Colonia Assistance Authorization Act of 1993

Summary: Colonia Assistance Authorization Act of 1993 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to transfer funds to another Federal agency or award grants to any appropriate entity or border State (Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas) to provide assistance to low-income communities in such areas that lack basic sanitation facilities for:  (1) the conservation, development, use, and control of water; and (2) the construction or improvement of sewers, wastewater treatment works, and essential community facilities.  Requires such funds to be used in communities subject to a significant health risk due to lack of access to a water supply system and wastewater treatment works. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Colonia Assistance Authorization Act 
of 1993''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to protect the economy, public health, 
environment, and water quality of the United States-Mexico border area 
that is endangered and is being polluted by raw or partially treated 
sewage, effluent, and other pollutants.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Border state.--The term ``border State'' means each of 
        the following States:
                    (A) Arizona.
                    (B) California.
                    (C) New Mexico.
                    (D) Texas.
            (3) Construction.--The term ``construction'' has the 
        meaning provided the term under section 212(1) of the Federal 
        Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292(1)).
            (4) Eligible community.--The term ``eligible community'' 
        means a low-income community commonly referred to as a colonia 
        that is located in the United States-Mexico border area 
        (generally in an unincorporated area) and that lacks basic 
        sanitation facilities such as safe drinking water, household 
        plumbing, and a proper sewage disposal system.
            (5) Treatment works.--The term ``treatment works'' has the 
        meaning provided the term under section 212(2) of the Federal 
        Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292(2)).

SEC. 4. TRANSFERS AND GRANTS TO ALLEVIATE HEALTH RISK.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Assistance.--The Administrator is authorized to 
        transfer funds to another Federal agency or award grants to any 
        other appropriate entity or border State, designated by the 
        President, to provide assistance to eligible communities for--
                    (A) the conservation, development, use, and control 
                of water (including the extension or improvement of a 
                water supply system); and
                    (B) the construction or improvement of sewers, 
                wastewater treatment works, and essential community 
                facilities (including necessary related equipment).
            (2) Use of funds.--Each transfer of funds, and each grant 
        awarded, pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used to provide 
        assistance to 1 (or more) eligible community with respect to 
        which the residents are subject to a significant health risk 
        (as determined by the Administrator) because a significant 
        proportion of the residents of the eligible community do not 
        have access to, or service by, an adequate and affordable--
                    (A) water supply system; or
                    (B) treatment works for wastewater treatment.
    (b) Operation and Maintenance.--To carry out the purpose referred 
to in section 2, the Administrator and the head of each other Federal 
agency, entity, or border State, designated by the President pursuant 
to subsection (a)(1), are each authorized to operate and maintain a 
treatment works or other project that is constructed with funds made 
available pursuant to subsection (a).
    (c) Approval of Plans.--
            (1) Plans and specifications.--Each treatment works or 
        other project that is funded by a transfer or a grant made 
        pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall be constructed in 
        accordance with plans and specifications developed by the 
        Administrator or the head of another Federal agency or the 
        appropriate official of an entity or border State designated by 
        the President under subsection (a), in consultation with the 
        appropriate official of the affected border State.
            (2) Approval by the administrator.--As a condition of 
        carrying out the construction of a treatment works or other 
        project referred in paragraph (1), the head of the Federal 
        agency or appropriate official of an entity or border State 
        shall submit the plans and specifications referred to in 
        paragraph (1) to the Administrator for approval.
            (3) Standards for construction.--The Administrator may 
        approve a plan referred to in paragraph (2) if the 
        Administrator determines that the treatment works or other 
        project that is the subject of the plan meets the standards 
        that would apply to the treatment works or other project if the 
        treatment works or other project were constructed under 
        appropriate standards under the laws of the United States and 
        Mexico under applicable treaties and international agreements.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Environmental 
Protection Agency to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal year 1994, and for each fiscal year thereafter.