I 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5770 

To provide for a study by the National Academy of Sciences of potential 

impacts of climate change on water resources and water quality. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 10, 2008 

Mr. HALL of New York (for himself, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of 

California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, and Ms. LEE) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, and 

in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources and Transportation 

and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To provide for a study by the National Academy of Sciences 

of potential impacts of climate change on water resources 

and water quality. 

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

3 SECTION 1. STUDY OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE 

4 CHANGE ON WATER RESOURCES AND WATER 

5 QUALITY. 

6 (a) NATIONAL ACADEMY STUDY.—Not later than 60 

7 days after funds are appropriated to carry out this Act, 


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1 the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agen2 cy shall enter into an arrangement with the National 

3 Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall pre4 pare a 2-part study that includes the following: 

5 (1) HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY.—One 

6 part of the study shall consist of— 

7 (A) an identification of the potential im8 pacts of climate change on— 

9 (i) the Nation’s watersheds and water 

10 resources, including the potential for im11 pacts to wetlands, shoreline erosion, and 

12 saltwater intrusion as a result of sea level 

13 rise, and other hydrological and ecological 

14 impacts; 

15 (ii) significant regional variation in 

16 precipitation events from historic patterns, 

17 and the resulting impacts on watersheds, 

18 water resources, and water quality; and 

19 (iii) water quality, including the ex20 tent to which Federal and State efforts 

21 under the Federal Water Pollution Control 

22 Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) and other 

23 ocean and coastal protection laws may be 

24 affected by climate change; and 


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1 (B) information, analyses, and data that 

2 identify, to the maximum extent practicable, 

3 hydrological and temperature changes by water4 shed in the United States and that support the 

5 findings made under subparagraph (A). 

6 (2) POLICY CONSIDERATIONS.—Another part of 

7 the study shall consist of— 

8 (A) an identification of the scientific con9 sensus, assumptions, and uncertainties related 

10 to predictions of climate change in the United 

11 States; 

12 (B) an assessment of the extent to which 

13 Federal and State efforts under the Federal 

14 Water Pollution Control Act and other ocean 

15 and coastal laws may be affected by climate 

16 change; 

17 (C) an identification of steps to assess 

18 emerging information and identifying the ap19 propriate response actions to meet the require20 ments of such Act, including provisions to at21 tain or maintain water quality standards and 

22 for adequate stream flows for wetlands and 

23 aquatic resources; and 

24 (D) recommendations, if necessary, of po25 tential legislative or regulatory changes to adVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:50 Apr 12, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5770.IH H5770

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1 dress impacts of global climate change on ef2 forts to restore and maintain the chemical, 

3 physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s 

4 waters. 

5 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

6 of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub7 mit a report of the results of the study in subsection (a), 

8 together with any additional comments of the Adminis9 trator, to the Committee on Environment and Public 

10 Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transpor11 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

12 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

13 authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this 

14 Act. 

Æ 


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