S. 4245 — Reported in Senate

II Calendar No. 621 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4245 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 2, 2024 Ms. Lummis (for herself, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources November 21, 2024 Reported by Mr. Manchin, with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to reauthorize certain United States Geological Survey water data enhancement programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources Data Improvement Act or the WATER Data Improvement Act. 2. Water data enhancement by United States Geological Survey (a) Federal priority streamgage program Section 9507(a) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367(a)) is amended— (1) by striking the subsection heading and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; (2) in paragraph (1), by striking national streamflow information program, as reviewed by the National Research Council in 2004 and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; (3) in paragraph (2), by striking national streamflow information program each place it appears and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; (4) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking the date of enactment of this Act and inserting March 30, 2023; (ii) in clause (i), by striking national streamflow information program and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; and (iii) in clause (ii), by inserting precipitation before water-quality sensors; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking National Streamflow Information Program plan as reviewed by the National Research Council and inserting Federal needs established through regular solicitation of feedback, such as the feedback documented in the report entitled Re-prioritization of the U.S. Geological Survey Federal Priority streamgage program, 2022 (Open-file Report 2023–1032); (5) in paragraph (5), by striking national streamgaging network each place it appears and inserting Federal priority streamgage network; and (6) in paragraph (6)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking national streamflow information program and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; and (ii) by striking 2023 and inserting 2028; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 2019 and inserting 2028. (b) National groundwater resources monitoring Section 9507(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367(b)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting , Indian Tribes, before and State; and (B) in subparagraph (C)— (i) by inserting or on Tribal land after within a State; and (ii) by inserting or Indian Tribe after water resource agency; (2) in paragraph (6), by inserting or an Indian Tribe after or local governmental entity; and (3) in paragraph (7), by striking are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection for the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2023 and inserting is authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 to carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028 . (c) Repeal of brackish groundwater assessment Section 9507 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (c); and (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). (d) Improved water estimation, measurement, and monitoring technologies Section 9507 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367) is amended, in subsection (c)(4) (as redesignated by subsection (c)(2)), by striking 2019 and inserting 2028. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources Data Improvement Act or the WATER Data Improvement Act. 2. Water data enhancement by United States Geological Survey (a) Federal priority streamgage program Section 9507(a) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367(a)) is amended— (1) by striking the subsection heading and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; (2) in paragraph (1), by striking national streamflow information program, as reviewed by the National Research Council in 2004 and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; (3) in paragraph (2), by striking national streamflow information program each place it appears and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; (4) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 10 years and inserting 25 years; (ii) in clause (i), by striking national streamflow information program and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; and (iii) in clause (ii), by inserting precipitation before water-quality sensors; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking National Streamflow Information Program plan as reviewed by the National Research Council and inserting Federal needs established through regular solicitation of feedback, such as the feedback documented in the report entitled Re-prioritization of the U.S. Geological Survey Federal Priority streamgage program, 2022 (Open-file Report 2023–1032); (5) in paragraph (5), by striking national streamgaging network each place it appears and inserting Federal priority streamgage network; and (6) in paragraph (6)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking national streamflow information program and inserting Federal priority streamgage program; and (ii) by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 2019 and inserting 2029. (b) National groundwater resources monitoring Section 9507(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367(b)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking and State and local water resource agencies and inserting , State and local water resource agencies, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations; and (B) in subparagraph (C)— (i) by inserting or on Tribal land after within a State; and (ii) by inserting , Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Native Hawaiian organization after water resource agency; (2) in paragraph (6), by inserting , Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Native Hawaiian organization after or local governmental entity; and (3) in paragraph (7), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029. (c) Repeal of brackish groundwater assessment Section 9507 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (c); and (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). (d) Improved water estimation, measurement, and monitoring technologies Section 9507 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367) is amended, in subsection (c)(4) (as redesignated by subsection (c)(2)), by striking 2019 and inserting 2029. November 21, 2024 Reported with an amendment