[House Report 108-306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 108-306
======================================================================
IRVINE BASIN SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2003
_______
October 8, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Pombo, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1598]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 1598) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to participate in projects within the San Diego Creek
Watershed, California, and for other purposes, 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. 1598, is to amend the Reclamation
Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (P.L. 102-
575, Title XVI) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
participate in projects within the San Diego Creek Watershed,
California, and for other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
The Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) provides potable
water, sewage collection and treatment, and delivers recycled
water through one of the largest recycled water distribution
systems in the nation. Located in central Orange County,
California, IRWD encompasses approximately 133 square miles and
serves the city of Irvine, plus portions of Costa Mesa, Lake
Forest, Newport Beach, Orange and Tustin. The District serves a
population of 266,000.
Both the groundwater and surface water quality have been
impaired within the Basin. One component of the project will
involve the placement of wetlands to provide for natural
cleaning of surface water flowing through the San Diego Creek
Watershed into the Upper Newport Bay. The other components will
treat impaired ground water. The Irvine Desalter would clean
brackish groundwater and provide drinking water to the
community. The final project would allow for the construction
of a regional brine line that would convey brine from local
ground water treatment plants and other nearby industrial
sources of brine to an existing ocean outfall pump station.
The bill would authorize IRWD to participate in the Title
XVI program, a federal funding authority, under the Bureau of
Reclamation, designed to assist communities in developing water
reuse projects. This legislation would allow for the design and
construction of projects treating impaired surface and
groundwater within the San Diego Creek Watershed. The estimated
total cost of the project is $77 million, with federal funding
comprising $19.45 million (or a maximum of 25 percent of the
total cost of the project, up to $20 million).
Committee Action
H.R. 1598 was introduced by Congressman Christopher Cox (R-
CA) on April 3, 2003. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee the Subcommittee on Water
and Power. On May 22, 2003, the Subcommittee held a hearing on
the bill. On July 17, 2003, the Subcommittee met to mark up the
bill. No amendments were offered and bill was then forwarded to
the Full Resources Committee by voice vote. On September 24,
2003, the Full Resources Committee met to mark up the bill. No
amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
Section-by-Section
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the ``Irvin Basin Surface and
Groundwater Improvement Act of 2003''.
Section 2. Project authorization
This section provides the Secretary of the Interior, in
cooperation with the Irvin Ranch Water District, California, to
participate in the design, planning, and construction of
projects to naturally treat impaired surface water, reclaim and
reuse impaired ground water, and provide brine disposal within
the San Diego Creek Watershed. The Federal share of the costs
of the projects authorized by this section shall not exceed 25
percent of the total cost. No federal funds are for the
purposes of operation and maintenance of 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 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 projects within the
San Diego Creek Watershed, California, and for other purposes.
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:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, October 6, 2003.
Hon. Richard W. Pombo,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1598, the Irvine
Basin Surface and Groundwater Improvement Act of 2003.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Rachel
Milberg.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Robinson
(For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 1598--Irvine Basin Surface and Groundwater Improvement Act of 2003
Summary: H.R. 1598 would authorize the Secretary of the
Interior, in cooperation with the Irvine Ranch Water District,
to participate in the design, planning, and construction of
projects to treat surface water, reclaim groundwater, and
dispose of brine in the San Diego Creek Watershed. The bill
would limit the federal share of all project costs to 25
percent.
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing H.R. 1598 would cost $19 million
over the 2004-2008 period. Enacting H.R. 1598 would not affect
direct spending or revenues.
H.R. 1598 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
Enacting this legislation would benefit local governments,
particularly the Irvine Ranch Water District and nearby city
and county governments. These governments would incur some
costs to match the federal funds authorized by this act, but
these costs would be voluntary.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 1598 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--
----------------------------------
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Estimated authorization level........ 5 5 5 4 0
Estimated outlays.................... 1 3 7 5 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R.
1598 will be enacted early in fiscal year 2004 and that the
necessary amounts will be appropriated in each fiscal year.
Based on information about the plans for this project from the
Bureau of Reclamation, CBO estimates that implementing the bill
would cost $18 million over the next five years.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1598
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA. Enacting this legislation would benefit local
governments, particularly the Irvine Ranch Water District and
nearby city and county governments. These governments would
incur some costs to match the federal funds authorized by this
act, but these costs would be voluntary.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Rachel Milberg. Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller.
Impact on the Private Sector: Selena Caldera.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
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
* * * * * * *
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 GROUNDWATER STUDIES
Sec. 1601. Short title.
* * * * * * *
1636. Irvine basin groundwater and surface water improvement projects.
* * * * * * *
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. 1636. IRVINE BASIN GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS.
(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the
Irvine Ranch Water District, California, is authorized to
participate in the design, planning, and construction of
projects to naturally treat impaired surface water, reclaim and
reuse impaired groundwater, and provide brine disposal within
the San Diego Creek Watershed.
(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the costs of the
projects authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 percent
of the total cost.
(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds for
the operation or maintenance of a project authorized by this
section.
* * * * * * *