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This bill would let NASA reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for the cost of moving certain drinking water wells that are currently on NASA-managed land and replacing them with new wells on land the town controls. It is meant to help the town protect its water supply by paying for planning, relocation, and construction work tied to the move. The agreement could last for up to five years, and NASA would only cover costs directly linked to removing the old wells and setting up the new ones.
- NASA may make an agreement with the town to pay for planning and carrying out the well relocation.
- The work can include removing the three remaining wells, finding and describing the new location, and building replacement wells.
- The bill says the estimate can include costs for land purchase, lease, or use, along with engineering, design, permits, and construction.
- NASA must send any such agreement to the Senate and House science committees within 18 months after the law takes effect.
Official Summaries
Contaminated Wells Relocation Act
This bill permits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to enter into an agreement to reimburse the town of Chincoteague, Virginia for costs directly associated with the removal and relocation of drinking water wells currently situated on NASA property.
(Drinking water wells located at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility near Chincoteague have tested positive for perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, resulting from the use of certain firefighting foams at the site beginning in the 1970s. NASA currently operates a water treatment system to remove PFAS from the affected water supply.)
Any such agreement must include, to the extent practicable, (1) a provision for the removal and relocation of the wells remaining on NASA property, (2) a description of the location to which the wells are planned to be relocated, and (3) a current cost estimate of such relocation. Replacement wells must be established on property under the administrative control of the town of Chincoteague.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 606 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 149
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 606
[Report No. 119-61]
To authorize the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for
costs directly associated with the removal and replacement of certain
drinking water wells.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 18, 2025
Mr. Kaine (for himself and Mr. Warner) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
September 8, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cruz, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for
costs directly associated with the removal and replacement of certain
drinking water wells.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Contaminated Wells Relocation Act''.
SEC. 2. DRINKING WATER WELL REPLACEMENT FOR CHINCOTEAGUE, VIRGINIA.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration may
enter into an agreement, as appropriate, with the Town of Chincoteague,
Virginia, for a period of up to five years, for reimbursement of the
Town of Chincoteague's costs directly associated with--
(1) the development of a plan for removal of drinking water
wells currently situated on property administered by the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
(2) the establishment of alternative drinking water wells
on property under the administrative control, through lease,
ownership, or easement, of the Town of Chincoteague.
(b) Elements.--An agreement under subsection (a) shall include, to
the extent practicable--
(1) a provision for the removal and relocation of the three
remaining wells described in that subsection;
(2) a description of the location of the site to which such
wells will be relocated or are planned to be relocated; and
(3) a current estimated cost of such relocation, including
for the purchase, lease, or use of additional property,
engineering, design, permitting, and construction.
(c) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, in coordination with the heads or
other appropriate representatives of relevant entities, shall submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress any agreement entered into under
subsection (a).
(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives.
Calendar No. 149
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 606
[Report No. 119-61]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for
costs directly associated with the removal and replacement of certain
drinking water wells.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 8, 2025
Reported without amendment