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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A~.LA,",D1."1I:d."..L. ft.U'.L:.t.I.'lIU.P. L.J..J,;I&.-J. J <br /> <br />Position No. 202 <br /> <br />POSITION <br />of the <br />WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL <br />regarding <br />REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT <br />April 14, 1995 <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />CleM water is essential to the quality oflife and health of the citizens of the nation. <br />This is particularly true in the arid West, where water is a scarce and precious resource that <br />must be managed considering all sociaL environmental, and economic values and needs. <br />Because of their unique understanding of these needs, states are best able to manage the water <br />within their borders. Much progress has occurred under the Clean Water Act (CW A) toward <br />the goal of controlling water pollution. Western states have made great strides in integrating <br />water quality and water quantity decision-making and have developed legislative and planning <br />strategies for promoting these goals as well as promoting water conservation and water reuse. <br /> <br />The CW A is now being considered in Congress for reauthorization. The outcome of <br />the debate will affect the ability of state, federal, local, and tribal governments to protect water <br />quality, and could affect the ability of state govemments to administer water rights. The <br />Western States Water Council encourages the reauthorization of the CWA based upon the <br />following principles. As issues become more clearly defined, the council will provide further <br />comments in future position statements. <br /> <br />CROSSCUT1TNGISSUES <br /> <br />There are three issues of importance, pollution prevention watershed management and <br />risk assessment and management, which deserve special consideration during the CW A <br />reauthorization process, because they potentially impact all programs authorized by the CW A. <br /> <br />POLLUTION PREVENTION <br /> <br />Pollution prevention has recently received a great deal of attention, but needs to be <br />given more emphasis. The concept of pollution prevention cuts across all CW A programs by <br />offering a means of avoiding complex and costly "command and control" approaches to water <br />pollution control and clean up. Expanded funding should be provided to states for <br />development of pollution prevention programs, and incentives such as greater flexibility in <br />using existing grMts should be provided to states with strong pollution prevention programs. <br />