BOARD01239

• Board Meeting Date: 11/22/1999
• Description: OWC Section - Federal Issues - National Drought Policy Commission Draft Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Suggestion for this draft:

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This document constitutes the draft report of the National Drought Policy Commission The
Commission is in the process of gathering additional data and information from testimony at
upcoming public hearings, written comments, drought-related agencies and organizations, the
working groups established to assist the Commission. Analysis of the new information will be
incorporated into the final report.

In this draft executive summary, we present our vision for national drought policy and principles
underlying the vision based on assessments of information gathered to date and the goals,
objectives and recommendations we propose as the basis for national drought policy.

The Commission welcomes comments on parts Or the whole of this draft document. Readers can
respond through written comments addressed to the Commission at [NAME AND ADDRESS] or
e-mailed to [E-MAIL ADDRESS]

TO THE ICG: UPON REFLECTION, AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AT THIS POINT SEEMS
CONTRIVED. WOULD YOU RATHER THAT I CHANGE THE TITLE ON THIS PAGE TO
"DEAR READER" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DROP THE VISION STATEMENT AND
RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW, AND JUST GO WITH THE PARAGRAPHS ABOVE? OR
DROP THIS PAGE ALTOGETHER?

Vision

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Our vision is of a well-informed, involved U.S. citizenry and its governments prepared for and
capable of lessening the impacts of drought-consistently and timely-in the new millennium.

This vision is based on the following principles:

* Consideration of all affected entities and relat~d issues, including legal, economic, geographic,
climate, religious, and cultural differences; fairness and equity; and environmental concerns
* Comprehensive, long-term strategies that emphasize drought planning and m~asures to reduce the
impacts of drought
* Federal role focused on appropriate coordination, technical assistance, education, and incentives
while at all times respecting the rights and responsibilities offederal, state, .and local governments,
and tribal sovereignty
* Self-reliance and self-determination
* Lessons learned from past drought experiences
*Shared drought-related expertise and knowledge across international borders

The United States will benefit from national drought policy that incorporates this vision and its
underlying principles. The goals, objectives, and recommendations in this report stem from our
vision and principles and are based on the law that created the Commission and on the

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