Statement of William Rinne

Deputy Commissioner

Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Department of the Interior
On
H.R. 142
before the
Committee on Resources
Subcommittee on Water and Power

House of Representatives

September 10, 2003

My name is William Rinne and I am Deputy Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation.  I am pleased to present the views of the Department of the Interior on H.R. 142, authorizing Reclamation to participate in various reuse and desalination projects in the State of California.

H.R. 142 would amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (Public Law 102-575 and commonly known as Title XVI), authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Project.  The bill would also authorize the Secretary to carry out a program to assist agencies in projects to construct regional brine lines in California, and to authorize the Secretary to participate in the Lower Chino Dairy desalination demonstration and reclamation project.

Section 1 of the bill amends Title XVI to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in design, planning and construction of the Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Project. 

Section 3 of the bill authorizes the Secretary, in cooperation with the Chino Basin Watermaster, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, the Western Municipal Water District, and the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, acting under federal reclamation laws, to participate in the design, planning, and construction of the Lower Chino Dairy Area desalination demonstration and reclamation project.

As the Department has consistently stated in previous testimony, it does not believe it is prudent to authorize new projects Title XVI projects while there is a major backlog of projects that already exist.  The Department also believes enactment of this legislation authorizing new construction projects is likely to place an additional burden on Reclamation’s already tight budget.  For these reasons, the Department cannot support H.R. 142.

In addition to the ongoing concerns I just mentioned, Section 2 and Section 3 of the bill deviate from the Title XVI statute capping the federal cost share at $20 million.  These sections have increased the federal cost share cap to $50 million.  The Department does not believe there is justification to support raising the cap on these projects, particularly since they have not yet been previously authorized or are not currently under construction.   

The economic and efficient use of water is a priority for the Department of Interior.  The Department strongly encourages local water recycling and desalination efforts.  Partnering with state and local governments is in accord with the Secretary’s Water 2025 framework for anticipating water supply crises and preventing them through communication, consultation and cooperation, in service of conservation.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on H.R. 142.  This concludes my statement and I would be happy to answer any questions.