text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Reclamation Rural and Small 
  Community Water Enhancement Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      For purposes of this Act:
              (1) Federal reclamation laws.--The term ``Federal 
          reclamation laws'' means the Reclamation Act and Acts 
          amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto;
              (2) Regional rural water supply system.--The term 
          ``regional rural water supply system'' means a water supply 
          system that serves multiple towns or communities in a rural 
          area (including Indian reservations) where such towns or 
          communities have a population not exceeding 40,000 persons.
              (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior.
  
  SEC. 3. GENERAL AUTHORITY.
  
              (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting pursuant to the 
          Federal reclamation laws, is directed to undertake a program to 
          investigate and identify opportunities to ensure safe and 
          adequate regional rural water supply systems for municipal and 
          industrial use in small communities and rural areas through the 
          construction of new regional rural water supply systems and the 
          enhancement of existing rural water supply systems.
      (b) Exception.--
              (1) In conducting the investigations and studies authorized 
          by this Act, the Secretary may include a town or community with 
          a population in excess of 40,000 persons if, in the Secretary's 
          discretion, such town or community is considered to be a 
          critical partner in the proposed regional rural water supply 
          system.
              (2) In conducting a feasibility study of a regional rural 
          water supply system that includes a community with a population 
          in excess of 40,000 persons, the Secretary may consider a non-
          federal cost share in excess of the percentage set forth in 
          sections 6(a) and 6(b)(5).
      (c) Limitation.--Such program shall be limited to the States and 
  areas referred to in section 1 of the Reclamation Act of 1902 (Act of 
  June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388), as amended, and Indian reservation lands 
  within the external boundaries of such States and areas.
      (d) Agreements.--The Secretary is authorized to enter into such 
  agreements and promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry 
  out the purposes and provisions of this Act.
  
  SEC. 4. COORDINATION AND PLANNING.
  
      (a) Coordination.--
              (1) Consultation.--In undertaking this program, the 
          Secretary shall consult and coordinate with the Secretary of 
          Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
          Agency, and the Director of the Indian Health Service, in order 
          to develop criteria to ensure that the program does not 
          duplicate, but instead complements, activities undertaken 
          pursuant to the authorities administered by such agency heads.
              (2) Report on authorities.--Within one year after the date 
          of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
          Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
          Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives, a 
          report setting forth the results of the consultation required 
          in paragraph (1) and criteria developed pursuant to such 
          consultation.
      (b) Report and Action on Authorized Projects.--
              (1) Within one year after the date of enactment of this 
          Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
          Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources 
          of the House of Representatives a report setting forth--
                      (A) the status of all rural water projects within 
                  the jurisdiction of the Secretary authorized prior to 
                  the date of enactment of this Act; and
                      (B) the Secretary's plan, including projected 
                  financial and workforce requirements, for the 
                  completion of the rural water projects within the time 
                  frames set forth in the public laws authorizing the 
                  projects or the final engineering reports submitted 
                  pursuant thereto.
              (2) The Secretary shall take all necessary steps to 
          complete the projects within the time frames identified in 
          subsection (1)(B).
  
  SEC. 5. APPRAISAL INVESTIGATIONS.
  
      (a) Appraisal Investigations.--Based on evidence of local interest 
  and upon the request of a local sponsor, the Secretary may undertake 
  appraisal investigations to identify opportunities for the construction 
  of regional rural water supply systems and the enhancement of existing 
  rural water supply systems for small communities and rural areas. Each 
  such investigation shall include recommendations as to the preparation 
  of a feasibility study of the potential system or system enhancement.
      (b) Considerations.--Appraisal investigations undertaken pursuant 
  to this Act shall consider, among other things--
              (1) whether an established water supply exists for the 
          proposed regional rural water supply system;
              (2) the need for the regional rural water supply system or 
          for enhancements to an existing rural water system, including 
          but not limited to, alternative water supply opportunities and 
          projected demand for water supply;
              (3) environmental considerations relating to the regional 
          rural water supply system or rural water system enhancement;
              (4) public health and safety considerations relating to the 
          regional rural water supply system or rural water system 
          enhancement;
              (5) Indian trust responsibility considerations relating to 
          the regional rural water supply system or rural water system 
          enhancement; and
              (6) the availability of other Federal authorities or 
          programs to address the water supply needs identified.
      (c) Consultation and Cooperation.--The Secretary shall consult and 
  cooperate with appropriate Federal, state, tribal, regional, and local 
  authorities during the conduct of each appraisal investigation 
  conducted pursuant to this Act.
      (d) Costs Nonreimbursable.--The costs of such appraisal 
  investigations shall be nonreimbursable.
      (e) Public Availability.--The Secretary shall make available to the 
  public, upon request, the results of each appraisal investigation 
  undertaken pursuant to this Act, and shall promptly publish in the 
  Federal Register a notice of the availability of those results.
  
  SEC. 6. FEASIBILITY STUDIES.
  
      (a) Feasibility Studies.--The Secretary is authorized to 
  participate with appropriate Federal, state, tribal, regional, and 
  local authorities in studies to determine the feasibility of regional 
  rural water supply systems and rural water supply system enhancements 
  where an appraisal investigation so warrants. The Federal share of the 
  costs of such feasibility studies shall not exceed 50 percent of the 
  total, except that the Secretary may increase the Federal share of the 
  costs of such feasibility study if the Secretary determines, based upon 
  a demonstration of financial hardship, that the non-Federal participant 
  is unable to contribute at least 50 percent of the costs of such study. 
  The Secretary may accept as part of the non-Federal cost share the 
  contribution of such in-kind services by the non-Federal participant 
  that the Secretary determines will contribute substantially toward the 
  conduct and completion of the study.
      (b) Considerations.--In addition to the requirements of other 
  Federal laws, feasibility studies authorized under this Act shall 
  consider, among other things--
              (1) whether an established water supply exists for the 
          proposed regional rural water supply system;
              (2) near- and long-term water demand and supplies in the 
          study area including any opportunities to treat and utilize 
          impaired water supplies through innovative and economically 
          viable treatment technologies;
              (3) public health and safety and environmental quality 
          issues related to the regional rural water supply system or 
          rural water system enhancement;
              (4) opportunities for water conservation in the study area 
          to reduce water use and water system costs;
              (5) the construction costs and projected operation and 
          maintenance costs of the proposed regional rural water supply 
          system and an assessment of participating communities' ability 
          to pay 20 percent to 50 percent of the construction costs and 
          the full share of the system operation and maintenance costs;
              (6) opportunities for mitigation of fish and wildlife 
          losses incurred as a result of the construction of the regional 
          rural water supply system or rural water system enhancement on 
          an acre-for-acre basis, based on ecological equivalency, 
          concurrent with system construction; and
              (7) the extent to which assistance for rural water supply 
          is available pursuant to other Federal authorities and the 
          likely effectiveness of efforts to coordinate assistance 
          provided by the Secretary with other available Federal programs 
          and assistance.
      (c) Use of Other Reports.--In conducting a feasibility study 
  pursuant to this section, or an appraisal investigation under section 
  5, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, utilize, in 
  whole or in part, any engineering or other relevant report submitted by 
  a state, tribal, regional, or local authority associated with the 
  proposed regional rural water supply system.
      (d) Public Availability.--The Secretary shall make available to the 
  public, upon request, the results of each feasibility study undertaken 
  pursuant to this Act, and shall promptly publish in the Federal 
  Register a notice of the availability of those results.
      (e) Disclaimer.--Nothing contained in this section shall be 
  interpreted as requiring a feasibility study or imposing any other new 
  requirement for rural water projects or programs that are already 
  authorized.
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION.
  
      There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
  necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
target: Reclamation Rural and Small Community Water Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a program to investigate and identify opportunities for ensuring safe and adequate regional rural water supply systems (serving areas with populations not exceeding 40,000, with exceptions) for use in small communities and rural areas through the construction of new regional systems and the enhancement of existing ruralsystems. Limits participation in such program to the States and areas (and Indian reservation lands within such States and areas) referred to in the Reclamation Act of 1902.
  
  Requires the Secretary to: (1) submit to specified congressional committees a report setting forth the status of all rural water projects within the Secretary's jurisdiction authorized prior to enactment of this Act and the Secretary 's plan for completing such projects within their respective time frames; and (2) take steps to complete such projects within such time frames.
  
  Authorizes the Secretary to undertake appraisal investigations to identify opportunities for the construction of new systems and enhancement of existing systems for small communities and rural areas; and (2) participate with appropriate Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local authorities in studies to determine the feasibility of such projects where such an investigation so warrants.
feat_title: A bill to provide for a Bureau of Reclamation program to assist states and local communities in evaluating and developing rural and small community water supply systems, and for other purposes.