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National Water Resources Association 955 L'Enfant Plaza, North Bldg., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20024 (202)488-0610
***Sen Malcolm Wallop (WY) has let it be known that he has strong
objections to the Senate version of the omnibus public works bill (S 1739 )
which has been reported by the Senate Environment and Public Works Comm and
portions of which are now pending before the Senate Energy Comm --on which Sen
Wallop serves . The bill , says Sen Wallop, "could harm and diminish our
ability to manage our water resources . " In a letter to his Wyoming con-
stituents, Sen Wallop says:
"This legislation takes the wrong approach in solving our nation ' s water
problems . There are two provisions . , .which I think are wrong. First, there
is a plan to create a new national board of water policy. The idea of this
gives me severe heartburn. It would undercut state water rights and diminish
the ability of states to manage their water . The last thing Wyoming needs is
a federal agency establishing rigid rules and standards governing our water . . .
"Secondly, this bill has a fixed percentage cost-sharing formula for
financing water projects . This formula would require a 35 percent contri-
bution from non-federal concerns . This requirement would ignore the
irrigator ' s ability to pay. . .
"This also raises the question of fairness . A wealthy region of our
country would most likely benefit under a cost-sharing plan of fixed per-
centages , but the poor regions would not . Up-front contributions of five
percent of the project cost during construction may be beyond the financial
capabilities of state and local sponsors . They may not be able to borrow a
large amount of money, and much-needed water projects may never be built. "
Sen Wallop, whose views largely parallel those of NWRA, was a strong
critic at an Energy Committee hearing on the Abdnor Bill, calling its cost
sharing provisions "arbitrary, untenable and for the most part unacceptable . "
***The future of the Industrial Development Bonds (IDBs) program is up in
the air as House/Senate conferees go to work on deficit-reduction packages .
The House bill, HR 4170, has an IDB ceiling of $150 per person on the amount
of IDBs that can be issued within a state . The Senate version does not have
the ceiling . Rep Martin Frost (TX) in a letter to NWRA, says he thinks the
Senate bill is better that the House bill . "However, " he writes, "it (the
Senate bill ) does limit the amount of individual uses of small issue bonds
and, more importantly, it denies accelerated depreciating for projects
financed with IDBs . " Limitations on IDBs are strongly opposed by Western
governors and by NWRA.
***Conscious of the possibility that the public works bill could become a
veto candidate because of its budget impact, among other things, Sen Mark
Hatfield ( OR) teamed up with Sens Robert Byrd and Jennings Randolph (WV) to
take care of one item in the omnibus bill without waiting for further action.
Sen Hatfield chose an "urgent supplemental" appropriation bill pending on the
Senate floor and amended into it an authorization for the replacement of
Bonneville navigation lock about 40 miles east of Portland at a cost of $177
million and the construction of two new locks at Gallipolis on the Ohio River
at a cost of $333 million.
***As more and more farmers and water agencies become aware of the
content and implications of the rules and regs for implementing the
Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, it is likely that problems will emerge. Some
districts are already encountering them. More problems will surface as the
weeks and months wear on . George Proctor, president of NWRA urges all water
agencies having difficulties with interpretations of either the final rules or
the Act itself to advise NWRA. "I believe NWRA can serve a useful function by
acting as a clearinghouse for these problems as they arise, " President Proctor
said. "It may be that we can bring about some changes if we are able to
demonstrate that certain problems are widespread. "
***The newly organized Western Governors Association will hold its first
annual meeting in the Americana Canyon Hotel at Palm Springs, CA, from May
20-23 , with a number of issues important to NWRA on its agenda. Two executive
sessions will be held on Monday May 21 , with the second of the two being
devoted to water development finance . According to the Association ' s
1984 CONVENTION, HYATT F NIX, ARIZONA, NOVEMBER 11-15
841178 �� f S'
oe joined in their executive session by
"Senators , Congressmen, members of the Reagan administration and other
experts " in discussing this important topic. NWRA will be represented at the
meeting by Vice President Jack Chrisman.
The Tuesday and Wednesday sessions will be open. Tuesday morning will be
taken up with a discussion of 1985 farm legislation. In the afternoon,
workshops will be held on "National Immigration Policy, " "Western Agriculture :
Myths and Realities, " "Negotiating Indian Water Rights, " "Economic Development
in the American Pacific Islands" and "Trade Policies in Economic Development. "
On Wednesday morning at the closing session, the governors will release
"an important new report on western water development . "
The WGA was organized in Feb through the merger of the Western Governors
Policy Office (WESTPO) and the Western Governors Conference. It includes 14
of the 17 Reclamation states (excluding TX, OK, and KS) plus HI , AL, American
Samoa, Guam and the No Mariana Islands . The organization has its headquarters
in Denver and is being operated essentially by the former WESTPO staff.
***Int Sec William Clark continued his efforts to increase communications
with the environmentalist community in a speech at a dinner of the Envi-
ronmental Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. "If successful ( in the effort) , we
will be seeing your fellow environmental organizations more at the conference
table and less in the courtroom, not because we fear litigation, but because
we think in the vast majority of cases better solutions--from the standpoint
of resource conservation and protection--can be achieved outside the judicial
system. " Clark outlined his hopes for joint work toward natural resources
conservation, but added: "I must say, however, that as urgent as the problem
is , we must avoid any approach that will encourage over-expansion of the
Federal bureaucracy, encroach upon the prerogative of the States , or add
substantially to the Federal deficit . "
***It ' s official--the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ ) has
announced a public meeting will be held in Washington, DC on May 22 to receive
input from the public on the study being done on the need for a water
resources research clearinghouse and a center for water resources information.
A document setting forth the work done so far will be the subject of the
meeting and will be available to anyone interested. Requests for copies will
be sent to all who ask for it . Address requests to the CEQ, 722 Jackson
Place, NW, Washington, DC 20006 . Anyone wishing to present a statement,
either in person or in writing, is also to get in touch with the CEQ.
***North Dakota and the nation lost a stalwart advocate of water
resources development with the sudden demise of Homer Englehorn of Carrington,
ND . For the past 10 years, Homer has served with distinction as the Manager
of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District . Homer passed away Thursday
evening Apr 19 at the Carrington Hospital following a massive heart attack
earlier in the day as he was preparing for a round of golf.
A native of ND , Homer had long been active in water development
activities and as a productive and enthusiastic member of NWRA. At one time
he served as the North Dakota member of the NWRA Board of Directors and had
currently served as the North Dakota representative on the Resolutions Comm.
Among his many civic and honorary awards , he particularly cherished being
named a "Water Wheel" by the ND Water Users Association.
Homer ' s many many friends in NWRA extend their sincerest condolences to
his wife Laving, five children and three grandchildren.
***An interesting and informative program is in prospect for the NWRA
Summer Water Seminar to be held at The Virginian Motel, Jackson, WY. ( If you
wish to make your reservations, today is not too soon, 307/733-2792 ) Included
in this two half days seminar (July 30-31 ) will be a discussion of the
Riverside Irrig Dist v . Andrews case ( 404 permits , endangered species and
whooping cranes) as well as the national implications of Sporhase v. Nebraska
and City of El Paso v. Reynolds. We are also hoping to have a presentation on
the status of the study being done for the CEQ on the need for a national
clearing house for water resources research and a national center for water
resources information. More details to follow in future issues .
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