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,', r~.~ ;j"', U oJ '.. L ':J !. hand, there are other proposals in the plan which, when im- plemented, will significantly affect the hurpan environment. However, in all cases where major Federal action is required, the responsible Federal agency will prepare a satisfactory en- vironmental statement before implementation proceeds. In many cases environmental statements have already been pre- pared for recommended elements of the plan. The U.S. Water Resources Council's Policy Statement No.2 "Environmental Statements - Framework Studies and Assessments and Regional or River Basin Plans," states that "environmental statements prepared for. . . regional or river basin plans will reflect the level of planning involved and will address those environmental considerations and alternatives that are relevant to decision making at each level." At this level of planning and for its initial effort, the Commission did not con- sider it practical- to make an assessment of all environmental effects from the plan. As explained in the following paragraph, the total effects will be assessed as further more detailed plans are developed. The progressive refinement of the Commission's water resources plan will be achieved by developing more detailed plans for each of the 29 subregions in the Missouri Basin. These plans will be prepared through either Level B, sub- regional analysis, or special studies. The principal purpose served by these studies is to evaluate the water-related needs, problems, and opportunities in each area and to select a plan which will be acceptable from a total environmental, economic, regional development, social, and resource conservation standpoint. It is at this level of study that cumulative environ- mental impacts can be measured and evaluated most effec- tively. In each of the regional or river basin studies that the Commission will conduct, the cumulative effects of the alterna- tive plan configurations will be determined, evaluated, and pre- sented in the process of selecting the recommended plan. The Missouri RiVer Basin Water Resources Plan will eventually be- come the composite of this series of smaller area studies. Each environmental statement must, according to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, cohtaih specific in- formation: 1. The environmental impact of the proposed action 2. Any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented 3. Alternatives to the proposed action 4. The relationship between local short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and enhance- ment of long-term productivity 5. Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of re- sources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented. These points will be addressed in the more detailed subregion plans as they are developed and become part of the total basin plan. However, because of the way in which the courts have interpreted the law, it would be virtually impossible for the Commission to prepare an adequate environmental statement for the total Basin plan at this time. For this reason, those cited previously, and because broad environmental impacts are included in the text of the plan, the Commission has found that preparation of an environmental statement for the plan is not appropriate. The Report This report presents the current plan for develop- ment, management, utilization, and conservation of the Basin's water and related land resources. It is intended to serve as a guide for planners and decision makers at all levels. The plan focuses on the near and intermediate-range future; its cover~ age extends through 1985. In accordance with authorizing legislation, the plan di- rectiy encompasses only water and water-related land resource projects and programs. It addresses the function.al use of water and related land resources for rural, municipal, and industrial water supply; irrigation; flood damage abatement; land conser- vation, and management; outdoor recreation; water quality management; power and energy development; transportation; the maintenance of instream flows for fish and wildlife; and the preservation and enhancement of natural, historic, and cultural features. The plan also addresses legal and institutional issues that pertain to the resource base. The plan components are summarized and conclusions and recommendations are presented in Chapter 2. To provide a degree of perspective to more fully understand the plan, a description of the Missouri River Basin is provided in Chapter 3. Chapter 4, "Directions for the Future," presents broad plan- ning objectives for water and related land resources for each of 13 functional uses of water in the Basin. Chapters 5 through 13 contain the basinwide and indi- vidual eJements which comprise integral components of the Basin plan. Each of the eight subbasin listings of plan elements is preceded by a description of physical, environmental, and soclo-economic characteristics. The estimated costs of the recommended plan elements are listed in the tables where available, although the costs have differing base years. Addi- tional information concerning the plan elements is available from the Commission. Appendix A includes a description of the multiple objec- tive planning process. Appendix B summarizes the Commis- sion's continuous planning system and contains a listing of proposals considered but not adopted to date as part of the plan. These include programs for which insufficient information was available for adoption in the plan, and programs on which members have not yet formulated a position. Appendix C lists the names of persons who participated in the subbasin plan- ning meetings. Appendix. D is an index of plan elements or- ganized by State and by lead agency. Appendix E contains the official 90-day review comments on the plan. 5