TheWeekInCongress.com
Week Ending September 22, 2005
S.1025 A bill to amend the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the construction of the Cheney division, Wichita Federal reclamation project, Kansas, and for other purposes" to authorize the Equus Beds Division of the Wichita Project.
BRIEF
According to accompanying data the Equus Beds Aquifer has supplied water to Wichita, KS since 1940. Excessive use has drawn groundwater (that replenishes the aquifer) to 40 feet below normal. As such the aquifer is taking on saltwater from nearby oilfield brine from a 1930’s project and natural saltwater from the Arkansas River.
In 1993 Wichita came up with a plan to meet the city’s water needs and that prompted the need for aquifer recharge. Unfortunately, all area water is allocated so the project must capture rain and snow to recharge the groundwater. The plan also would increase storage capacity. A demonstration project reportedly works so this bill would establish the Federal share to implement the plan.
The Federal share is to be 25% or $30 million, whichever is less.
Sponsor: Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent December 16, 2005. Passed House by voice vote September 20, 2006.
Cost to the taxpayers: “CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $15 million over the 2007-2010 period and another $20 million after 2010, including adjustments for anticipated inflation.”
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Section 1 sets forth the short title.
Section 2 amends `An Act to provide for the construction of the Cheney division, Wichita Federal reclamation project, Kansas, and for other purposes' (P.L. 86-787) by adding the following new section 10 to the Act regarding the Equus Beds Division:
Section 10 (a) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to assist in the funding and implementation of Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Component of the city of Wichita's Water Supply Plan. The Project's construction is to be done in substantial accordance with the plans and designs.
Subsection (b) assigns sole responsibility for the Project's operation, maintenance, and replacement, including any associated costs for those functions, to the city of Wichita and specifies that such operations shall be done in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Subsection (c) authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements or other appropriate agreements, including any amendments thereto, to carry out this Project.
Subsection (d) authorizes the Secretary to charge an appropriate share of administrative costs from available funds.
Subsection (e) directs the Secretary, before obligating any funds for design or construction, to work cooperatively with the city of Wichita in an attempt to use any plans, designs, and engineering and environmental analyses that have already been prepared by the city for the Project. The use of such information must be in accordance with applicable Federal laws and regulations.
Subsection (f) makes clear that the United States will not hold title to the Project.
Subsection (g) authorizes appropriations in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the Project's total cost or $30 million (using January 2003 prices), whichever is less.
This includes any amounts that may be justified due to construction cost fluctuations. These sums are nonreimbursable.
Subsection (h) terminates the Secretary's authority to carry out these duties 10 years after the date of enactment of the Act.