Water Recycling Acceleration Act of 2015

To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize funding for water recycling projects in areas experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Recycling Acceleration Act of 2015 2. Funding for water recycling projects Section 1602 of the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (Title XVI of Public Law 102–575 43 U.S.C. 390h et seq. (e) Funding for water recycling projects (1) In general Any project for which funding may otherwise be made available under this title shall not be required to have been previously specifically authorized by law for such funding, if that project reclaims and reuses— (A) municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater; or (B) naturally impaired ground and surface waters. (2) Priority When funding projects under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give funding priority to projects that meet all of the criteria listed in paragraph (3) and are located in an area that— (A) has been identified by the United States Drought Monitor as experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought at any time during the 4-year period before such funds are made available; or (B) was designated as a disaster area by the State between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018. (3) Criteria The project criteria referred to in paragraph (2) are the following: (A) Projects that are likely to— (i) provide for a more reliable water supply; and (ii) protect, restore, and enhance river or estuarine ecosystems or their immediate tributaries. (B) Projects that are likely to improve water resource flexibility and reduce impacts on environmental resources. (C) Projects that are regional in nature. (D) Projects that have multiple stakeholders. (E) Projects that provide multiple benefits, including water supply reliability, ecosystem benefits, ground water management and enhancements, and water quality improvements. (F) Projects for which a feasibility study has been completed and any necessary environmental or public reviews have been initiated. (4) Guidelines Not later than 90 days after date of the enactment of this subsection, to assist non-Federal interests, the Secretary shall issue water recycling project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that include the criteria listed in paragraph (3). (5) Project solicitation Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall solicit water recycling project proposals. (6) Review by commissioner The Secretary shall review each proposed water recycling project received under this subsection for the purpose of determining whether or not the proposal, and the process under which the proposal was developed, comply with Federal laws and regulations applicable to the development of water recycling projects. (7) Sunset The authority of the Secretary under this subsection shall terminate 10 years after the date of the enactment of this subsection. .

Summary: Water Recycling Acceleration Act of 2015 Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to provide that any water recycling project for which funding may otherwise be available under such Act shall not be required to have been previously specifically authorized by law for such funding, if that project reclaims and reuses: (1) municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater; or (2) naturally impaired ground and surface waters. Requires the Department of the Interior to give funding priority to such projects: that are located in an area that has been identified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought at any time during the previous four-year period or that was designated as a disaster area by the state between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018; that are likely to provide for a more reliable water supply and to protect, restore, and enhance river or estuarine ecosystems or their immediate tributaries; that are likely to improve water resource flexibility and reduce impacts on environmental resources; that are regional in nature; that have multiple stakeholders; that provide multiple benefits, including water supply reliability, ecosystem benefits, groundwater management and enhancements, and water quality improvements; and for which a feasibility study has been completed and any necessary environmental or public reviews have been initiated. Requires Interior to: (1) issue water recycling project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that include such criteria; (2) solicit water recycling project proposals; and (3) review each proposed water recycling project for the purpose of determining whether or not the proposal, and the process under which the proposal was developed, comply with federal law applicable to the development of water recycling projects. Terminates Interior's authority under this Act 10 years after its enactment.