H.R. 6639: Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act

This bill, known as the Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act, aims to enhance the management and efficiency of water supply and storage projects in California. It is designed to address the regulatory challenges that these projects often face, which can delay or complicate their implementation. Here are the main components of the bill:

Identification of Major Projects

The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to identify all ongoing or potential major water supply and storage projects in California. This includes projects related to surface and groundwater storage, aquifer recharge, and state conveyance systems. These agencies are tasked with recognizing projects for which they share responsibilities under specific federal environmental laws.

Designation of Compliance Officials

For the projects identified, each Secretary will appoint a federal official to oversee compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. These officials will be responsible for ensuring that the projects adhere to these laws and help streamline the process.

Identification of Regulatory Hurdles

Each designated official must analyze and report on regulatory hurdles that may unnecessarily burden the identified projects. This report should occur within 30 days of the bill's enactment and will include:

• Identification of specific regulations that are obstructing the projects.
• Review of recent legal changes affecting these projects.
• Development of a plan to revise or rescind regulations that are identified as overly burdensome, provided they do not conflict with public interest or legal compliance.

Coordination of Efforts

The designated officials are required to work together to share relevant information that can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of project management.

Definition of "Unduly Burden"

The bill defines an "unduly burden" as actions that unnecessarily obstruct, delay, or impose significant costs on the permitting and operation of water resource projects and infrastructure. This definition aims to clarify what would be considered an excessive hindrance to project progress.

Overall Purpose

The overarching goal of this legislation is to improve water resource availability and disaster response capability in California by streamlining the regulatory process for crucial water-related projects.

Relevant Companies

• DXYN - This company might be impacted as it engages in water supply management and could face changes in regulatory processes that affect its operations.
• SGH - A company involved in technology for water efficiency, which could benefit from streamlined project approvals and implementation.