Legislative Corner BY HARRISON PHIPPS Several bills relating to groundwater are currently under consider-ation. More information on these and other bills can be found through the Internet at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov Senate Joint Resolution SJR 36 Ð Reformulated Gasoline This resolution would memorialize the congress to adopt legislation allowing California to implement reformulated gasoline rules in the manner the state determines, as long as federal emission standards are achieved or exceeded. Proponents seek CaliforniaÕs support of pending federal legislation to eliminate the oxygenate requirement. Opponents contend the resolution contains incorrect findings. AB 254 - Flood Protection Bond Act of 1998 Places the Flood Protection Bond Act of 1998 on the June 2, 1998 ballot. Proposes an integrated flood management approach to protect the health, welfare, safety and property of Californians. Includes Watershed Program grants for watershed plans that address water quality, greenbelts, wetlands and groundwater recharge spreading grounds. AB 609 - Recycled Water; Groundwater Replenishment Facilitates groundwater replenishment and promotes the increased use of recycled water for groundwater recharge. AB 1180 - Safe Drinking Water Bond Act Enacts the Safe Drinking Water Bond Act of 1998, a $100 million general obligation bond to be used by the Sate Department of Health Services for loans and grants to water suppliers who own or operate a public domestic water system for the purpose of improving infrastructure to meet minimum safe drinking water standards. AB 1834 - MWD Eastside Reservoir Project Groundwater Mitigation Amends the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Project to require mitigation for any adverse effects of the Eastside Reservoir Project on groundwater resources by implementing a groundwater mitigation program. AB 2392 - Perchlorate Contamination Study Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the University of California to conduct a study and assessment of existing occurrence, treatment, and health effects data addressing the effect of perchlorate contamination on surface and groundwater supplies. Requires a report to the Legislature by 4/1/99. AB 2666 - Recycled Water Use Authorizes a Water Recycling Committee and appropriates $5 million in grants for water recycling studies, research and development, and technology. Identified uses of recycled water include groundwater recharge, crop irrigation, wildlife and fish enhancement, industrial supply and more creative applications. AB 2023 - Flood Control and Water Conservation; Liability Provides that public agencies and their employees are not liable for any injury caused by groundwater recharge spreading grounds if the injured person was using the property for a purpose other than that for which the agency intended. AB 1293 - GIS Grants Establishes a GIS Grant Program within the Resources Agency. State funding shall only be used to fund projects in which a state agency is a participating partner. SB 1852 Would require a regional water quality control board to prohibit the discharge of water from existing or new individual disposal systems on parcels less than 1/2 acre that overly the Mission Creek Aquifer or the Desert Hot Springs Aquifer in Riverside County. SB 1012 - Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites: Data Base Directs the State Water Resources Control Board to establish an operational definition of the term Òresidual contamination.Ó Such a definition involves determining what levels of the various constituents of petroleum products may present a problem under a variety of situations, how a site should be sampled and monitored to determine if those levels are present and what analytical technology should be used to measure residual petroleum levels. SB 1033 - Public Water Systems: Perchlorate Requires DHS to adopt a primary drinking water standard for perchlorate in public drinking water systems. SB 442 - Underground Tank Cleanup Fund; Appropriation The SWRCB is sponsoring this bill which is intended to allow the board to expend funds in a more efficient manner. It would allow the board to spend unused portions of approved tank cleanup funds on new claims without the currently required additional legislative approval. AB 312 - Flood Protection Bond Act of 1998 The bill in its present version is to be used as a vehicle for a bond measure relative to flood protection.