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f" , ' . . ~ , . ' " ,-..... PROJECT DEVELOPMENT BY AGENCY . As a preface to the summary, a separate section on procedures for each of the three major federal agencies involved In water resource planning and development is included. This is Intended to provide the reader a basic explanation of the procedures fol lowed in development and implementation of projects. DEVELOPMENT OF A BUREAU OF RECLAMATION PROJECT . The development of a Bureau of Reclamation project usually begins with a request from other federa I agenc i es, state and I oca I governments, cooperat i ng organ i zat ions, I oca I interests, or by Congressional directive. Based upon a determination that studies are needed and warranted, funds for a reconnaissance investigation are requested by the responsible Regional Director. Upon approval by the Com- missioner of Reclamation, Secretary of the Interior, and the Bureau of the Budget, funds are included in the Department of Interior budget request to the Congress. When funds have been appropriated by the Congress, a reconnaissance investigation is undertaken and a reconnaissance report prepared. This investigation is done in collaboration with other federal and state agencies as appropriate and with a minimum use of time and money. Information Is compi led largely from avai lable data and little field work is involved. The reconnaissance investigation is intended to show whether further study, planning and expenditure of federal, state and/or local funds is warranted and to recommend future action regarding the project. Conclusions in the reconnaissance report sometimes are unfavorable, with a recommendation to conclude investigations - more often the recommendations are favorable. Local interest in the project is important in determining the deslrabi Ilty of further studies. Where a reconnaissance investigation has shown that a potential project warrants further study, and state and loca I interests have endorsed the reconna i ssance p lan, a request for authorization to make a feasibility investigation is made to the Congress. This request is made through the Senate Interior Subcommittee on Water and Power Resources and the House Subcommittee on Irrigation and Reclamation. These subcommittees are divisions of a larger Committee on the Interior and Insular Affairs In each Congressional body. If authorized for study and money is made available by the Congress, the feasibility Investigation Is initiated. The feasibi Ilty investigation Is far more detal led than the reconnaissance study In that It Includes specific engineering and operating plans as wel I as an examination of financial feasibi lity and economic justification for the project. The feasibility Investigation report, after review within the Bureau and adoption by the Secretary of the Interior as his proposed report, is sent to other federal agencies and to the governors of affected states for formal review and comment. A report for any unit of the Missouri River Basin Project Is also sent to al I of the states in the basin for review and comment. Fol lowing this formal review, the Secretary of the Interior sends the report to the President through the Bureau of the Budget, then, with the Budget Bureau's concurrence, to the Congress for authorization to construct the project. The feasibility report must proceed through the same Congressional Committees which recommended authorization of the feasibi lity investigation. Fol lowing Congressional hearings and project construction authorization, the Bureau of Reclamation through the Bureau of the Budget, requests that the Congress appropriate funds to permit a start on construction. If considerable time has elapsed between the feasibility report and the project con- struction authorization, additional planning may be necessary to update the plan and estimates. Final plans, specifications and designs are then prepared and bids are InvIted for construction. With acceptance of bids, construction of the various project faci I lties begins. Execution of repayment contracts is generally required prior to the start of construc- tion. The operation and maintenance of the system normally is turned over to a local sponsor as soon as possible after the project works have been tested. Annual or periodic joint Inspection with district personnel helps assure adequate attention to the proper operation and maintenance of project works. Operation of power fac! lltles and sometimes dams, reservoirs and supply canals remains with the Bureau. The Smal I Reclamation Projects Act of 1956, and amendments thereto, makes it possible for certain types of organizations to obtain interest-free loans for smal I reclamation projects. Grants are also made, along with the loans, for those portions of the projects that are non- reimbursable as a matter of national policy. The smal I project may be a complete new undertaking vi I