House Approves Final Version of Energy and Water Funding Legislation
$10 Million for San Gabriel Basin Restoration Project Included

November 18, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas) voted today to approve the final version of a spending bill that includes critical funding for groundwater cleanup in the San Gabriel Valley. The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004 Conference Report, H.R. 2754, was approved by a wide bipartisan margin, 387-36. The conference report represents a final agreement between the House and the Senate and will now go to the President for his signature.

"Final approval of this funding makes clear that the federal government is a committed partner to groundwater cleanup in our region," Dreier said. "As negotiations continue at the San Gabriel Valley Superfund site, I hope this appropriation sends a strong signal to those involved that, while challenges remain, we will work until the job is completed."

Congressman Dreier made the initial request of the House Appropriations Committee earlier this year, and the funding was included in the version of the bill that passed the House in July. The money will go into the San Gabriel Valley Restoration Fund, which is administered cooperatively by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority and the Bureau of Reclamation. Federal and non-federal monies contributed to the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund are being used to design, construct, and operate water projects to contain and treat the spreading groundwater contamination in the San Gabriel and Central Groundwater Basins. To date, $55 million in federal funding has been appropriated to the fund which was created by legislation sponsored by Dreier in 1999.

The San Gabriel Groundwater Basin covers more than 160 square miles in Los Angeles County and is the primary source of drinking water for over 1.2 million people. Natural groundwater flows from the San Gabriel Basin permit the contamination to spread into the Central Groundwater Basin, a vast 277 square-mile underground aquifer that provides drinking water to over half of Los Angeles County.

"A clean, safe groundwater supply is a basic necessity," Dreier said. "I am confident that all parties involved at the federal, state, and local level will continue to work to ensure this project's success."