S 1116 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To facilitate the use for irrigation and other purposes of water produced in connection with development of energy resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

April 16, 2007

Mr. SALAZAR (for himself, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. DOMENICI, and Mr. THOMAS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To facilitate the use for irrigation and other purposes of water produced in connection with development of energy resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE, FINDINGS, AND PURPOSE.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `More Water, More Energy, and Less Waste Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Findings- The Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) development of energy resources, including oil, natural gas, coalbed methane, and geothermal resources, frequently results in bringing to the surface water extracted from underground sources;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) some of that produced water is used for irrigation or other purposes, but most of the water is returned to the subsurface or otherwise disposed of as waste;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) reducing the quantity of produced water returned to the subsurface and increasing the quantity of produced water that is made available for irrigation and other uses--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) would augment water supplies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) could reduce the costs to energy developers for disposing of the water; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in some cases, could increase the efficiency of energy development activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) it is in the national interest--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to limit the quantity of produced water disposed of as waste;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to optimize the production of energy resources; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) to remove or reduce obstacles to use of produced water for irrigation or other purposes in ways that will not adversely affect water quality or the environment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Purposes- The purposes of this Act are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to optimize the production of energy resources--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by minimizing the quantity of produced water; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by facilitating the use of produced water for irrigation and other purposes without adversely affecting water quality or the environment; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to demonstrate means of accomplishing those results.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) LOWER BASIN STATE- The term `Lower Basin State' means any of the States of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Arizona;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) California; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Nevada.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PRODUCED WATER- The term `produced water' means water from an underground source that is brought to the surface as part of the process of exploration for, or development of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) oil;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) natural gas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) coalbed methane; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) any other substance to be used as an energy source.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) UPPER BASIN STATE- The term `Upper Basin State' means any of the States of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Colorado;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) New Mexico;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Utah; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Wyoming.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.

(a) Study- The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, the Director of the United States Geological Survey, and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management shall conduct a study to identify--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the technical, economic, environmental, and other obstacles to reducing the quantity of produced water;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the technical, economic, environmental, legal, and other obstacles to increasing the extent to which produced water can be used for irrigation and other purposes without adversely affecting water quality or the environment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the legislative, administrative, and other actions that could reduce or eliminate the obstacles identified in paragraphs (1) and (2); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the costs and benefits associated with reducing or eliminating the obstacles identified in paragraphs (1) and (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing the results of the study under subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION.

(a) Grants- Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall provide financial assistance for the development of facilities, technologies, and processes to demonstrate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) optimizing energy resource production by reducing the quantity of produced water generated; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) increasing the extent to which produced water may be recovered and made suitable for use for irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses, or other purposes without adversely affecting water quality or the environment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Limitations- Assistance under this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) shall be provided for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) at least 1 project in each of the Upper Basin States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) at least 1 project in at least 1 of the Lower Basin States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) shall not exceed $1,000,000 for any project;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) shall be used to pay not more than 50 percent of the total cost of a project;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) shall not be used for the operation or maintenance of any facility; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) may be in addition to assistance provided by the Federal Government pursuant to other provisions of law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. CONSULTATION, ADVICE, AND COMMENTS.

In carrying out this Act, including in preparing the report under section 3(b) and establishing criteria to be used in connection with an award of financial assistance under section 4, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) consult with the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and appropriate Governors and local officials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2)(A) review any relevant information developed in connection with research carried out by others, including research carried out pursuant to subtitle J of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16371 et seq.); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to the extent the Secretary determines to be advisable, include that information in the report under section 3(b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) seek the advice of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) individuals with relevant professional or academic expertise; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) individuals or representatives of entities with industrial experience, particularly experience relating to production of oil, natural gas, coalbed methane, or other energy resources (including geothermal resources); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) solicit comments and suggestions from the public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.

Nothing in this Act supersedes, modifies, abrogates, or limits--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the effect of any State law or any interstate authority or compact relating to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) any use of water; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the regulation of water quantity or quality; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the applicability or effect of any Federal law (including regulations).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) $1,000,000 to carry out section 3; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) $7,500,000 to carry out section 4.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink