I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 212

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 8, 2003

Referred to the Committee on Resources 

AN ACT

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with 

the High Plains Aquifer States in conducting a 

Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, and Modeling 

Program for the High Plains Aquifer, 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 ‘‘High Plains Aquifer 

5 Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, and Modeling 

6 Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 For the purposes of this Act: 

3 (1) ASSOCIATION.—The term ‘‘Association’’ 

4 means the Association of American State Geologists. 

5 (2) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 

6 Western States Water Council. 

7 (3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

8 the Director of the United States Geological Survey. 

9 (4) HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER.—The term ‘‘High 

10 Plains Aquifer’’ is the groundwater reserve depicted 

11 as Figure 1 in the United States Geological Survey 

12 Professional Paper 1400–B, titled ‘‘Geohydrology of 

13 the High Plains Aquifer in Parts of Colorado, Kan14 sas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Da15 kota, Texas, and Wyoming.’’

16 (5) HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER STATES.—The term 

17 ‘‘High Plains Aquifer States’’ means the States of 

18 Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Okla19 homa, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. 

20 (6) REVIEW PANEL.—The term ‘‘Review Panel’’ 

21 means the panel provided for by section 3(d). 

22 (7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

23 the Secretary of the Interior. 

24 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 

25 (a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary, through the United 

26 States Geological Survey, and in cooperation with the 
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1 High Plains Aquifer States, shall establish and carry out 

2 the High Plains Aquifer Comprehensive Hydrogeologic 

3 Program, to characterize, map, and model the High Plains 

4 Aquifer. The Program shall undertake at the most de5 tailed levels determined to be appropriate on a state-by6 state basis, characterization, mapping and modeling of the 

7 hydrogeological configuration of the High Plains Aquifer. 

8 (b) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the Program are 

9 to: 

10 (1) provide for the hydrogeologic characteriza11 tion, mapping and modeling of the High Plains Aq12 uifer through a cooperative partnership effort be13 tween the U.S. Geological Survey and the High 

14 Plains Aquifer States; 

15 (2) coordinate Federal, State, and local data, 

16 maps, and models into an integrated physical char17 acterization of the High Plains Aquifer; 

18 (3) support State and local activities with sci19 entific and technical specialists; and 

20 (4) undertake activities and provide technical 

21 capabilities not available at the State and local levels 

22 as may be requested by a Governor of a High Plains 

23 Aquifer State within such state. 

24 (c) REQUESTS FROM GOVERNORS.—The Governor of 

25 a High Plains Aquifer State may submit a proposal to 
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1 the Secretary requesting the Secretary to undertake activi2 ties and provide financial and technical capabilities not 

3 available at the State and local levels to carry out the pur4 poses of the Program. 

5 (d) REVIEW PANEL.—Not later than six months after 

6 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es7 tablish a Review Panel to: (1) evaluate the proposals sub8 mitted for funding under subsection (f); and (2) review 

9 and coordinate Program priorities. In performing its func10 tions, the Review Panel shall consult with the Association 

11 and the Council. 

12 (e) COMPOSITION AND SUPPORT.—The Review Panel 

13 shall be comprised of: (1) five representatives of the 

14 United States Geological Survey, at least two of which 

15 shall be hydrologists or hydrogeologists; and (2) one rep16 resentative who is knowledgeable regarding hydrogeologic 

17 data and information from each of the High Plains Aqui18 fer States that elects to participate in the Program. Each 

19 representative of a High Plains Aquifer State shall be rec20 ommended by the Governor of such State. The Secretary 

21 shall provide technical and administrative support to the 

22 Review Panel. Expenses for the Review Panel shall be paid 

23 from Program funds other than those referred to in sub24 section (f). 
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1 (f) FUNDING.—Fifty percent of the funds appro2 priated to carry out this Program shall be allocated equal3 ly by the Secretary for the participation of State and local 

4 agencies and institutions of higher education within each 

5 of the High Plains Aquifer States that elects to participate 

6 in the Program. Grants may be made by the Secretary 

7 from the funds described in this subsection based on pro8 posals that have been recommended by the Governor and 

9 reviewed by the Review Panel. Proposals for multistate ac10 tivities must be recommended by the Governors of all the 

11 affected States. 

12 SEC. 4. REPORTS. 

13 (a) REPORT ON PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.—One 

14 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 

15 3 years thereafter through fiscal year 2011, the Secretary 

16 shall include a report on the Program in the annual budg17 et documents for the Department of the Interior. The ini18 tial report submitted by the Secretary shall contain a Pro19 gram plan developed with the concurrence of the Review 

20 Panel. 

21 (b) REPORT ON HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER.—No later 

22 than four years after the date of enactment of this Act 

23 and upon completion of the Program in fiscal year 2011, 

24 the Secretary shall submit an interim and final report, re-
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1 spectively, to the Governors of the High Plains Aquifer 

2 States on the status of the High Plains Aquifer. 

3 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

4 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

5 as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2003 

6 through 2011 to carry out this Act.

Passed the Senate April 7, 2003. 

Attest: EMILY J. REYNOLDS, 

Secretary.