PUBLIC LAW 104-182—AUG. 6, 1996 110 STAT. 1679 of the fiscal years 1997 through 2003. Each State with a plan for a program approved under subsection (b) shall receive an equitable portion of the funds available for any fiscal year. "(f) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— Nothing in this section— "(1)(A) creates or conveys new authority to a State, political subdivision of a State, or community water system for any new regulatory measure; or "(B) limits any authority of a State, political subdivision, or community water system; or "(2) precludes a community water system, municipal or local government, or political subdivision of a government from locally developing and carrying out a voluntary, incentivebased, source water quality protection partnership to address the origins of drinking water contaminants of public health concern.". (b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS. —It is the sense of the Congress that each State in establishing priorities under section 606(c)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act should give special consideration to projects that are eligible for funding under that Act and have been recommended pursuant to a petition submitted under section 1454 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. SEC. 134. WATER CONSERVATION PLAN. Part E (42 U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: " WATER CONSERVATION PLAN "SEC. 1455. (a) GUIDELINES. — Not later than 2 years after the Federal Register, date of enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments P^^1^H**°°-. of 1996, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register 42 USC 300j-i5. guidelines for water conservation plans for public water systems serving fewer than 3,300 persons, public water systems serving between 3,300 and 10,000 persons, and public water systems serving more than 10,000 persons, taking into consideration such factors as water availability and climate. "(b) LOANS OR GRANTS. — Within 1 year after publication of the guidelines under subsection (a), a State exercising primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems may require a public water system, as a condition of receiving a loan or grant from a State loan fund under section 1452, to submit with its application for such loan or grant a water conservation plan consistent with such guidelines.". SEC. 135. DRINKING WATER ASSISTANCE TO COLONIAS. Part E (42 U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is amended by adding the following new section at the end thereof: " ASSISTANCE TO COLONIAS "SEC. 1456. (a) DEFINITIONS. —As used in this section: 42 USC 300j-i6. "(1) BORDER STATE.—The term TDorder State' means Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. "(2) ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY.—The term 'eligible community' means a low-income community with economic hardship that— "(A) is commonly referred to as a colonia; "(B) is located along the United States-Mexico border (generally in an unincorporated area); and
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