High Plains Aquifer Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, and Modeling Act

Bill: 108-s-212
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-01-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Aquifers
Colorado
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to water resources development
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Geology
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Great Plains
Groundwater
Higher education
Hydrology
Infrastructure
Irrigation
Kansas
Maps
Nebraska
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Public Lands and Natural Resources
South Dakota
Surveying
Texas
Water supply
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2003-01-23
text: High Plains Aquifer Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, Modeling and Monitoring Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, working through the United States Geological Survey, to establish and carry out the High Plains Aquifer Comprehensive Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, Modeling and Monitoring Program.
Requires the Program to: (1) undertake mapping of the hydrogeological configuration of the Aquifer; (2) perform analyses of the current and past rates at which groundwater is being withdrawn and recharged, the net rate of decrease or increase in Aquifer storage, the factors controlling the rate of horizontal and vertical migration of water, and the current and past rate of change of saturated thickness within the Aquifer; and (3) develop regional databases and groundwater flow models.
Requires the Program to include a Federal component and a State component and lists priorities of each, including (respectively): (1) coordinating Federal, State, and local data, maps, and models into an integrated physical characterization of the Aquifer; and (2) hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, modeling, and monitoring activities in areas of the Aquifer that will assist in addressing issues relating to groundwater depletion and resource assessment of the Aquifer.
Provides for the establishment of a Federal Review Panel to: (1) evaluate the proposals submitted for funding under the State component; and (2) review and coordinate the Federal component priorities, the Federal interdisciplinary studies, and the State component priorities.
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director, to prepare a plan for the Program to address overall priorities, a management structure, and Program operations.
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: High Plains Aquifer Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, and Modeling Act - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the United States Geological Survey and in cooperation with the High Plains Aquifer States (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming), to establish and carry out the High Plains Aquifer Comprehensive Hydrogeologic Program to characterize, map, and model the High Plains Aquifer.
Lists as Program objectives to: (1) provide for the hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, and modeling of the Aquifer through a cooperative partnership effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the High Plains Aquifer States; (2) coordinate Federal, State, and local data, maps, and models into an integrated physical characterization of the Aquifer; (3) support State and local activities with scientific and technical specialists; and (4) undertake activities and provide technical capabilities not available at State and local levels, as may be requested by a participating State's Governor.
Directs the Secretary to establish a Review Panel to: (1) evaluate the proposals submitted for funding under this Act; and (2) review and coordinate Program priorities. Requires the Panel to consult with the Association of American State Geologists and the Western States Water Council.
Requires that 50 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out the Program be allocated equally by the Secretary for the participation of State and local agencies and institutions of higher education within each of the participating States. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from such funds based on proposals that have been recommended by a Governor and reviewed by the Panel. Requires proposals for multistate activities to be recommended by the Governors of all the affected States.
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to: (1) include reports on the Program in the annual budget documents for the Interior Department (the initial report to contain a Program plan developed with the concurrence of the Review Panel); and (2) submit an interim and final status report to the Governors of the High Plains Aquifer States.
(Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on March 19, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

High Plains Aquifer Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, and Modeling Act - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the United States Geological Survey and in cooperation with the High Plains Aquifer States (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming), to establish and carry out the High Plains Aquifer Comprehensive Hydrogeologic Program to characterize, map, and model the High Plains Aquifer.
Lists as Program objectives to: (1) provide for the hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, and modeling of the Aquifer through a cooperative partnership effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the High Plains Aquifer States; (2) coordinate Federal, State, and local data, maps, and models into an integrated physical characterization of the Aquifer; (3) support State and local activities with scientific and technical specialists; and (4) undertake activities and provide technical capabilities not available at State and local levels, as may be requested by a participating State's Governor.
Directs the Secretary to establish a Review Panel to: (1) evaluate the proposals submitted for funding under this Act; and (2) review and coordinate Program priorities. Requires the Panel to consult with the Association of American State Geologists and the Western States Water Council.
Requires that 50 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out the Program be allocated equally by the Secretary for the participation of State and local agencies and institutions of higher education within each of the participating States. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from such funds based on proposals that have been recommended by a Governor and reviewed by the Panel. Requires proposals for multistate activities to be recommended by the Governors of all the affected States.
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to: (1) include reports on the Program in the annual budget documents for the Interior Department (the initial report to contain a Program plan developed with the concurrence of the Review Panel); and (2) submit an interim and final status report to the Governors of the High Plains Aquifer States.
(Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4911-4913; text as passed Senate: CR S4911-4913)
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4911-4913; text as passed Senate: CR S4911-4913)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 36.
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 108-21. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 108-21. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-15.
action_date: 2003-01-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1488-1489)
action_date: 2003-01-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1487-1488)
action_date: 2003-01-23
text: Introduced in Senate