42 U.S.C. § 1962d-18 : US Code - Section 1962D-18: Study of depletion of natural resources of regions of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska utilizing Ogallala aquifer; plans; reports to Congress; authorization of appropriation

Search 42 U.S.C. § 1962d-18 : US Code - Section 1962D-18: Study of depletion of natural resources of regions of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska utilizing Ogallala aquifer; plans; reports to Congress; authorization of appropriation

In order to assure an adequate supply of food to the Nation and
to promote the economic vitality of the High Plains Region, the
Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to in this section as
the "Secretary"), acting through the Economic Development
Administration, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Army,
acting through the Chief of Engineers, and appropriate Federal,
State, and local agencies, and the private sector, is authorized
and directed to study the depletion of the natural resources of
those regions of the States of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska presently utilizing the declining
water resources of the Ogallala acquifer,(!1) and to develop plans
to increase water supplies in the area and report thereon to
Congress, together with any recommendations for further
congressional action. In formulating these plans, the Secretary is
directed to consider all past and ongoing studies, plans, and work
on depleted water resources in the region, and to examine the
feasibility of various alternatives to provide adequate water
supplies in the area including, but not limited to, the transfer of
water from adjacent areas, such portion to be conducted by the
Chief of Engineers to assure the continued economic growth and
vitality of the region. The Secretary shall report on the costs of
reasonably available options, the benefits of various options, and
the costs of inaction. If water transfer is found to be a part of a
reasonable solution, the Secretary, as part of his study, shall
include a recommended plan for allocating and distributing water in
an equitable fashion, taking into account existing water rights and
the needs for future growth of all affected areas. An interim
report, with recommendations, shall be transmitted to the Congress
no later than October 1, 1978, and a final report, with
recommendations, shall be transmitted to Congress not later than
July 1, 1980. A sum of $6,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated
for the purposes of carrying out this section.