S. 200

Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007

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II

Calendar No. 46

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 200

[Report No. 110–20]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 8, 2007

Ms. Murkowski (for herself and Mr. Stevens) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

February 16, 2007

Reported by Mr. Bingaman, without amendment

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey, to conduct a study on groundwater resources in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(2)

State

The term State means the State of Alaska.

3.

Alaska water resources study

(a)

Study

The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation and the Director of the United States Geological Survey, where appropriate, and in accordance with this Act and other applicable provisions of law, shall conduct a study that includes—

(1)

a survey of accessible water supplies, including aquifers, on the Kenai Peninsula, and in the Municipality of Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the city of Fairbanks, and the Fairbanks Northstar Borough;

(2)

a survey of water treatment needs and technologies, including desalination, applicable to the water resources of the State; and

(3)

a review of the need for enhancement of the streamflow information collected by the United States Geological Survey in the State relating to critical water needs in areas such as—

(A)

infrastructure risks to State transportation,

(B)

flood forecasting,

(C)

resource extraction; and

(D)

fire management.

(b)

Report

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the study required by subsection (a).

4.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

February 16, 2007

Reported without amendment