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<br />Federal & Interstate Issues <br /> <br />21 sl Century Water Policy Commission Establishment Act: U.S. Rep, John Linder (R-GA) has introduced <br />A a bill to establish a commission to study water management and develop recommendations for a <br />- comprehensive water policy. Linder wants a policy that will ensure an adequate water supply for the next 50- <br />years, avoid new mandates, eliminate duplication and conflict, improve efficiencies while safeguarding the <br />environment, capture excess flows and suggest financing options, The 17-member commission would consist <br />of eight federal representatives, five NGO or special interest representatives, two state and two local <br />governrnellt representatives. There is concern about the make-up of the commission and the protection of <br />state water rights. A copy of the bill and a status report are attached. <br /> <br />WGA Environmental Summit: On April 24 - 26 the Western Governors' Association and the White House <br />Council on Environmental Quality will co-sponsor the Second Environmental Summit on the West in Salt <br />Lake City. The Summit will look at opportunities to address tough environmental problems using the Enlibra <br />principles. <br /> <br />Enlibra is the name given to a set of eight interdependent principles for making progress on complex <br />environmental and natural resource management problems. These were developed and refined by 21 Western <br />Governors with the assistance of hundreds of stakeholders between December 1997 and June 1999. Enlibra <br />was subsequently adopted as a guiding philosophy and incorporated into the work of small community <br />groups, large corporations, and state, tribal, regional, and federal organizations and institutions as they <br />worked to find collaborative solutions to tough environmental problems. <br /> <br />To register to participate in the summit and review more information visit htto://www.westgov.org/. <br />, <br />New Web Site: NOAA's STORM EVENTS page allows you to review information at the county level. The <br />database contains all severe events since 1993 and tornado, thunderstorm, and hail information from the <br />A 1950's. Visit htto://www,noaa.gov/stormwatch/. <br /> <br />- New EPA Western Region Administrator: Robert Roberts, Executive Director of the Environmental <br />Council of States (ECOS), has been appointed to be Administrator ofEP A's Regioll 8 Office in Denver. <br />From 1990 to 1995, Roberts was the Secretary of South Dakota's Department of Environment and Natural <br />Resources, He was an Air Force officer from 1967 to 1990. <br /> <br />Western States Water Council Meeting: The Council met in Washington, D.C. on March II-B. The <br />meeting was held in association with a Water Policy Roundtable. The agenda indicated that many members <br />of the Administration were scheduled to brief Council rnembers, Hal Simpson and Kent Holsinger are <br />currently our representatives. They may brief us about the meeting. The Council has adopted several <br />resolutions concerning the Clean Water Act, stream gaging, and water efficiency. It would be valuable for <br />the Board to have input on the Council's activities. <br /> <br />Proposed EPA Water Intake ReguIation: On Feb. 28 the EPA proposed a new regulation to reduce the <br />llurnber of fish killed by withdrawing water for cooling power-producing machinery. The proposed <br />regulation would establish requirements based on the "best available technology." The regulation helps <br />fulfill EP A's obligation to comply with a court order in a lawsuit brought by environmental groups. <br />Additional information on the proposal is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ow . <br /> <br />EPA Water Efficiency Information: EPA is promoting water efficiency in the home by offering on-line <br />information. The information can be found at Water Saver Home: htto://www.h2ouse.net. <br /> <br />New EPA Associate Assistant Administrator for Enforcement: Steven Shimberg has been appointed as <br />EP A Associate Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Shimberg was Vice- <br />A President, Federal and International Affairs, at the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, D.C, He <br />_ previously served as the Staff Director and Chief Counsel of the Committee on Environment and Public <br /> <br />3 <br />