FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Christianné Allen, Christianne.Allen@mail.house.gov
CONTACT: Marisa Melton, Marisa.Melton@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after his legislation, H.R. 331, cleared the House of Representatives and advanced to the Senate:
“I am pleased to share that my bill addressing one of the most pressing issues facing the West–water security–has passed the House,” said Congressman Fulcher. “States, local governments, and Tribes with existing authorizations should not have to go through redundant federal bureaucratic hurdles to recharge their community’s aquifer water supply. H.R. 331 not only speeds up the water replenishment process, but it also reduces costs for projects using established infrastructure in Idaho.”
“This is a practical, no-cost solution that cuts red tape, empowers local decision-making, and helps us protect our most valuable resource,” Congressman Fulcher stated. “It’s the kind of commonsense governance Americans expect and deserve.”
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman added, “One of the many responsibilities of Congress is to see that the laws we enact have do what they intend. Mr. Fulcher’s legislation clarifies an existing law to ensure existing right of ways can be used by states, tribes, or local governments for aquifer recharge projects. I thank him for bringing this solution to the table to make an important clarification.”
Bill Background:
H.R. 331 would modify the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act from the 116th Congress to expand provisions concerning authorizations (e.g., rights-of-way) to transport water across public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for aquifer recharge purposes.
This legislation would amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to allow holders of existing right-of-way grants to use them for aquifer recharge without needing additional authorization from the Secretary of the Interior.
The bill clarifies that this use will not be considered an expansion or modification of the original grant. It would also require the right-of-way holder to notify the Bureau of Land Management 30 days in advance, providing details on the intended use and any agreements with other entities involved in the water transfer for recharge purposes.
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