Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 5.djvu/1051

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PUBLIC LAW 106-576—DEC. 28, 2000 114 STAT. 3065 Public Law 106-576 106th Congress An Act To direct the Secretary of the Interior, through the Biireau of Reclamation, to conserve and enhance the water supplies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000". SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) COMMISSIONER.— The term "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. (2) SECRETARY. — The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner. (3) STATE. —The term "State" means the Texas Water Development Board and any other authorized entity of the State of Texas. (4) PROGRAM AREA.— The term "program area" means— (A) the counties in the State of Texas in the Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Area known as Region "M" as designated by the Texas Water Development Board; and (B) the counties of Hudspeth and El Paso, Texas. SEC. 3. LOWER RIO GRANDE WATER CONSERVATION AND IMPROVE- MENT PROGRAM. (a) IN GENERAL. —The Secretary, acting pursuant to the Reclamation Act of 1902 (Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388) and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, shall undertake a program in cooperation with the State, water users in the program area, and other non-Federal entities, to investigate and identify opportunities to improve the supply of water for the program area as provided in this Act. The program shall include the review of studies or planning reports (or both) prepared by any competent engineering entity for projects designed to conserve and transport raw water in the program area. As part of the program, the Secretary shall evaluate alternatives in the program area that could be used to improve water supplies, including the following: (1) Lining irrigation canals. (2) Increasing the use of pipelines, flow control structures, meters, and associated appurtenances of water supply facilities. (b) PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. — Within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with Dec. 28, 2000 [S. 1761] Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000. Texas. Deadline. Publication.