A Republican-backed bill to address the ongoing Western drought was incorporated into energy legislation that passed the House of Representatives on May 25. The House legislation, which was passed as an amendment to the Senate-approved S. 2012, will now be the subject of conference committee negotiations as lawmakers attempt to reach agreement on a broad energy package.
S. 2012 would make a series of reforms to federal energy policy, but House Republicans also hope to use the measure as a vehicle to enact a controversial drought relief bill that originally passed the House last summer as H.R. 2898. Sponsored by Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) the “Western Water and American Food Security Act” would make a number of changes to Western water policy, such as:
- Altering scientific considerations used by state and federal agencies that weigh human water needs against those of the environment and protected species;
- Reducing water pumping restrictions by requiring federal agencies to identify alternative actions can promote salmon recovery;
- Streamlining permitting procedures for non-federal water storage facilities by creating a “one-stop-shop” for federal permitting needs. The Bureau of Reclamation would be tasked with coordinating all required reviews and permits;
- Placing a $3 million limit on the cost of future Bureau of Reclamation feasibility studies, and requiring the studies to be completed within three years;
- Giving the Bureau of Reclamation greater authority to carry out dam improvements in conjunction with necessary safety repairs; and
- Preserving all senior water rights currently in place.
The measure won broad support from House Republicans last year, but it was opposed by nearly all House Democrats who criticized it for going too far to roll back environmental and endangered species protections.
The addition of H.R. 2898 to the energy legislation is expected to draw opposition from Senate Democrats, many of whom have expressed support for an alternate drought relief bill developed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).