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<br />~, , <br /> <br />.., <br /> <br />We should therefore concentrate our efforts on the congress. To <br />that end, we should begin our efforts now to prepare recommendations <br />on the information presented in the Federal Register and then final- <br />ize those recommendations as rapidly as possible after November 1, <br />1977; the date the President is scheduled to announce his final water <br />resource policy. <br /> <br />A number of states' organizations and congressional members <br />have attempted to get the scheduled hearings delayed so that a review <br />period of at least sixty days could be had. A letter from the Miss- <br />ouri River Basin Commission to the President on this subject is <br />enclosed herewith. Various senior members of the House.of Represen- <br />tatives also wrote 'the President by joint letter which contains these <br />words in part: <br /> <br />"These papers by the way in which they define the issues <br />and alternatives, will necessarily have a profound effect <br />on the final outcome of the study. Indeed they may well <br />be determinative of the results. Yet, as was the case with <br />the review of water resources projects conducted by the <br />Administration earlier this year, there has been no oppor- <br />tunity for timely participation and review by the appropriate <br />Congressional Committees. We therefore urge that prior to <br />the publication of the option papers the committees be given <br />the opportunity to review them and to hold hearings if nec- <br />essary. If this is not done, Congress will again find <br />critical water resources initiatives being formulated in the <br />absence of genuine consultation between the Executive and <br />Legislative branches." <br /> <br />To all of which the President listens -- but he does not <br /> <br />hear. <br /> <br />FLS:tam <br />Enclosure <br /> <br />Enclosure not attached } <br /> <br />rt.~<JC\ <br /> <br />Memorandum -4- <br /> <br />July 20, 1977 <br />