text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Mexico Transboundary 
  Aquifer Assessment Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
  
      The purpose of this Act is to direct the Secretary of the Interior 
  to establish a United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment 
  program to--
              (1) systematically assess priority transboundary aquifers; 
          and
              (2) provide the scientific foundation necessary for State 
          and local officials to address pressing water resource 
          challenges in the United States-Mexico border region.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Aquifer.--The term ``aquifer'' means a subsurface 
          water-bearing geologic formation from which significant 
          quantities of water may be extracted.
              (2) Border state.--The term ``Border State'' means each of 
          the States of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
              (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' means an 
          Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or 
          community--
                      (A) that is recognized as eligible for the special 
                  programs and services provided by the United States to 
                  Indians because of their status as Indians; and
                      (B) the reservation of which includes a 
                  transboundary aquifer within the exterior boundaries of 
                  the reservation.
              (4) Priority transboundary aquifer.--The term ``priority 
          transboundary aquifer'' means a transboundary aquifer that has 
          been designated for study and analysis under the program.
              (5) Program.--The term ``program'' means the United States-
          Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program established 
          under section 4(a).
              (6) Reservation.--The term ``reservation'' means land that 
          has been set aside or that has been acknowledged as having been 
          set aside by the United States for the use of an Indian tribe, 
          the exterior boundaries of which are more particularly defined 
          in a final tribal treaty, agreement, executive order, Federal 
          statute, secretarial order, or judicial determination.
              (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United 
          States Geological Survey.
              (8) Transboundary aquifer.--The term ``transboundary 
          aquifer'' means an aquifer that underlies the boundary between 
          the United States and Mexico.
              (9) Tri-regional planning group.--The term ``Tri-Regional 
          Planning Group'' means the binational planning group comprised 
          of--
                      (A) the Junta Municipal de Agua y Saneamiento de 
                  Ciudad Juarez;
                      (B) the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service 
                  Board; and
                      (C) the Lower Rio Grande Water Users Organization.
              (10) Water resources research institutes.--The term ``water 
          resources research institutes'' means the institutes within the 
          Border States established under section 104 of the Water 
          Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303).
  
  SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation and cooperation 
  with the Border States, the water resources research institutes, Sandia 
  National Laboratories, and other appropriate entities in the United 
  States and Mexico, shall carry out the United States-Mexico 
  transboundary aquifer assessment program to characterize, map, and 
  model transboundary groundwater resources along the United States-
  Mexico border at a level of detail determined to be appropriate for the 
  particular aquifer.
      (b) Objectives.--The objectives of the program are to--
              (1) develop and implement an integrated scientific approach 
          to assess transboundary groundwater resources, including--
                      (A)(i) identifying fresh and saline transboundary 
                  aquifers; and
                      (ii) prioritizing the transboundary aquifers for 
                  further analysis by assessing--
                              (I) the proximity of the transboundary 
                          aquifer to areas of high population density;
                              (II) the extent to which the transboundary 
                          aquifer is used;
                              (III) the susceptibility of the 
                          transboundary aquifer to contamination; and
                              (IV) any other relevant criteria;
                      (B) evaluating all available data and publications 
                  as part of the development of study plans for each 
                  priority transboundary aquifer;
                      (C) creating a new, or enhancing an existing, 
                  geographic information system database to characterize 
                  the spatial and temporal aspects of each priority 
                  transboundary aquifer; and
                      (D) using field studies, including support for and 
                  expansion of ongoing monitoring and metering efforts, 
                  to develop--
                              (i) the additional data necessary to 
                          adequately define aquifer characteristics; and
                              (ii) scientifically sound groundwater flow 
                          models to assist with State and local water 
                          management and administration, including 
                          modeling of relevant groundwater and surface 
                          water interactions;
              (2) expand existing agreements, as appropriate, between the 
          United States Geological Survey, the Border States, the water 
          resources research institutes, and appropriate authorities in 
          the United States and Mexico, to--
                      (A) conduct joint scientific investigations;
                      (B) archive and share relevant data; and
                      (C) carry out any other activities consistent with 
                  the program; and
              (3) produce scientific products for each priority 
          transboundary aquifer that--
                      (A) are capable of being broadly distributed; and
                      (B) provide the scientific information needed by 
                  water managers and natural resource agencies on both 
                  sides of the United States-Mexico border to effectively 
                  accomplish the missions of the managers and agencies.
      (c) Designation of Priority Transboundary Aquifers.--
              (1) In general.--For purposes of the program, the Secretary 
          shall designate as priority transboundary aquifers--
                      (A) the Hueco Bolson and Mesilla aquifers 
                  underlying parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico;
                      (B) the Santa Cruz River Valley aquifers underlying 
                  Arizona and Sonora, Mexico; and
                      (C) the San Pedro aquifers underlying Arizona and 
                  Sonora, Mexico
              (2) Additional aquifers.--The Secretary shall, using the 
          criteria under subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), evaluate and designate 
          additional priority transboundary aquifers.
      (d) Cooperation With Mexico.--To ensure a comprehensive assessment 
  of transboundary aquifers, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
  practicable, work with appropriate Federal agencies and other 
  organizations to develop partnerships with, and receive input from, 
  relevant organizations in Mexico to carry out the program.
      (e) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may provide 
  grants or enter into cooperative agreements and other agreements with 
  the water resources research institutes and other Border State entities 
  to carry out the program.
  
  SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Coordination With States, Tribes, and Other Entities.--The 
  Secretary shall coordinate the activities carried out under the program 
  with--
              (1) the appropriate water resource agencies in the Border 
          States;
              (2) any affected Indian tribes; and
              (3) any other appropriate entities that are conducting 
          monitoring and metering activity with respect to a priority 
          transboundary aquifer.
      (b) New Activity.--After the date of enactment of this Act, the 
  Secretary shall not initiate any new field studies or analyses under 
  the program before consulting with, and coordinating the activity with, 
  any Border State water resource agencies that have jurisdiction over 
  the aquifer.
      (c) Study Plans; Cost Estimates.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall work closely with 
          appropriate Border State water resource agencies, water 
          resources research institutes, and other relevant entities to 
          develop a study plan, timeline, and cost estimate for each 
          priority transboundary aquifer to be studied under the program.
              (2) Requirements.--A study plan developed under paragraph 
          (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable--
                      (A) integrate existing data collection and analyses 
                  conducted with respect to the priority transboundary 
                  aquifer;
                      (B) if applicable, improve and strengthen existing 
                  groundwater flow models developed for the priority 
                  transboundary aquifer; and
                      (C) be consistent with appropriate State guidelines 
                  and goals.
  
  SEC. 6. EFFECT.
  
      Nothing in this Act affects--
              (1) the jurisdiction or responsibility of a Border State 
          with respect to managing surface or groundwater resources in 
          the Border State; or
              (2) the water rights of any person or entity using water 
          from a transboundary aquifer.
  
  SEC. 7. REPORTS.
  
      Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
  on completion of the program in fiscal year 2014, the Secretary shall 
  submit to the appropriate water resource agency in the Border States, 
  an interim and final report, respectively, that describes--
              (1) any activities carried out under the program;
              (2) any conclusions of the Secretary relating to the status 
          of transboundary aquifers; and
              (3) the level of participation in the program of entities 
          in Mexico.
  
  SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
  out this Act $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2006 through 
  2015.
      (b) Distribution of Funds.--Of the amounts made available under 
  subsection (a), 50 percent shall be made available to the water 
  resources research institutes to provide funding to appropriate 
  entities in the Border States (including Sandia National Laboratories, 
  State agencies, universities, the Tri-Regional Planning Group, and 
  other relevant organizations) and Mexico to conduct activities under 
  the program, including the binational collection and exchange of 
  scientific data.
target: United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act - Establishes a United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program to characterize, map, and model groundwater resources along the border. Describes as the program's objectives to: (1) develop an integrated approach to assess transboundary groundwater resources, including identifying fresh and saline aquifers, prioritizing the aquifers for further analysis, and creating a geographic information system database for each priority aquifer; (2) expand existing agreements between the U.S. Geological Survey, the Border States (Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas), the Water Resources Research Institutes, and appropriate U.S. and Mexican authorities to conduct joint scientific investigations and archive and share relevant data; and (3) produce scientific products for each priority aquifer to provide water managers and natural resource agencies with necessary information.
  
  Designates as priority transboundary aquifers the: (1) Hueco Bolson and Mesilla aquifers; (2) Santa Cruz River Valley aquifers; and (3) San Pedro aquifers.
  
  Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) develop partnerships with relevant organizations in Mexico; and (2) coordinate activities with water resource agencies in the Border States and affected Indian tribes. Prohibits the Secretary from initiating any field studies before consulting and coordinating with the Border State water resource agency with jurisdiction over the aquifer.
  
  Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into cooperative agreements with water resource agencies and Border States to carry out the program.
feat_title: To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with the States on the border with Mexico and other appropriate entities in conducting a hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, and modeling program for priority transboundary aquifers, and for other purposes.