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<br />Western States Water Council <br />Water Resources Committee Minutes <br /> <br />San Antonio, Texas <br />October 20,2005 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />grants are drying up and that competition for funds is increasingly significant. About 30% of the cost <br />for desalination is energy-related, and that is why the Coalition is asking for support for the bill. <br />Others considering supporting the bill include, ICWP, the Association of State and Interstate Water <br />Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA), and Florida farm interests. <br /> <br />Questions and Discussion <br /> <br />Duane Smith asked about brine disposal and the use of Class II injection wells under the Safe <br />Drinking Water Act's Underground Injection Control program. "Is it a statutory or rule issue?" Weir <br />Labatt suggested it is a regulatory issue. Mr. Slayton said he had helped put together meetings with <br />Dave Mitamura and Ben Grumbles, and they are working their way through staff. Rod Kuharich asked <br />about other alternative disposal methods and the use of the ocean on the coasts. "Is there a need to <br />look at a bigger picture with respect to disposal?" <br /> <br />Mike Slayton: "Absolutely. The University of Miami is looking at near shore current patterns <br />and a 90-foot contour problem with the contintental shelf in Florida and the Gulf Coast. <br /> <br />Duane asked about current cost estimates. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Mike said costs range around $900/acre-foot, prior to the proposed $200 subsidy. The <br />bill provides a subsidy for the first 10 years of a project's life, and includes a 60% cap on overall <br />expenditures for either coastal or inland brackish projects. <br /> <br />Dave Pope said one western Kansas city of 30,000 relies on "desal" as an important part of its <br />water supply, given a lack of other alternatives. <br /> <br />Jeanine Jones noted that in California, there are issues with any federal subsidy for desaI, as <br />well as reuse, etc. The Governor has declined to take a position on the legislation. <br /> <br />The members discussed support for the legislation, and the need for unanimous consent to <br />consider and position, given it was not noticed, as well as the need for the governors' review. While <br />no action on support for the bill was taken, Roland Westergard suggested it is important to continue to <br />watch the issue. <br /> <br />FUNDING SUSTAINABLE WATER DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE <br /> <br />Dave Pope asked for anyone's reaction and comments regarding an appropriate course of <br />action following yesterday's roundtable discussion on Funding Water Development and Management <br />for a Sustainable Future. Jeanine Jones highlighted some of the comments, which focused on Farm Bill <br />funding, which will be tight and a need to look at needed wording and new authority (through <br />amendments) as well as money. There is a need for better coordination between USDA and EPA, and <br />USDA and their state offices. A related concern is state water agencies' participation on USDA . <br /> <br />6 <br />