In furtherance of the High Plains Groundwater Demonstration Program Act of 1983 (98 Stat. 1675) [43 U.S.C. 390g et seq.], the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the Geological Survey, shall conduct an investigation and analysis of the impacts of existing Bureau of Reclamation projects on the quality and quantity of groundwater resources. Based on such investigation and analysis, the Secretary shall prepare a reclamation groundwater management and technical assistance report which shall include—

(1) a description of the findings of the investigation and analysis, including the methodology employed;

(2) a description of methods for optimizing Bureau of Reclamation project operations to ameliorate adverse impacts on groundwater,[1] and

(3) the Secretary’s recommendations, along with the recommendations of the Governors of the affected States, concerning the establishment of a groundwater management and technical assistance program in the Department of the Interior in order to assist Federal and non-Federal entity development and implementation of groundwater management plans and activities.

In conducting the investigation and analysis, and in preparation of the report referred to in this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Governors of the affected States.

The report shall be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate within three years of the appropriation of funds authorized by section 390h–15 of this title.

(Pub. L. 102–575, title XVI, § 1632, formerly § 1616, Oct. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 4668; Pub. L. 103–437, § 16(a)(2), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4594; renumbered § 1632 and amended Pub. L. 104–266, § 2(a)(1), (b)(2), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3290, 3294.)