II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4536 

To study how the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes are affected 

by drought and to require a feasibility study on drought solutions, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 14, 2022 

Mr. ROMNEY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 

A BILL 

To study how the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes 

are affected by drought and to require a feasibility study 

on drought solutions, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Great Salt Lake Recov5 ery Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 

9 the program established under section 3(a). 


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1 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of the Army. 

3 SEC. 3. GREAT SALT LAKE MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 

4 PROGRAM. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to 

6 carry out a program to monitor and assess the hydrology 

7 of saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin, including the 

8 Great Salt Lake, to inform and support Federal and non9 Federal management and conservation activities to benefit 

10 those ecosystems. 

11 (b) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall coordinate 

12 implementation of the program with relevant— 

13 (1) Federal and State agencies; 

14 (2) Indian Tribes; 

15 (3) local governments; and 

16 (4) nonprofit organizations. 

17 (c) CONTRACTS, GRANTS, AND COOPERATIVE

18 AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary is authorized to enter into 

19 contracts, grant agreements, and cooperative agreements 

20 with institutions of higher education and with entities de21 scribed in subsection (b) to implement the program. 

22 (d) UPDATE.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

23 of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 

24 Congress an update on the progress of the Secretary in 

25 carrying out the program. 


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1 (e) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—In carrying out the 

2 program, the Secretary may use available studies, infor3 mation, literature, or data on the Great Basin region pub4 lished by relevant Federal, State, or local entities, includ5 ing the United States Geological Survey. 

6 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

7 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

8 $10,000,000. 

9 SEC. 4. DROUGHT SOLUTIONS FEASIBILITY STUDY. 

10 The Secretary is authorized to investigate the feasi11 bility of a project for ecosystem restoration and water sup12 ply in the Great Salt Lake, which may include an identi13 fication of— 

14 (1) technology capabilities currently in practice 

15 or expected to be commercialized within the next 10 

16 years that can redirect water sources to drought-im17 pacted saline lakes, or conserve and increase water 

18 supply and delivery, including— 

19 (A) pipelines; 

20 (B) coastal desalination plants; and 

21 (C) canal reinforcement; and 

22 (2) necessary permitting to redirect water 

23 sources across State borders. 

Æ 


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