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<br />p <br /> <br />"--' <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />WATER RESOURCE POLICY STUDY <br /> <br />Study Plan and Timetable <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The President's environmental message directed a study be undertaken <br />leading to a "comprehensive reform of water resources policy, with <br />water conservation as its cornerstone." He said, "I believe that it is <br />essential to, confine the public works efforts of the water development <br />agencies to projects that can meet such defensible criteria as economic <br />efficiency, safety environmental protection, and a fair distribution of <br />project benefits." This review, to be completed within six months and <br />conducted "in consultation with the Congress and with the public," will <br />present the President with "concrete recommendations for policy <br />coordination and reform. " <br /> <br />Secretary Andrus outlined the preliminary elements of this study in a <br />speech before the National Conference on Water on May 24, 1977. He <br />listed nine points which should be considered to put us on the road <br />"toward a comprehensive and realistic national water policy." These <br />were: (1) revision of WRC principles and standards; (2) deauthoriza- <br />tion of old projects; (3) increased cost sharing by non-Federal entities; <br />(4) reforms of laws, regulations and practices governing allocation of <br />water; (5) wise use of water; (6) quantification of Indian water rights <br />and Federal reserved water rights; (7) evaluation of water quality with <br />conventional water resource allocation and development; (8) improved <br />dam safety; and (9) increased water conservation. <br /> <br />The Secretary of the Interior (as Chairman of the Water Resources <br />Council), the Director of OMB, and the Chairman of CEQ have been <br />delegated lead responsibility for undertaking the study. The review <br />will be conducted under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for <br />Land and Water Resources, Interior. <br /> <br />The objective of the water resources policy study is to present alterna- <br />tives and recommendations to the President leading to improved <br />direction; priorities and purposes for water resource programs. The <br />study will address the issues outlined by Secretary Andrus as well as <br />other broad policy issues. The study is not intended to be a review of <br />individual projects, but recommendations will have an impact on future <br />projects. The study will not be constrained by existing programs, <br /> <br />2541 <br />" <br />