicable
environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(g) Guidance.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance on the
implementation of this Act, including guidelines for the preparation of
feasibility or equivalent studies by eligible entities.
(h) Congressional Approval.--
(1) In general.--Not less than 60 days before making a
grant for a project under this Act, the Secretary shall notify
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate, in writing, of the proposed grant. The
notification shall include an evaluation and justification for
the project and the amount of the proposed grant award.
(2) Congressional disapproval.--The Secretary shall not
make a grant or any other obligation or commitment to fund a
project under this Act that exceeds $100,000,000 if a joint
resolution is enacted disapproving such funding for the project
before the last day of the 60-day period described in paragraph
(1).
(i) Reports.--
(1) Annual report.--At the end of each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall make available on the website of the Department
of the Interior an annual report that lists each project for
which a grant has been provided under this Act during that
fiscal year.
(2) Comptroller general.--
(A) Assessment.--The Comptroller General of the
United States shall conduct an assessment of the
administrative establishment, solicitation, selection,
and justification process with respect to the funding
of grants under this Act.
(B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the
initial awarding of grants under this Act, the
Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate a report that describes--
(i) the adequacy and effectiveness of the
process by which each project was selected, if
applicable; and
(ii) the justification and criteria used
for the selection of each project, if
applicable.
(j) Treatment of Conveyance.--The Secretary shall consider the
planning, design, and construction of an eligible project's conveyance
system to be eligible for grant funding under this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
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