WSP11941 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Gl:ide R. Kirkpatrick. Chdirma1J 0/ the BOl1rd Marcus R. Tower, V ice Chairman 0/ the Board Jacques Cunningham, Preside'Jt Chas. B. Gannaway, Jr., Chairman Emeritus W. E. Bender, Ftrst Vice PreSidel11 Wayman E. Humphrey, Secrelary Ben D. Floyd, Jr., Treasurer ~ ~etI'~ 7k A'Ih#t.444 'Beut" VERNON W. PINKEY, Executive Vice-President n;- ,,~- 1\' GCi ~ S 1973 1)~,.e'" A44tH:l~, CONSERVATION BOARD Building 'Telephone (918) 583,1695 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 ',., October 18, 1973 'lite. Petroleum To: Members and Friends of the Arkansas Basin Development Association, Inc. FURTHER REPORT ON NEW PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS Following approval by the President on August 3, 1973, as reported in the August Newsletter, the new principles and standards for planning and evaluating water and related land resources were published in the Federal Register on September 10, 1973. Don't try to read them, they are complicated and confusing. Makes you wonder what happened to the directive that the Federal Register was to be printed in simple English, If put into effect on October 25, 1973, as now planned, most future water programs will be delayed, if not set aside, especially those with long range benefits, At 6-7/8%, over half of the authorized but unfunded projects will be in serious trouble, The Water Resources Council plans several briefing sessions to explain the details of the new criteria to Federal agencies, state officials and the public. Seems like they could have written them so everyone could understand them in the first place, After they are explained, the various agencies will have to write their own regula- tions for putting them into effect, Over the next few months we will witness a lot of controversy over application of the new guidelines and this will undoub,tedly detract from our water resource pro- grams. More delay, more cost, more studies. THE CONGRESS MAY ACT The ''Water Resources Development Act of 1973" which has cleared the House Public Works Committee includes a provision specifying that the discount rate to be used in the future be computed under the formula issued December 24, 1968 and in effect nOw. The legislation also provides "every provision of law and every administrative action in conflict with this section is hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.I' At stake is the authority resources planning goals. or the Congress? to establish the interest/discount rate and set water Will the Water Resources Council have this authority THE CHRISTMAS CRISIS OF 1973 In December 1971, the Water Resources Council published the proposed principles and standards. Result--crisis in water resources development. In 1972, it was the draft report of the National Water Commission,