WSP04978 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

to the States. From that time onward, the states have again increased the funds they are putting into State programs from four million dollars to six million dollars. ,. "The new federal Water Pollution Control Act which has just been passed provides for a five million dollar grant-in-aid program, which is the same amount that would be provided by the Water Resources Planning Act. "The proposed act provides four criteria by which funds shall be dis- tributed to the States: "I. The population of the State. 2. The area of the State. 3. The need of the State for comprehensive water resou rces planning. 4, The financial need of the respective States. "Three of these criteria are exactly the same as those in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The one that relates to the area is not in that Act. "The need for Federal financial aid for state water resources planning activities was one of the very strong recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on National Water Resources, The situation, in terms of the State water resources planning function, is similar to that which was found in water pollution control. Some states are proViding little or no funds. At the time when the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was passed in 1948, some states were providing no funds for this function; and many States were providing funds of aboutfive to ten thousand dollars, which was just enough to support one engi neer on the staff. " As was pointed out earlier, Title III of S. 2246 contains essentially the provisions provided in S. 1629 and S. 1778 introduced earlier in the 1st session of the 87th Congress, Asl understand it, the $5 million is available for comprehensive planning grants, regardless of whether there is a River Basin Commission in the area or not. The planning grants are not necessarily tied to areas where River Basin Commissions exist. Many of existing planning programs would no doubt be eligible for financial aid, - 13 -