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<br />the CWA, It is unclear whether wetlands issues will
<br />be part of the larger CWA reauthorization debate in
<br />the next session. If significant wetlands legislation is
<br />included in the debate, passage of a CWA bill seems
<br />certain to be complicated and time-consuming,
<br />Definition of legislative priorities as between various
<br />environmental issues and between committees,
<br />especially in the House, will also affect the timing of
<br />efforts to reauthorize the CWA in the next Congress,
<br />
<br />WATER RESOURCES
<br />
<br />California
<br />
<br />The State of California and the Department of
<br />Interior have reached an agreement in principle to
<br />provide for state control of the Central Valley Project
<br />(CVP) by 1995, The conveyance will include all
<br />facilities and associated water rights (except power
<br />transmission facilities previously conveyed to the
<br />Western Area Power Administration), and will assign
<br />all CVP financial commitments to California, The
<br />financial compensation package, yet to be agreed
<br />upon in detail, will be based upon "sound business
<br />practices and good public poiicy,"
<br />
<br />State and federal entities will begin immediately to
<br />improve coordination and operation of facilities
<br />pending the transfer of title under the agreement.
<br />Interim actions, which will be in accordance with
<br />Governor Wilson's long-term water policy. will include
<br />preparing a joint plan of operation for CVP and the
<br />California State Water Project for coming water years,
<br />locating state and federal staff in a joint water
<br />operations center. and state involvement In CVP
<br />contract renewais, A schedule has been established
<br />to facilitate completion of the transfer as follows:
<br />November. 1992 . completion of draft conditions and
<br />terms of the contract; May, 1993 - development of a
<br />scoping document needed to comply with the
<br />National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
<br />California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
<br />December, 1994 - completion of NEPA/CEQA draft
<br />reports; September, 1995 - final NEPA/CEQA reports;
<br />and October 1995 - final execution of the contract,
<br />including a release of the record of decision,
<br />
<br />The transfer is expected to require passage of
<br />enabling legislation under both state and federal law,
<br />The two contracting entities have agreed to pursue
<br />enactment of all necessary legislation,
<br />
<br />Western Water Policy
<br />
<br />The Water Strateqist released October 21 contains
<br />the views of President Bush and Governor Clinton on
<br />western water policy for the future. President Bush
<br />indicated that his next administration would be guided
<br />by the recently released Bureau of Reclamation's
<br />strategic plan, the Department of Interior's water
<br />marketing policy, and deference to state law. He
<br />said, "I am committed to ensure that federal water
<br />policy is ecologically justified, promotes economic
<br />growth, and at the same time protects and improves
<br />the environment." He also noted, '...Congress
<br />threatens continued encroachments on the States'
<br />traditional prerogatlves,..(L)egisiation concerning the
<br />Centrai Valley Project..,has been proposed which
<br />wouid impair..,California's authority in matters of water
<br />allocation, disllllJulion, and use,..," He concluded, 'I
<br />am committed to federal water policy in the West that
<br />will ensure economic growth, protect the environment
<br />and respect State autonomy."
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Governor Clinton's campaign staff provided the
<br />Water Strateqist excerpts of speeches they identified
<br />as giving insight into the development of western
<br />water policy under a Clinton/Gore administration, The
<br />materials indicate western water policy would be
<br />perceived initially as an issue of environmental policy
<br />and infrastructure finance, They note that new
<br />measures are needed to restore and protect
<br />wetlands. and that "we need a new Clean Water Act
<br />with standards for non-point source pollution...."
<br />Governor Clinton also said, "..,I would sign legislation
<br />re-authorizing the federal Endangered Species Act
<br />I feel that it is our responsibility to preselVe a diverse
<br />variety of animaL..species for future generations....
<br />Science should be the sole criterion in determining
<br />whether a species should be listed as endangered."
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />Tom Maddock, Chairman of Boyle Engineering
<br />Corporation. has been chosen by the American
<br />Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to receive its top
<br />management award. ASCE cited Maddock's
<br />exemplary leadership skills, developed over more than
<br />30 years of directing projects and guiding personnel
<br />at Boyle and In the military, as the basis for the
<br />honor. Maddock holds an MBA from Stanford and
<br />engineering degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute
<br />and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors .
<br />of member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North
<br />Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
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