II 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1709 

To provide favorable treatment for certain projects in response to Hurricane 

Katrina, with respect to revolving loans under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 

Mr. INHOFE (for himself, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr. VITTER, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. 

CHAFEE, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. WARNER, Mr. CARPER, Mrs. BOXER, Ms. 

LANDRIEU, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works 

A BILL 

To provide favorable treatment for certain projects in response to Hurricane Katrina, with respect to revolving 

loans under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 

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 ‘‘Gulf Coast Emergency 

5 Water Infrastructure Assistance Act’’. 
2 

•S 1709 IS

1 SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LOANS. 

2 (a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE PROJECT.—In this 

3 section, the term ‘‘eligible project’’ means a project— 

4 (1) to repair or rebuild a publicly-owned treat5 ment works (as defined in section 212 of the Federal 

6 Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292)) in 

7 an area affected by Hurricane Katrina or a related 

8 condition; or 

9 (2) that is a water quality project directly re10 lated to relief efforts in response to Hurricane 

11 Katrina or a related condition, as determined by the 

12 State in which the project is located. 

13 (b) ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIZATION.—For the 2-year 

14 period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a 

15 State may provide additional subsidization to an eligible 

16 project that receives funds through a revolving loan under 

17 section 603 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 

18 (33 U.S.C. 1383), including— 

19 (1) forgiveness of the principal of the revolving 

20 loan; or 

21 (2) a zero-percent interest rate on the revolving 

22 loan. 

23 (c) EXTENDED TERMS.—For the 2-year period be24 ginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a State may 

25 extend the term of a revolving loan under section 603 of 
3 

•S 1709 IS

1 that Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) for an eligible project described 

2 in subsection (b), if the extended term— 

3 (1) terminates not later than the date that is 

4 30 years after the date of completion of the project 

5 that is the subject of the loan; and 

6 (2) does not exceed the expected design life of 

7 the project. 

8 SEC. 3. INTENDED USE PLANS. 

9 (a) DEFINITION OF STATE.—In this section, the term 

10 ‘‘State’’ means— 

11 (1) the State of Alabama; 

12 (2) the State of Louisiana; and 

13 (3) the State of Mississippi. 

14 (b) PROJECTS BY STATES.—For the 2-year period 

15 beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a State 

16 may provide assistance to a public water system that is 

17 not included on the intended use plan of the State under 

18 section 1452(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 

19 U.S.C. 300j–12(b)), if the project— 

20 (1) involves damage caused by Hurricane 

21 Katrina or a related condition; and 

22 (2) is in accordance with section 1452(b)(3)(A) 

23 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(b)(3)(A)). 
4 

•S 1709 IS

1 SEC. 4. TESTING OF PRIVATELY-OWNED DRINKING WATER 

2 WELLS. 

3 On receipt of a request from a homeowner, the Ad4 ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may 

5 conduct a test of a drinking water well owned or operated 

6 by the homeowner that is, or may be, contaminated as a 

7 result of Hurricane Katrina or a related condition. 

Æ