[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1709 Referred in House (RFH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1709
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 27, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in
addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide favorable treatment for certain projects in response to
Hurricane Katrina, with respect to revolving loans under the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, 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 ``Gulf Coast Emergency Water
Infrastructure Assistance Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF STATE.
In this Act, the term ``State'' means--
(1) the State of Alabama;
(2) the State of Louisiana; and
(3) the State of Mississippi.
SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LOANS.
(a) Definition of Eligible Project.--In this section, the term
``eligible project'' means a project--
(1) to repair, replace, or rebuild a publicly-owned
treatment works (as defined in section 212 of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292)), including a privately-
owned utility that principally treats municipal wastewater or
domestic sewage, in an area affected by Hurricane Katrina or a
related condition; or
(2) that is a water quality project directly related to
relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina or a related
condition, as determined by the State in which the project is
located.
(b) Additional Subsidization.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), for the 2-year
period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a State
may provide additional subsidization to an eligible project
that receives funds through a revolving loan under section 603
of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383),
including--
(A) forgiveness of the principal of the revolving
loan; or
(B) a zero-percent interest rate on the revolving
loan.
(2) Limitation.--The amount of any additional subsidization
provided under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 30 percent of the
amount of the capitalization grant received by the State under
section 602 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. 1382) for the fiscal year during which the subsidization
is provided.
(c) Extended Terms.--For the 2-year period beginning on the date of
enactment of this Act, a State may extend the term of a revolving loan
under section 603 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) for an eligible project
described in subsection (b), if the extended term--
(1) terminates not later than the date that is 30 years
after the date of completion of the project that is the subject
of the loan; and
(2) does not exceed the expected design life of the
project.
(d) Priority Lists.--For the 2-year period beginning on the date of
enactment of this Act, a State may provide assistance to an eligible
project that is not included on the priority list of the State under
section 216 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1296).
SEC. 4. PRIORITY LIST.
For the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, a State may provide assistance to a public water system that is
not included on the priority list of the State under section
1452(b)(3)(B) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
12(b)(3)(B)), if the project--
(1) involves damage caused by Hurricane Katrina or a
related condition; and
(2) is in accordance with section 1452(b)(3)(A) of that Act
(42 U.S.C. 300j-12(b)(3)(A)).
SEC. 5. TESTING OF PRIVATELY-OWNED DRINKING WATER WELLS.
On receipt of a request from a homeowner, the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency may conduct a test of a drinking water
well owned or operated
by the homeowner that is, or may be, contaminated as a result of
Hurricane Katrina or a related condition.
Passed the Senate September 27, 2005.
Attest:
EMILY J. REYNOLDS,
Secretary.