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<br />Memo to Executive Subcommittee <br />September 20, 1983 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />The Environment and Recreation Technical Subcommittee did not meet <br />in FY 1983, and no formal work plan was submitted to the Executive <br />Subcommittee. A letter from Jim Sears,Chairman, is attached. <br /> <br />Frank Dunn said that the Environment and Recreation Subcommittee <br />has a particularly difficult time getting together since its members <br />generally report to non-water oriented managers. Their agencies have <br />specialized interstate organizations which they support. It was <br />mentioned that when EPA ceased attending PSIAC, the Environment and <br />Recreation Committee was hard-pressed to'find compelling reasons to <br />meet. The suggestion was made that if EPA could be induced to become <br />active again, this Committee could possibly be rejuvenated. <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />Vern Valantine reported on the May meeting of the Water <br />Augmentation Task Committee. At this meeting in the US8R Bureau of <br />Atmospheric Resources Research offices, a detailed presentation of all <br />aspects of the CREST program was made, followed by extensive discussion. <br />(A copy of the minutes are shown on page C-27 ). <br /> <br />National Perspective on Water Policy <br /> <br />Mr. Kent Larsen, Acting Director of the Office of Water Policy, <br />U.S. Department of the Interior, talked informally at length about the <br />activities of the Office and other water~related matters on the national <br />scene. Mr. Larsen stressed that the OWP was not intended to assume the <br />role of the Water Resources Council, since the Working Group on Water of <br />the Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment was performing <br />this function. He said the Administration felt that the Water Resources <br />Council had not, been functioning as intended and could really not be <br />succeSSfully restructured. <br /> <br />Mr. Larsen said that Secretary Watt felt that the states should <br />handle water resources research; this was the reason for abolishing <br />OWRT. The Office of Water Policy is handling liason with the state water <br />institutes and centers, and has just finished reviewing their proposals <br />for funding. He said that each of the state centers will receive <br />$115,000, and that all the southwestern states seemed to have <br />exceptionally strong organizations. <br /> <br />The main function of the Office of Water Policy is to provide <br />Garrey Carruthers, Assistant Secretary for Land and Water, with policy <br />analysis and alternatives. Mr. Larsen said that the overriding policy of <br />this Administration regarding water is to support State primacy in water <br />resources management. ' <br /> <br />Mr. Larsen discussed two pieces of legislation presently under <br />consideration; the Roe bill, H.R. 3678, and the Abdnor bill, S. 1739. <br />The H.R. 3678 has provision for a WRC-type policy board, while S. 1739 <br />does not. The Roe bill contains authorization for many more projects <br /> <br />C-2 <br />