I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4479

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) to

authorize appropriations in each of fiscal years 1994–2001 for the construction of wastewater treatment works to provide water pollution control in or near the United States-Mexico border area.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 24, 1994

Mr. COPPERSMITH (by request) (for himself, Mr. COLEMAN, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr.

PASTOR, and Mr. BRYANT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation

A BILL

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean

Water Act) to authorize appropriations in each of fiscal

years 1994–2001 for the construction of wastewater

treatment works to provide water pollution control in

or near the United States-Mexico border area.

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.—This Act may be cited

4 as the ‘‘U.S.-Mexico Border Water Pollution Control Act’’.

5 SEC. 2. Title V of the Federal Water Pollution Act

6 (33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.) is amended by adding at the

7 end thereof the following new section:
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1 ‘‘SEC. 520. (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this sec2 tion is to protect the economy, public health, environment,

3 surface water, ground water, and water quality of the

4 U.S.-Mexico border area which is endangered and is being

5 polluted by raw or partially treated sewage, in furtherance

6 of the goals of the Agreement Between The Government

7 Of The United States Of America And The Government

8 Of The United Mexican States Concerning The Establish9 ment Of A Border Environment Cooperation Commission

10 And A North American Development Bank (Signed No11 vember 16 and 18, 1993), and the Federal Water Pollu12 tion Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). This section

13 shall not be construed so as to affect or impair the provi14 sions of any international agreement of the United States.

15 Nor shall it be construed so as to affect or impair any

16 Federal legislation applicable to the Border Environment

17 Cooperation Commission, the North American Develop18 ment Bank, or the International Boundary and Water

19 Commission, the United States and Mexico.

20 ‘‘(b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WASTEWATER

21 TREATMENT WORKS.—The Administrator is authorized

22 to provide financial and other assistance to the Border En23 vironment Cooperation Commission, any appropriate Fed24 eral, State or local governmental entity, and the Inter25 national Boundary and Water Commission, the United
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1 States and Mexico, subject to such terms and conditions

2 as the Administrator deems appropriate, for planning, de3 sign, and construction of wastewater treatment works for

4 the purposes specified in section (a). Such wastewater

5 treatment works shall be located, regardless of the place

6 of origin or ultimate destination of the wastewater, in the

7 U.S.-Mexico border area (or near the U.S.-Mexico border

8 areas they would remedy a transboundary environmental

9 or health problem) and shall be planned, designed, and

10 constructed in accordance with any applicable inter11 national agreement to which the United States is a party.

12 ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There

13 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purposes

14 of this Act $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $47,500,000

15 for fiscal year 1995, $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years

16 1996 through 2000, and $22,000,000 for fiscal year

17 2001.’’.

18 SEC. 3. Section 502 of the Clean Water Act is amend19 ed by adding the following new subsection:

20 ‘‘(20) The term ‘border area’ has the meaning such

21 term has under Article 4 of the Agreement Between The

22 United States Of America And The United Mexican

23 States On Cooperation For The Protection And Improve24 ment Of The Environment In The Border Area (Signed
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1 August 14, 1993, commonly known as the ‘La Paz Agree2 ment’).’’.

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