Magna Water District Water Reuse and Groundwater Recharge Act of 2009

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at 3 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 745/H.R. 2265, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Magna Water District water reuse and groundwater recharge project, and for other purposes; S. 1138/H.R. 2442, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to expand the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program, and for other purposes; S. 1573/H.R. 2741, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the city of Hermiston, Oregon, water recycling and reuse project, and for other purposes; S. 3099, to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the American Falls Reservoir; S. 3100, to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Little Wood River Ranch; H.R. 325, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project; H.R. 637, to authorize the Secretary, in cooperation with the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, to participate in the design, planning, and construction of an advanced water treatment plant facility and recycled water system, and for other purposes; H.R. 1120, To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Central Texas Water Recycling and Reuse Project, and for other purposes; H.R. 1219, to make amendments to the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992; H.R. 1393, to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 to authorize additional projects and activities under that Act, and for other purposes; and H.R. 2522, to raise the ceiling on the Federal share of the cost of the Calleguas Municipal Water District Recycling Project, and for other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact Tanya Trujillo at (202) 224- 5479 or Gina Weinstock at (202) 224-5684.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on National Parks. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to review the National Park Service's implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact David Brooks at (202) 224- 9863 or Allison Seyferth at (202) 224-4905.

Madam Speaker, I wish to make the following disclosure in accordance with the Republican Earmark Transparency Standards requiring Members to place a statement in the Congressional Record prior to floor vote on a bill that includes earmarks they have requested.

Specifically, H.R. 2265, the Magna Water District Water Reuse and Groundwater Recharge Act of 2009, which I introduced on May 6, 2009, contains an earmark as defined under House Rule XXI, clause 9. The earmark in H.R. 2265 authorizes appropriations for projects under Title XVI of Public Law 102-575, the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act.

The project authorized in H.R. 2265 is an advanced water treatment facility and reuse water system in the township of Magna, Utah, located in the northwest quadrant of Salt Lake County. Magna relies on drinking water from two well fields, one of which has been impacted by the contaminant perchlorate, a byproduct of decades of manufacturing of rocket motors and explosives by the defense and aerospace industries. Additionally, the EPA changed the standard for arsenic in drinking water, an unfunded mandate for which water suppliers across the Nation must comply. Because of this contamination and the unfunded federal mandate, the Magna Water District is attempting to restore the Barton Well Field, a valuable water resource. Therefore, reclamation of this drinking water source necessitates federal assistance.

This legislation would authorize $12 million to allow for the planning, design, and construction of the Magna Water District (District) water reuse and groundwater recharge project. The District constructed an electrodialysis reversal (EDR) drinking water treatment plant to remove harmful arsenic and perchlorate from the Barton Well Field. To address the water shortage issues facing the citizens of northwest Salt Lake County, the District developed a state-of-the-art, first of its type in the world water reuse and recharge facility, known as BIOBROx, that treats the waste stream from the EDR plant to produce high quality effluent that can be used for outdoor irrigation. In doing so, the District will be saving over 580 million gallons/year of drinkable water that was formerly being used for irrigation purposes.

The project also includes additional pumping facilities, distribution system upgrades, and storage facilities required to deliver reuse water to the District's customers.

The Magna Water District has invested $36 million in the project and is seeking the $12 million federal appropriation to complete construction of the project.

I certify that this project does not have any foreseeable effect on any of my financial interests, nor the interests of any member of my family. Consistent with the Republican Conference's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge, this request (1) is not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing entitled, ``Wall Street and the Financial Crisis: The Role of Credit Rating Agencies.'' This hearing will be the third in a series of Subcommittee hearings examining some of the causes and consequences of the recent financial crisis. This third hearing will focus on the role of credit rating agencies in the financial crisis, using as case histories the credit rating agencies of Standard and Poor's and Moody's. A witness list will be available Monday, April 19, 2010.

The Subcommittee hearing has been scheduled for Friday, April 23, 2010, at 9:30 a.m., in Room G-50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. For further information, please contact Elise Bean of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations at 202-224-9505.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing entitled, ``Wall Street and the Financial Crisis: The Role of Investment Banks.'' This hearing will be the fourth in a series of Subcommittee hearings examining some of the causes and consequences of the recent financial crisis. The fourth hearing will focus on the role of investment banks in the securitization of residential mortgage related products, and the development, marketing, and trading of residential mortgage related structured financial products such as collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and credit default swaps (CDS). The hearing will also review certain investment and trading activities of investment banks that involve residential mortgage based securities and related products. A witness list will be available Thursday, April 22, 2010.

The Subcommittee hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at 11 a.m., in Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. For further information, please contact Elise Bean of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations at 202-224-9505.

committee on indian affairs

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2265) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Magna Water District water reuse and groundwater recharge project, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 2265, introduced by my colleague who is assisting me in managing the bills on the floor today, Representative Chaffetz from the State of Utah, would direct the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the planning, the design, and the construction of the Magna Water District water reuse and groundwater recharge project. When constructed, this project will remove perchlorate from the contaminated groundwater and create a new water supply for the community. Title XVI water recycling projects like H.R. 2265 allow local communities to stretch their limited water supplies.

I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this very important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I appreciate the kind words and comments from my colleague Ms. Bordallo, and I thank my Democratic colleagues for supporting this bill to help the Magna Water District meet unfunded Federal mandates.

My legislation authorizes limited Federal assistance to help a community remove arsenic and perchlorate while producing more high- quality

drinking water. We have very limited water supplies in the West, and we need every tool in the water toolbox to help meet our water supply needs. This and similar legislation before us today will help stretch our supplies to meet the growing needs of our communities.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.