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<br />. , <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2:0"d <br /> <br />, . <br /> <br />AH-c...c/->rne.nf 2.. <br /> <br />Statement ofEluid Martinez <br />Lonun1S~UUllC:!, u., b......ccau. vrn.."'l_....._"~O'..... <br />Department of the Interior <br />House of Representatives Committee on Resources <br />Subcommittee on Water and Power Resources <br /> <br />April 30, 1998 <br /> <br />Thank you for the opportunity to appear today to provide the Administration' s views on H,R, <br />3706, H.R. 3687, H,R. 3715. H,R, 1282, H.R. 1943, H.R. 2506, H.R. 2161, and H.R, 3677. <br /> <br />Before I discuss the specifics of these legislath'e proposals, I would like to talk briefly about <br />Reclamation's title transfer effons in general and attempt to give this Committee an <br />understanding of where we are and what we are doing with respect to negotiating for the transfer <br />of title for certain facilities throughout the western United States. <br /> <br />Title Transfer <br /> <br />AS you may recall, lhc BUI....... vfReehuna,ion'3 titlo trlln~fllr efforts bO!'s~n'" ['lITt nfPha.~e II of <br />. the Administration's National Performance Review (REGO m. It was and still is viewed as an <br />opportUnity to create a government that works better and costs less by transferring certain <br />facilities to state and loclll units of government or other non-federal entities. <br /> <br />In August 1995, Reclamation released its Frameworkfor Transfer of Title of Bureau of <br />Reclamation Projects. This framework set out a consistent, fair and open process for negotiating <br />the transfer of title ofappropriate facilities with the involvement of all int~rested stakeholders to <br />reach an agreement that can be brought to Congress and supported by all parties involved, <br /> <br />Soon after the Administration announced the initiative, more than sixty.tive entities - including <br />some of the Districts advocating bills under consideration today. contacted Reclamation and <br />eXOTessed their interest in title tranSfer. Since that time, many others have come forward. Many <br />agreed to pursue the open process, mClUalng tl'le \..Iear \".[1;Cl\. \"VlI1l11wU'l W~. ,1~~.. D.....:-" ...~ <br />we are proud to say that we have had success. Some decided not to pursue title transfer at that <br />time, while others opted not to pursue Reclamation's negotiated process, opting instead to pursue <br />the strictly legislative route. TIlis has caused delays and a number of problems which has <br />prevented what could have been a successful and smooth process. <br /> <br />Mr. Chairman. the path toward title transfer ha.s been difficult. The simple projects that we <br />hoped would be easy to transfer have not been so simple and have taken longer than we expected, <br />Unexpected issues, such as easements with other Federal agencies, the management ofrccreation <br />use and safeguarding public access, flood control requirements and countless others have <br />required time to resolve. In recent months, we have worked closely with the National Water <br />Resources Association and others to identif,' the transfer issues and to trY to find wavs to smooth <br />. ., <br /> <br />.36?;)~aSeLG <br /> <br />NO:l."'~n!"'I l:I3AIl:I 3Hld Wl::I 1>2:: 0t I:!l3..-S6-"0-,J,l::IW <br />