San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Initiative

Summary: Prohibits the Secretary from obligating any funds appropriated to the Restoration Fund in a fiscal year until the Secretary has deposited in such fund an amount provided by non-Federal interests sufficient to ensure that at least 35 percent of any funds obligated by the Secretary are from funds provided by such interests. Makes the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority responsible for providing such amount. Permits the State of California, local government agencies, and private entities to provide all or any portion of such amount.
Authorizes appropriations. Provides that no more than $10 million of such authorization shall be available to carry out such project.
Authorizes the Secretary, in cooperation with Federal, State, and local government agencies, to participate in studies and other investigative activities and in the planning and design of projects which offer a long- term solution to the problem of groundwater contamination caused by perchlorates.
Directs the Secretary, under such study: (1) in coordination with other Federal agencies and the Brazos River Authority, to participate in investigations and projects in the Bosque and Leon River watersheds in Texas to assess the impact of the perchlorate associated with the former Naval "Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant" at McGregor, Texas; (2) in coordination with other Federal agencies and the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, to participate in investigations and projects relating to perchlorate contamination in Caddo Lake, Texas; and (3) in coordination with other Federal, State, and local government agencies, to participate in investigations and projects related to sites that are sources of perchlorates and that are located in Santa Clarita, California. Authorizes appropriations for such study, of which not more than separate, specified amounts shall be available to carry out each such set of investigations and projects under such study.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``San Gabriel Basin Water Quality 
Initiative''.

SEC. 2. SAN GABRIEL BASIN RESTORATION.

    (a) San Gabriel Basin Restoration.--
            (1) Establishment of fund.--There shall be established 
        within the Treasury of the United States an interest bearing 
        account to be known as the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund 
        (in this section referred to as the ``Restoration Fund'').
            (2) Administration of fund.--The Restoration Fund shall be 
        administered by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the 
        Chief of Engineers (in this Act referred to as the 
        ``Secretary''). The Secretary shall administer the Fund in 
        cooperation with the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, 
        or its successor agency.
            (3) Purposes of fund.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                amounts in the Restoration Fund, including interest 
                accrued, shall be utilized by the Secretary--
                            (i) to design and construct water quality 
                        projects to be administered by the San Gabriel 
                        Basin Water Quality Authority and the Central 
                        Basin Water Quality Project to be administered 
                        by the Central Basin Municipal Water District; 
                        and
                            (ii) to operate and maintain any project 
                        constructed under this section for such period 
                        as the Secretary determines, but not to exceed 
                        10 years, following the initial date of 
                        operation of the project.
                    (B) Cost-sharing limitation.--The Secretary may not 
                obligate any funds appropriated to the Restoration Fund 
in a fiscal year until the Secretary has deposited in the Fund an 
amount provided by non-Federal interests sufficient to ensure that at 
least 35 percent of any funds obligated by the Secretary are from funds 
provided to the Secretary by the non-Federal interests. The San Gabriel 
Basin Water Quality Authority shall be responsible for providing the 
non-Federal amount required by the preceding sentence. The State of 
California, local government agencies, and private entities may provide 
all or any portion of such amount.
    (b) Compliance With Applicable Law.--In carrying out the activities 
described in this section, the Secretary shall comply with any 
applicable Federal and State laws.
    (c) Relationship to Other Activities.--Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to affect other Federal or State authorities that 
are being used or may be used to facilitate the cleanup and protection 
of the San Gabriel and Central groundwater basins. In carrying out the 
activities described in this section, the Secretary shall integrate 
such activities with ongoing Federal and State projects and activities. 
None of the funds made available for such activities pursuant to this 
section shall be counted against any Federal authorization ceiling 
established for any previously authorized Federal projects or 
activities.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Restoration Fund established under subsection (a) 
        $85,000,000. Such funds shall remain available until expended.
            (2) Set-aside.--Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph 
        (1), no more than $10,000,000 shall be available to carry out 
        the Central Basin Water Quality Project.

SEC. 3. PERCHLORATE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with Federal, State, 
and local government agencies, is authorized to participate in studies 
and other investigative activities and in the planning and design of 
projects determined by the Secretary to offer a long-term solution to 
the problem of groundwater contamination caused by perchlorates.
    (b) Investigations and Projects.--
            (1) Bosque and leon rivers.--The Secretary, in coordination 
        with other Federal agencies and the Brazos River Authority, 
        shall participate under subsection (a) in investigations and 
        projects in the Bosque and Leon River watersheds in Texas to 
        assess the impact of the perchlorate associated with the former 
        Naval ``Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant'' at McGregor, Texas.
            (2) Caddo lake.--The Secretary, in coordination with other 
        Federal agencies and the Northeast Texas Municipal Water 
        District, shall participate under subsection (a) in 
        investigations and projects relating to perchlorate 
        contamination in Caddo Lake, Texas.
            (3) Eastern santa clara basin.--The Secretary, in 
        coordination with other Federal, State, and local government 
        agencies, shall participate under subsection (a) in 
        investigations and projects related to sites that are sources 
        of perchlorates and that are located in the city of Santa 
        Clarita, California.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purposes of carrying 
out the activities authorized in this section, there is authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary $25,000,000, of which not to exceed 
$8,000,000 shall be available to carry out subsection (b)(1), not to 
exceed $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out subsection (b)(2), 
and not to exceed $7,000,000 shall be available to carry out subsection 
(b)(3).

            Passed the House of Representatives March 28, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.