I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5110 
To facilitate the use for irrigation and other purposes of water produced 
in connection with development of energy resources. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 5, 2006 
Mr. UDALL of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To facilitate the use for irrigation and other purposes of 
water produced in connection with development of energy 
resources. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE, FINDINGS, AND PURPOSE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘More Water and More Energy Act of 2006’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Development of energy resources, including 
oil, natural gas, and coalbed methane, frequently re-
sults in bringing to the surface water extracted from 
underground sources. 
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(2) Some of this produced water is used for ir-
rigation or other purposes, but most of it is returned 
to the subsurface. 
(3) Reducing the amount of produced water re-
turned to the subsurface, and increasing the amount 
that is made available for irrigation and other 
uses— 
(A) would augment water supplies; 
(B) could reduce the costs to energy devel-
opers for disposing of such water; and 
(C) in some instances could increase the 
efficiency of energy development activities. 
(4) Removing or reducing the technical, eco-
nomic, environmental, legal, and other factors that 
impede use of produced water for irrigation and 
other purposes is in the national interest. 
(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to facili-
tate the use of produced water for irrigation and other 
purposes and to demonstrate ways to accomplish that re-
sult. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) PRODUCED WATER.—The term ‘‘produced 
water’’ means water from an underground source, 
that is brought to the surface as part of the process 
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of exploration for or development of oil, natural gas, 
coalbed methane, or any other substance to be used 
as an energy source. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘the Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) UPPER BASIN STATES.—The term ‘‘Upper 
Basin States’’ means the States of Colorado, New 
Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. 
(4) LOWER BASIN STATES.—The term ‘‘Lower 
Basin States’’ means the States of Arizona, Cali-
fornia, and Nevada. 
SEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Commissioner of Reclamation and the 
Director of the United States Geological Survey, 
shall conduct a study to identify— 
(A) the technical, economic, environmental, 
legal, and other obstacles to increasing the ex-
tent to which produced water can be used for 
irrigation and other purposes; and 
(B) the legislative, administrative, and 
other actions that could reduce or eliminate 
such obstacles. 
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(2) 
CONSULTATION, 
ADVICE, 
AND
COM-
MENTS.—In implementing this subsection, the Sec-
retary— 
(A) shall consult with the Secretary of En-
ergy, the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, and appropriate Governors 
and local officials; 
(B) shall seek the advice of individuals 
with relevant professional and industrial experi-
ence or academic expertise; and 
(C) shall solicit comments and suggestions 
from the public. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report 
to the Committee on Resources of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate regarding the results of the study 
required by this section. 
SEC. 4. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. 
(a) GRANTS.—Subject to the availability of funds ap-
propriated for the purpose, the Secretary shall award 
grants to assist in the development of facilities to dem-
onstrate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of proc-
esses to increase the extent to which produced water may 
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be recovered and made suitable for use for irrigation, mu-
nicipal or industrial uses, or other purposes. 
(b) LIMITATIONS.—Grants under this section— 
(1) shall be provided for— 
(A) no more than one project in one of the 
Upper Basin States; 
(B) no more than one project in one of the 
Lower Basin States other than California; and 
(C) no more than one project in California; 
(2) shall not exceed $1,000,000 for any project; 
(3) shall be used to pay not more than 50 per-
cent of the total cost of a project carried out with 
such grants; and 
(4) shall not be used for operation or mainte-
nance of any facility. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated— 
(1) such sums as may be required to implement 
section 3; and 
(2) $5,000,000 to implement section 4. 
Æ 
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