II
Calendar No. 253
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 324
[Report No. 110–112]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 17, 2007
Mr. Domenici (for himself and Mr. Bingaman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
June 28, 2007
Reported by Mr. Bingaman, without amendment
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the State of New Mexico.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
New Mexico Aquifer Assessment Act of
2007
.
New Mexico water resources study
In General
The Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Director of the United States Geological Survey (referred to in
this Act as the Secretary
), in coordination with the State of
New Mexico (referred to in this Act as the State
) and any other
entities that the Secretary determines to be appropriate (including other
Federal agencies and institutions of higher education), shall, in accordance
with this Act and any other applicable law, conduct a study of water resources
in the State, including—
a survey of groundwater resources, including an analysis of—
aquifers in the State, including the quantity of water in the aquifers;
the availability of groundwater resources for human use;
the salinity of groundwater resources;
the potential of the groundwater resources to recharge;
the interaction between groundwater and surface water;
the susceptibility of the aquifers to contamination; and
any other relevant criteria; and
a characterization of surface and bedrock geology, including the effect of the geology on groundwater yield and quality.
Study areas
The study carried out under subsection (a) shall include the Estancia Basin, Salt Basin, Tularosa Basin, Hueco Basin, and middle Rio Grande Basin in the State.
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 that describes the results of the study.
Authorization of Appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
June 28, 2007
Reported without amendment