Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act
Bill: S.2693 | Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex (D-CA)
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act
This bill provides the Bureau of Reclamation with additional project authorities for the Salton Sea research project in Southern California and reauthorizes a Department of Interior pilot program in the Colorado River Basin.
Specifically, the bill authorizes Reclamation to provide grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements to carry out projects (e.g., construction activities and dust suppression projects) to improve air quality, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and water quality in the area of the Salton Sea.
To carry out these projects, Reclamation may enter into partnerships with state, tribal, and local governments; water districts; joint powers authorities, including the Salton Sea Authority; nonprofit organizations; and institutions of higher education.
The bill also reauthorizes Interior to fund or participate in pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs through FY2026.
The bill further requires Interior to submit an updated report to Congress by the end of FY2027 on the effectiveness of the pilot projects and a recommendation on whether to continue the program.

To amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 
 1992 to authorize additional projects related to the Salton Sea, and 
                          for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Salton Sea Projects Improvements 
Act''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH PROJECT.

    Section 1101 of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and 
Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-575; 106 Stat. 4661) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as 
        subsections (c) through (e), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Additional Project Authorities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
        through the Commissioner of Reclamation, may provide grants and 
        enter into contracts and cooperative agreements to carry out 
        projects located in the area of the Salton Sea in southern 
        California to improve air quality, fish and wildlife habitat, 
        recreational opportunities, and water quality, in partnership 
        with--
                    ``(A) State, Tribal, and local governments;
                    ``(B) water districts;
                    ``(C) joint powers authorities, including the 
                Salton Sea Authority;
                    ``(D) nonprofit organizations; and
                    ``(E) institutions of higher education.
            ``(2) Included activities.--The projects described in 
        paragraph (1) may include--
                    ``(A) construction, operation, maintenance, 
                permitting, and design activities required for the 
                projects; and
                    ``(B) dust suppression projects.''; and
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by 
        striking ``$10,000,000'' and inserting 
        ``$250,000,000''.</DELETED>
            (3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``project referred to in subsection (a)'' and inserting 
        ``projects referred to in subsections (a) and (b)''; and
            (4) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``$10,000,000'' and inserting ``$250,000,000''.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN DEADLINES RELATING TO PILOT PROJECTS TO 
              INCREASE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM WATER TO ADDRESS EFFECTS 
              OF HISTORIC DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

    Section 206 of the Energy and Water Development and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (43 U.S.C. 620 note; Public Law 113-
235), is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``additional''; and
                    (B) by striking ``this Act'' and inserting ``the 
                Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``2022'' and 
        inserting ``2026''; and
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``2018'' and inserting 
        ``2027''.
                                                       Calendar No. 533

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2693

                          [Report No. 117-182]

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