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(12) ---------- ----~ -------.D ._~. - ...--0'" .....--.- -_.uu, to OperaIC federally owned or licensed projects and facilities to protect and ~re fish. wildlife, and their habitats on an equal basis with ocher primary project purposes (where such prolCCtiCll is not provided under the Endangered Species Act); and to use best manage- ment praaices on federal public lands to achieve compliance with water quality standards (e.g. buffer zones; riparian area proceaion; limits on grazing, mining. and timber production). The Administtation should suppon legislation to expand agency authority and revise project purposes where necessary. The President should: <a) Withdraw the August. 1991 Wetlands Delineation Manual and appoint an interagency scientific task force (the EPA. U.S. fish and Waldlife Service, Department of Agricu1b1re, and Army Corps of Engineers) to revise the 1987-89 manuals to address regional variations and concerns utilizing the results of the fonhcoming National Academy of Sciences repon; (b) Suppon funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program and other innovative agricultural programs that reverse wetlands loss or serve critical ecosystem needs; and (c) Announce strong suppon for the Clean Water Act Section 404 (wetlands protection) pennit program. The President should appoint Federal Energy Regula- tory Commission (FERC) commissioners and power marlteting administrators who are sensitive to ecologi- cal and n(m-power interests for hydropower licensing and marketing. (13) Clean Water (14) The Administration should suppon annual invesbDents of $2 billion over the next four years to assist commu- nities in complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Funding should focus on physical consolidation or upgrading of small systems unatie to meet standards and the replacement of lead service lines and plumbing in low-income communities. (IS) The Administration should form a federal-state task force to identify, prioritize, and develop action plans for problem watersheds and pursue funding for those action plans under the nonpoint source program (Section 319 of the Clean Water Act) and the Fann Bill water quality provisions~ Equity and Panicipation in Decisionmakin~ (16) 1be President should issue a formal statement recom- mitting the United States to protecllndian water rights and instrua Ihe Attorney General 10 provide for the 9 (17) ..-...t"""........... .....,.,...,""'......V'I. \II UI...,... UI ....a&l.o& 116'~ litigation and seulcmCl1lS. (a) The lnIerior Department and the Office of Man- agement and Budget sbou1d modify the criacria and procedures applicable 10 Indian water seuJe- ments 10 give primary recognition 10 the United States' special uust responsibility 10 Indian ttibes and semndary consideration 10 the exposure of the United StaleS to liability from lidgation. (b) The President should request Congress 10: appro- priate $2SO million to implemeot negodated settlements; appropriate sufftcieot funds 10 assure the tuB and effective ~tlllinq of tribes in water righu lidgadoa; Ipproplille funding for tribal water managemau; and audIorize a perma- nent Indian water rights sett1emeIlt fund. (c) The Seaewy oftbe Interior should continue and expand the working group ~ lDdian water rights settlemems 10 facilitate Indian water rights nego- tiations. The Administration should initiate immediate rulemaking and other actions 10 ensure .that fede~ programs are administered so as to avOId the creauon of inequities and disproPOrtionate ef(~ (Xl identifi- able ethnic and low-maxne COIDIDumUes, and shall take steps to address issues such as: (a) Fulfilling the needs ofttaditional Hispanic water managemell organizations; (b) Preventing siling of waste facilities and sewage plants predominantly in low-income areas; and (c) Modifying programs of the SoD Conservation Service (SCS) and other programs for water management and CODtI'Ol in coastal Louisiana that result in denying access 10 local fishenneD.