Earlier this week, the House Natural Resources Committee conducted a hearing on three proposals to encourage the construction of new water storage projects. H.R. 3980 would seek to expedite environmental review and permitting of new facilities, placing the Bureau of Reclamation in charge of permitting facilities on public lands managed by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. H.R. 3981 would allow for accelerated repayment of existing Bureau of Reclamation contracts, allowing receipts to be deposited into a Reclamation Surface Storage Account that non-federal public agencies could tap for water supply, improved drainage, and other purposes. The Committee also heard testimony on a proposal to amend the Secure Water Act of 2009 to authorize $400 million per year for new storage facilities.
For additional information on federal matters, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at 916.447.4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.