I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1337
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropria-
tions in each of fiscal years 1996 through 1998 for the construction
of wastewater treatment facilities to serve U.S. Colonias and to provide
water pollution control in the vicinity of the international boundary
between the United States and Mexico.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 28, 1995
Mr. PASTOR (for himself (by request), Mr. COLEMAN, and Mr. BRYANT of
Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to au-
thorize appropriations in each of fiscal years 1996
through 1998 for the construction of wastewater treat-
ment facilities to serve U.S. Colonias and to provide
water pollution control in the vicinity of the international
boundary between the United States and Mexico.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ASSISTANCE TO U.S. COLONIAS.
Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(33 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 220. ASSISTANCE TO U.S. COLONIAS.
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to
protect the economy, public health, environment, surface
water, ground water and water quality in the U.S.
Colonias areas which are endangered and are being pol-
luted by raw or partially treated sewage, in furtherance
of the goals of this Act.
‘‘(b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO U.S. COLONIAS.—
The Administrator is authorized to provide financial as-
sistance to any State along the United States-Mexico bor-
der, or to any entity designated by the Administrator, for
construction of treatment works to serve U.S. Colonias.
‘‘(c) APPROVAL
OF PLANS.—Any U.S. Colonias
wastewater treatment facility for which financial assist-
ance is provided under this Act shall be constructed in
accordance with plans approved by the State under appro-
priate standards established by the Administrator. Such
plans shall include construction cost estimates and identify
responsible parties and the appropriate allocation of costs
associated with operating and maintaining the treatment
works.
‘‘(d) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of con-
struction costs for grants shall be 50 percent of such costs.
The non-Federal share shall be paid from State sources.
‘‘(e) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘U.S. Colonias’ means any identifiable community
(including a community within a standard metropolitan
statistical area that has a population exceeding 1,000,000,
but not including the entire standard metropolitan statis-
tical area) that (1) is in the State of Arizona, California,
New Mexico, or Texas; (2) is in the area of the United
States within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the border be-
tween the United States and Mexico; (3) is in an unincor-
porated area; (4) was in existence before January 1, 1990;
and (5) is determined to be a colonia on the basis of objec-
tive criteria including lack of potable water supply or lack
of adequate sewage systems.
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purpose
of this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1996
through 1998.’’.
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