Volume 154, No. 128 covering the 2nd Session of the 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION RESEARCH ACT” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7604-H7606 on July 30, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION RESEARCH ACT
Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3957) to increase research, development, education, and technology transfer activities related to water use efficiency and conservation technologies and practices at the Environmental Protection Agency, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3957
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 ``Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Between 1950 and 2000, the United States population increased nearly 90 percent. In that same period, public demand for water increased 209 percent. Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water per person each day. This increased demand has put additional stress on water supplies and distribution systems, threatening both human health and the environment.
(2) Thirty-six States are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013. In addition, climate change related effects are expected to exacerbate already scarce water resources in many areas of the country.
(3) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2007 assessment states that water stored in glaciers and snow cover is projected to decline, reducing water availability to one-sixth of the world's population that relies upon meltwater from major mountain ranges. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also predicts droughts will become more severe and longer lasting in a number of regions.
(4) Water conservation should be a national goal and the Environmental Protection Agency should work with nongovernmental partners to achieve that goal. The Environmental Protection Agency should support the research, development, and dissemination of technologies and processes that will achieve greater water use efficiency.
(5) WaterSense is a voluntary public-private partnership program established by the Environmental Protection Agency to promote water efficiency by helping consumers identify water-efficient products and practices. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that if all United States households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3,000,000,000,000 gallons of water and more than $17,000,000,000 per year.
(6) The WaterSense program has developed a network of partners, and therefore can disseminate the results of research on technologies and processes that achieve greater water use efficiency.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator for Research and Development of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this Act referred to as the ``Assistant Administrator'') shall establish a research and development program consistent with the plan developed under section 4 that promotes water use efficiency and conservation, including--
(1) technologies and processes that enable the collection, storage, treatment, and reuse of rainwater, stormwater, and greywater;
(2) water storage and distribution systems;
(3) behavioral, social, and economic barriers to achieving greater water use efficiency; and
(4) use of watershed planning directed toward water quality, conservation, and supply.
(b) Considerations.--In planning and implementing the program, the Assistant Administrator shall consider--
(1) research needs identified by water resource managers, State and local governments, and other interested parties; and
(2) technologies and processes likely to achieve the greatest increases in water use efficiency and conservation.
(c) Minority Serving Institutions.--In the execution of this program, the Assistant Administrator may award extramural grants to institutions of higher education and shall encourage participation by Minority Serving Institutions.
SEC. 4. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator shall coordinate the development of a strategic research plan (in this Act referred to as the ``plan'') for the water use efficiency and conservation research and development program established in section 3 with all other Environmental Protection Agency research and development strategic plans.
(b) Plan Contents.--The plan shall--
(1) outline research goals and priorities for a water use efficiency and conservation research agenda, including--
(A) developing innovative water supply-enhancing processes and technologies; and
(B) improving existing processes and technologies, including wastewater treatment, desalinization, and groundwater recharge and recovery schemes;
(2) identify current Federal research efforts on water that are directed toward meeting the goals of improving water use efficiency, water conservation, or expanding water supply and describe how such efforts are coordinated with the program established in section 3 in order to leverage resources and avoid duplication; and
(3) consider and utilize, as appropriate, recommendations in reports and studies conducted by Federal agencies, the National Research Council, the National Science and Technology Council, or other entities in the development of the plan.
(c) Science Advisory Board Review.--The Assistant Administrator shall submit the plan to the Science Advisory Board of the Environmental Protection Agency for review.
(d) Revision.--The plan shall be revised and amended as needed to reflect current scientific findings and national research priorities.
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.
The Assistant Administrator, building on the results of the activities of the program established under section 3, shall--
(1) facilitate the adoption of technology and processes to promote water use efficiency and conservation; and
(2) collect and disseminate information, including the establishment of a publicly-accessible clearinghouse, on technologies and processes to promote water use efficiency and conservation, including information on--
(A) incentives and impediments to development and commercialization;
(B) best practices; and
(C) anticipated increases in water use efficiency and conservation resulting from the implementation of specific technologies and processes.
SEC. 6. ADVANCED WATER EFFICIENCY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--As part of the program under section 3, the Assistant Administrator shall carry out at least 4 projects under which the funding is provided for the incorporation into a building of the latest water use efficiency and conservation technologies and designs. Funding for each project shall be provided only to cover incremental costs of water-use efficiency and conservation technologies.
(b) Criteria.--Of the 4 projects described in subsection
(a), at least 1 shall be for a residential building and at least 1 shall be for a commercial building.
(c) Public Availability.--The designs of buildings with respect to which funding is provided under subsection (a) shall be made available to the public, and such buildings shall be accessible to the public for tours and educational purposes.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and once every 2 years thereafter, the Assistant Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report which details the progress being made by the Environmental Protection Agency with regard to--
(1) water use efficiency and conservation research projects initiated by the Agency;
(2) development projects initiated by the Agency;
(3) outreach and communication activities conducted by the Agency concerning water use efficiency and conservation; and
(4) development and implementation of the plan.
SEC. 8. WATER MANAGEMENT STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--
(1) Requirement.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to complete a study of low impact and soft path strategies for management of water supply, wastewater, and stormwater.
(2) Contents.--The study shall--
(A) examine and compare the state of research, technology development, and emerging practices in other developed and developing countries with those in the United States;
(B) identify and evaluate relevant system approaches for comprehensive water management, including the interrelationship of water systems with other major systems such as energy and transportation;
(C) identify priority research and development needs; and
(D) assess implementation needs and barriers.
(b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall transmit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report on the key findings of the study conducted under subsection (a). The report shall evaluate challenges and opportunities and serve as a practical reference for water managers, planners, developers, scientists, engineers, non-governmental organizations, federal agencies, and regulators by recommending innovative and integrated solutions.
(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
(1) the term ``low impact'' means a strategy that manages rainfall at the source using uniformly distributed decentralized micro-scale controls to mimic a site's predevelopment hydrology by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and detain runoff close to its source; and
(2) the term ``soft path'' means a general framework that encompasses--
(A) increased efficiency of water use;
(B) integration of water supply, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management systems; and
(C) protection, restoration, and effective use of the natural capacities of ecosystems to provide clean water.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for carrying out this section $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Assistant Administrator for carrying out this Act $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2013.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
General Leave
Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3957, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, dwindling water supplies are creating concern across this country. Thirty-six States are currently or expect to experience significant water shortages within the next 5 years. That's why I introduced H.R. 3957, the Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Act. This bill would establish a research and development program within the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development to promote water efficiency and conservation.
Madam Speaker, tough decisions lie ahead for water managers who must balance the needs of agriculture, consumption by cities, industrial and energy production, transportation, tourism, wastewater treatment, energy response, and ecosystems. We are not going to solve this problem overnight, but H.R. 3957 will provide us with several important tools to address the coming issues we face with technology and innovative thinking. By encouraging research and development into water-use efficiency, we can create a path to increase our Nation's water supply.
H.R. 3957 would expand EPA's scope and involvement solving the Nation's water crisis through the development of technologies and processes to expand water supplies through storage, treatment, and reuse of rainwater, storm water and grey water.
The program will also conduct research on water storage and distribution systems, research on behavioral, social, and economic barriers to achieving greater water efficiency, and research on the use of watershed planning.
As part of the program, EPA will develop a strategic plan to outline the best path forward to avoid duplication and work towards the most relevant problems facing our water supply.
My bill directs the EPA to facilitate the adoption of technology and processes to increase water efficiency and conservation. The new program will collect information on new technologies that achieve more efficient use of water and provide this information through a public clearinghouse.
I want to thank Chairman Gordon for his interest in this legislation and for his leadership in ensuring adequate water supply for the 21st century in this country. I also want to thank all of the members of the House Science and Technology Committee for their bipartisan support and for their collaboration--their thoughtful collaboration I would say--on this bill. In the full committee, amendments were adopted that were authored by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congressman Phil Gingrey, and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Their amendments made this a better bill, and I certainly appreciate their input.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The Environmental Protection Agency, better known as the EPA, is the Nation's lead agency charged with protecting the environment and supporting the goals of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act by providing methods, approaches and tools needed to protect water sources. As such, relevant and high-quality research and development is very vital to EPA's ability to carry out its many missions.
However, EPA's research and development program is far from comprehensive or rationally organized. As of today, EPA only conducts coordinated research and development activities in three areas; water quality protection, watershed management, and source control management. And while these are essential research areas, I believe EPA is missing a critical component to their research agenda, and that is the research and development of technologies that increase efficiency and conservation.
According to the American Water Works Association, an international nonprofit scientific and educational organization, daily indoor per capita water consumption in a typical single family home is about 70 gallons. By installing more efficient water fixtures and checking for leaks, single family homes may reduce their daily per capita water consumption by about 35 percent.
While some of these technologies are on the market and utilized, many water-saving ideas linger in the research phase for lack of a coordinated Federal research program.
H.R. 3957 establishes a research and development program for water efficiency technologies and conservation at the EPA. It instructs the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development to develop a strategic research plan, coordinated with other relevant EPA strategic plans, to compel synchronization of different research agendas.
EPA is to use recommendations in existing reports from the National Academies and the National Science and Technology Council in the development of the plan. However, their effort should not be just a regurgitation of previous work.
Other countries, such as Israel, have invested significant resources in water efficiency and conservation research areas. We, too, have to invest resources if we are to weather water shortages in the future.
Madam Speaker, at a time when our Nation is really facing greater numbers of water events, we just can't afford to fall behind on technology research and development.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3957.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I just would encourage everyone to support this. The Science Committee reported this bill in a unanimous bipartisan vote. That's the tradition of the Science Committee to work in a bipartisan way.
I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. GINGREY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3957--
the Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act. I commend my colleague from the Science Committee--Mr. Matheson of Utah--for crafting this thoughtful legislation that was reported to the House on a broad bipartisan basis.
Over the past year, my home State of Georgia--and specifically my district--has experienced significant and historic drought conditions that have brought to the forefront what the future may hold for our local water supply.
In addition to the drought conditions in my district, a number of other States are facing similar challenges. Over the next 5 years, more than half of the States in our country anticipate some sort of water shortage that will wreak havoc on our environment, as well as our economy.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 3957 addresses ways in which the Environmental Protection Agency can use its Office of Research and Development to promote technologies that increase water efficiency and conservation via collection, treatment and reuse of rainwater and greywater, and research on water storage.
I am encouraged that this legislation will promote the adoption of emerging technologies to help us make better use of one of our most precious resources--water. I am also very pleased that the Science Committee adopted an amendment that I offered directing the EPA to ensure that the research and development efforts resulting from this legislation complement all other EPA research and development endeavors. Proper implementation of a strategic research plan will ultimately make this program successful.
Madam Speaker, at a time when water shortages are becoming more commonplace in our Nation, I applaud the bipartisan work of the Science Committee under the leadership of Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall on this important legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3957.
Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3957, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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