Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	1,173	n/a	n/a
Reported in House	1,971	34	53%
Engrossed in House	3,101	40	53%
Referred in Senate	3,090	5 Show Changes Hide Changes	1%

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HR 1145 EHRFSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

111th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 1145CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative, and for other purposes.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.

This Act may be cited as the ‘National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

(a) Initiative and Purpose- The President shall implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative (in this Act referred to as the ‘Initiative’). The purpose of the Initiative is to improve the Federal Government’s role in designing and implementing Federal water research, development, demonstration, data collection and dissemination, education, and technology transfer activities to address changes in water use, quality, supply, and demand in the United States, including providing additional support to increase water supply through greater efficiency, conservation, and measures to abate water quality impairment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Interagency Committee-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall establish, or designate, an interagency committee to implement the Initiative under subsection (a). The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall chair the interagency committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COMPOSITION- The interagency committee shall include a representative from each agency that conducts research related to water or has authority over resources that affect water supply and water quality, as well as a representative from the Office of Management and Budget.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE- The interagency committee shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) develop a National Water Research and Assessment Plan (in this Act referred to as the ‘plan’) in accordance with subsection (c) and in coordination with State, local, and tribal governments;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) coordinate all Federal research, development, demonstration, data collection and dissemination, education, and technology transfer activities pertaining to water;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) encourage cooperation among Federal agencies and State, local, and tribal governments with respect to water-related research, development, and technological innovation activities to avoid duplication of effort and to ensure optimal use of resources and expertise;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) facilitate technology transfer, communication, and opportunities for information exchange with institutions of higher education, non-governmental organizations, State and local governments, tribal governments, industry, water resources managers, commercial end users, and other members of the stakeholder community through the office established in paragraph (4);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) provide guidance on outreach to minority serving institutions that are eligible institutions under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)) to encourage such institutions to apply for funding opportunities specified in the plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) provide guidance on outreach to institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that are located in an area affected by drought and encourage such institutions to apply for funding opportunities specified in the plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) encourage cooperation between Federal agencies, State and local governments, and tribal governments to develop standard methods for collecting, managing, and disseminating data on water;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) identify from each agency described in paragraph (2) the statutory or regulatory barriers preventing the use of any technology, technique, data collection method, or model that would contribute to greater availability of water resources in the United States through enhanced efficiency and conservation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) submit a report of the findings from clause (i) to Congress; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) assess the role of Federal water research funding in helping to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers at institutions of higher education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) NATIONAL WATER INITIATIVE COORDINATION OFFICE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall establish a National Water Initiative Coordination Office (in this Act referred to as the ‘Office’), with full-time staff, to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) provide technical and administrative support to the interagency committee;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) serve as a point of contact on Federal water activities for government agencies, organizations, academia, industry, professional societies, public-private collaborations, commercial end users, and others to exchange technical and programmatic information; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) communicate with the public, including through a publicly accessible website, on the findings and recommendations of the interagency committee based on the activities conducted pursuant to the Initiative.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) FUNDING- The operation of the Office shall be supported by funds contributed from each agency represented on the interagency committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) National Water Research and Assessment Plan-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) PLAN DEVELOPMENT- The plan required under subsection (b)(3)(A) shall establish the priorities for Federal water research, including federally funded research, and assessment for the 4-year period beginning in the year in which the plan is submitted to Congress. In the development of the plan, the interagency committee shall consider and utilize recommendations and information from State, local, and tribal governments and contained in reports that have addressed water research needs, including the 2007 report issued by the Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality (SWAQ) of the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS- The plan shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) identify each current program and activity of each Federal agency related to the Initiative;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) identify funding levels for the previous fiscal year for each program and, if applicable, each activity identified in subparagraph (A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) set forth a strategy and a timeline to achieve the outcomes described in subsection (d) and shall describe--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) each activity required of each agency responsible for contributing to each such outcome;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the funding levels necessary to achieve each such outcome; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) the distribution of funds between each agency based on such agency’s role in carrying out such activity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) be subject to a 90-day public comment period as noticed on the Office’s website and shall address suggestions received and incorporate public input received, as appropriate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) be submitted to Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and revised and resubmitted every 4 years thereafter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Water Research Outcomes and Assessments- The plan shall outline and direct agencies under the interagency committee to work to achieve the following outcomes:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Implementation of a National Water Census, which shall include the collection of data on national water resources to create a comprehensive database that includes information about the quantity, availability, and quality of ground water and surface water resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Development of a new generation of water monitoring techniques and technologies, including techniques and technologies that provide publicly generated data useful to water managers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Development of technologies for enhancing reliable water supply, water reuse, and pollution prevention.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Development of innovative technologies and tools to enhance water quality, including advanced water treatment and water purification technologies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Development of innovative technologies and tools to enhance water-use efficiency and tools to encourage public acceptance of such technologies and tools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Development of tools and processes to facilitate resolution of conflicts over water resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Development of information technology systems to enhance water quality and supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Improvement of understanding of water-related ecosystem services and ecosystem needs for water.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Improvement of hydrologic prediction models and their applications, including spatial and temporal variation in natural supply, watershed hydrology, human and ecological demand, and infrastructure.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) Analyses of the energy required to provide reliable water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States, including analyses of the amount, proximity, and type of water required for the production of alternative and renewable energy resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) Analyses of the social, behavioral, and economic barriers to sustainable use of water resources in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) Assessment of national water availability and use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) Regional assessments of the status of water supplies and evaluation of potential changes in such status due to changes in land use, population size and distribution, and economic activity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) Assessment of water quality, availability, and use in rural areas, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) maintaining water quality and enhancing energy efficiency of water treatment and delivery through the use of technologies or practices developed to address rural communities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) developing data and information to support water planning and conservation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) Development of resources to investigate the effects of invasive species on water supplies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(16) Development of technologies and practices to treat eutrophic water bodies, including rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(17) Development of tools to assist local water resource managers in anticipating changing water availability and use patterns in the preparation of a strategic plan for sustainable future operations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(18) Development of a program to offer technical and planning assistance to States, localities, and regions that use or are planning to use land conservation as a method to protect water quality, as well as an analysis of the impact of land conservation on watershed hydrology.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(19) Improvement of understanding of the impacts from chemical impairments, including contaminants of emerging concern, such as endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, on water supply and quality.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(20) Analyses of the Nation’s water research facilities and identification of whether a need exists for additional facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(21) Assessment of potential water storage projects that would enhance water supply, water planning, and other beneficial uses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(22) Improvement of understanding of water-intensive sectors of the economy and industrial needs for water.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(23) Improvement of understanding of competing water supply uses and how different uses interact with and impact each other.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(24) Projection of long-term ice cover and water level outlook for major water bodies in the United States, including the Great Lakes, the potential impacts of the results of such projections on infrastructure, and resource management options based on such projections.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(25) Assessment of the impacts of natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes, on water resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Advisory Committee- The President shall establish, or designate, an advisory committee to advise the interagency committee established under subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. BUDGET COORDINATION.

(a) In General- The President shall provide guidance to each Federal agency participating in the Initiative with respect to the preparation of requests for appropriations for activities related to the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Consideration in the President’s Budget- The President shall submit, at the time of the President’s annual budget request to Congress, a description of those items in each agency’s budget which are elements of the plan or help to achieve the outcomes of the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Evaluation- Not later than 30 days after the submission of the President’s annual budget request to Congress, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall write a letter to Congress evaluating the budget as it relates to Federal water research and the success of the interagency committee in meeting the outcomes listed in section 2(d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. COORDINATION.

(a) In General- The interagency committee shall coordinate the activities of the Initiative with the United States Global Change Research Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the interagency committee should collaborate with public institutions of higher education whenever possible.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT.

Concurrent with the annual submission of the President’s budget to Congress, the President shall submit to Congress a report that describes the activities and results of the Initiative during the previous fiscal year and outlines the objectives for the next fiscal year. The report shall include detailed information on all programs and activities involved in the Initiative, including an analysis of progress towards achieving the outcomes listed in section 2(d) and the indicators used to measure such progress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. NATIONAL WATER PILOT TESTING FACILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY AND REPORT.

(a) Study-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REQUIREMENT- The Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study examining the feasibility and practicality of creating a national water pilot testing facility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENTS- The study shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) examine Federal programs and facilities that currently engage in some form of water technology testing;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) evaluate the practicality and identify the potential costs of establishing a national water pilot testing facility; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) examine the efforts of Federal agencies to establish testing facilities related to other technologies, including wind and solar, and the lessons learned from implementing these programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to Congress a report on the key findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. DOE WATER TECHNOLOGIES FOR INCREASED ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACTIVITIES.

Section 452(c)(2) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-140; 42 U.S.C. 17111) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as subparagraphs (E) through (G), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) research to develop water efficient technologies that increase energy efficiency, including utilization of impaired water sources in production;’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER REUSE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

(a) In General- In consultation with the interagency committee, the Assistant Administrator for Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a wastewater and stormwater reuse and recycling technology demonstration program, consistent with section 2(d)(3).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Activities- Under the program established in subsection (a), the Assistant Administrator shall develop and fund projects to demonstrate, evaluate, and test the techniques and technologies to reuse and recycle stormwater and wastewater at the building, site, neighborhood, and watershed scales for urban, industrial, agricultural, environmental, and recreational uses as well as to augment potable water supplies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. WATER RESOURCE RESEARCH INSTITUTES.

(a) Support; Coordinated Plan- Section 104(b) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘, and’ at the end and inserting a semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) support the goals of the National Water Research and Development Initiative; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) submit to the interagency committee under section 2(b) of the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 a single, coordinated, annual report that identifies future water research needs.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Types of Research and Development- Section 108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 10307) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(11) Technical research on prevention and removal of contaminants of emerging concern, including endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, in water resources.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. PILOT PROGRAM.

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a national pilot program exploring the use of energy audits of water related infrastructure to identify energy and water saving opportunities. As part of the program, each participating entity shall receive an Energy Star Benchmarking energy performance score to provide an initial screening of that entity, as well as an ongoing tracking measure to compare their energy performance against similar entities nationwide.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for coordination and outreach activities conducted under this Act through the Office established in section 2(b)(4)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 12. STUDY.

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for a study on the impact of changes in snow pack, including snow pack from the Sierra Nevada, on water resources and its relation to water supply, including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 13. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) Report on Barriers- Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) identifies from each agency on the interagency committee established under section 2(b) the statutory or regulatory barriers--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) that prevent the use of technology, technique, data collection method, or model considered under this Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) that, due to such barrier to using such technology, technique, method, or model, contribute to the loss of jobs in rural or agricultural economies dependent on the greater availability of water resources in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) identifies the long-term consequences on job losses of such barriers that continue to be in effect; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) recommends steps to remove such barriers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report on Impacts- Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) identifies the economic impacts of water diversions for water supply, conservation for fish species (including the Delta smelt), and water quality impairment in the San Joaquin Valley of California; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) recommends steps to mitigate such economic impacts to preserve the water-dependent rural economy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives April 23, 2009.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1145

AN ACT

To implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative, and for other purposes LORRAINE C. MILLER, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink