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<br />Furse has asked the Western States Water Council for
<br />comments. Members have been sent copies. The Act
<br />would create a voluntary, non-regulatory technical
<br />assistance and grants program within the existing
<br />federal Small Watershed Program of the Natural
<br />Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) formerly .the
<br />Soil Conservation Service. The program would fund
<br />community-designed projects to restore creeks and
<br />revegetate eroding stream banks. It would also provide
<br />local landowners and citizen groups the resources
<br />needed to address fishery habitat restoration problems.
<br />
<br />According to Senator Hatfield and Rep. Furse, over
<br />"80% of our nation's streams and rivers have been
<br />severely polluted, channelized. and otherwise
<br />degraded." Their bill is designed to "promote the
<br />restoration of streams and rivers as a cost effective
<br />means to control flooding, non-point [source] pollution
<br />and erosion; restore fish and wildlife populations and
<br />other ecological values; enhance local economies;
<br />improve public health in communities that rely heavily on
<br />locally-caught fish for food; and generate local jobs and
<br />job training opportunities for at-risk youth and others."
<br />
<br />The Furse-Hatfield bill does not call for new funding,
<br />but instead "takes an existing program and re-tailors it to
<br />better meet citizens' needs and wants," Rep. Furse said.
<br />The federal government would provide 75% of the
<br />funding, and the 25% local cost share would be waived
<br />in economically depressed communities. Local groups
<br />could use labor, land, equipment, materials and
<br />consulting services as in-kind contributions to meet their
<br />cost share. The program would be administered by
<br />state NRCS offices. Interdisplinary teams would be
<br />established in each state to review projects proposed by
<br />a partnership of citizens organizations and governmental
<br />entities and recommend funding priorities using a cost-
<br />benefit approach weighing local social, economic,
<br />ecological and community benefits against the project's
<br />financial and social costs. Special priority would be
<br />given to projects benefitting low-income communities,
<br />providing signficiant environmental or economic benefits,
<br />or generating job training and employment opportunities.
<br />Each governor would establish a state oversight
<br />committee to evaluate program successes.
<br />
<br />The Furse-Hatfield bill was drafted in consultation
<br />with the NRCS and has support from diverse groups
<br />including the National Watershed Coalition, the National
<br />Wildlife Federation, the National Association of
<br />Conservation Districts, the Association of State Wetland
<br />Managers, and American Rivers. For information,
<br />contact Rep. Furse's staff, Elise Jones (202) 225-0855.
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />Governor Fife Symington has named Russell
<br />Rhoades as the new Director of Arizona's Department
<br />of Environmental Quality, succeeding Ed Fox. Rhoades
<br />has twenty years experience managing state and federal
<br />air, water, waste and occupational health programs. At
<br />present, he is EPA's Region 6 Assistant Regional
<br />Administrator for Management in Dallas, Texas. He
<br />served more than eleven years as the Region's
<br />Environmental Services Division Director and directed
<br />review of compliance with the National Environmental
<br />Policy Act. Governor Symington observed, "I have every
<br />confidence in his ability to direct the department and to
<br />contribute to its continued progress and success.... Mr.
<br />Rhoades brings with him invaluable experience and
<br />expertise in thp. environmental arena, h<:ving worked
<br />with both state and federal environmental agencies."
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />MEETINGS
<br />
<br />The Western States Water Council's 119th meetings
<br />will be held at the Ramada Valley Ho Hotel in Scottsdale, .
<br />Arizona on NnvAmh..r 1"_17 The Council Will consider
<br />and adopt a new 1996 workplan, and discuss subjects
<br />that include proposed federal budget cuts, their effects
<br />on Clean Water Act programs, EPA's comprehensive
<br />groundwater protection strategy, the status and
<br />anticipated work of the Western Water Policy Review
<br />Commission, challenges associated with state general
<br />water right adjudications, and reauthorization of the Safe
<br />Drinking Water and Endangered Species Acts. Arizona
<br />will host a field trip, and Friday the Speaker of Arizona's
<br />House of Representatives will address members.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Schedule of Meetings
<br />
<br />Wednesdav. November 15. 1995
<br />Field Trip to Roosevelt Dam 8:00 a.m.
<br />Management Subcommittee 6:00 p.m.
<br />Federal Projects Transfer Subcommittee 7:30 p.m.
<br />Water Policy Seminar Subcommittee 8:30 p.m.
<br />
<br />Thursdav. November 16.1995
<br />Legal Committee
<br />Water Quality Committee
<br />Executive Committee (over lunch)
<br />Water Resources Committee
<br />Social Hour
<br />
<br />8:00 a.m.
<br />10:30 a.m.
<br />1:00 p.m.
<br />2:30 p.m.
<br />
<br />6:00 p.m.
<br />
<br />Fridav November 17. 1 995
<br />119th Council Meeting
<br />
<br />8:30 a.m.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL Is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors
<br />of member states. Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon,
<br />South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming - and associate member states Alaska, Montana and Washington.
<br />
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