María Elvira Salazar: “on Monday my colleagues, Senator Bingaman, Senator Domenici, Senator Thomas and I introduced legislation, S. 1116, the…”

“on Monday my colleagues, Senator Bingaman, Senator Domenici, Senator Thomas and I introduced legislation, S. 1116, the More Water, More Energy, and Less Waste Act of 2007, to facilitate the use of water produced in connection with development of energy resources for irrigation and other beneficial uses in ways that will not adversely affect water quality or the environment. The bill is similar to one that has been introduced during this Congress in the House by Representative Mark Udall, H.R. 902, More Water and More Energy Act of 2007. The bill's purpose is to help turn what is today an energy-industry problem into an opportunity. The development of energy resources frequently results in bringing to the surface water from underground sources. Energy producers seek to minimize the waters that are produced during extraction operations, but inevitably waters are produced and they must either be treated before being released to the surface or returned to the ground. In a few cases, the waters are clean enough to be used for livestock watering, irrigation or other beneficial purposes. Especially in the water-short West, increasing the amount of water that can be used without adversely affecting water quality or the environment can increase water supplies for irrigation of crops, livestock watering, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities.”