bill all

WASHINGTON--Chairman A. L. hiller (R-Neb) of the House Committee on Interior

and Insular Affairs introduced legislation today which nwill promote and encourage

the development of non-Federal reclamation projects

qy

Federal payments in certain

cases."

The bill the Nebraskan introduced tiill authorize the

Secreta~

of Interior

to make payments up to 100 per cent to non-Federal public bodies for national

benefits which under present laws are considered nonreimbursable--such as, flood

control, navigation, pollution

abatement~

preservation and propagation of fish

and wildlife, and other related purposes.

The bill was referred to the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee which

handles all reclamation legislation affecting the 17 Western States.

In

a speech at Boston last week, Secretary McKay said there was an immediate

need for legislation which would encourage the construction of reclamation

projects

Qy

private individuals.

In

introducing the bill, Chairman Miller said:

tlUnder the 1939 Reclamation Act, the Federal government was authorized to

negotiate repayment contracts with a local district or organization and then the

Federal government would proceed to construct the project.

The contract would

provide deductions for national benefits.

The government receives these same

benefits when a non-Federal group constructs a project.

I can see no reason why

the goverrunent should not pay for these benefits also."

The bill places responsibility of construction, operation and maintenance

in

the hands of the local, or non-Federal organization at all times, subject only to

such regulations as are agreed upon to protect the interest of the government

in

those portions supplying national benefits and to insure repayment of Federal

funds advanced.

1fl

feel this legislation will meet the demands and needs of those areas where

small projects have been badly needed,tf :Hiller said.

"There are many areas where

the government has bypassed because they were small.

Just because an area is small,

the farmers of that area should not be forced to do without."

Continuing the explanation, Iulier said, "Preference for the sale of electric

power or lease of power facilities will be given to municipalities and other public

organizations financed in rIhole or part

by

loans made pursuant to the Rural

Electrification Act of 1936."

The preference clause has been recognized by Congress for more than

45

years

and

in

effect gives public and non-profit organizations first calIon power.

-Duplicate pages

not scanned

See originals in folder

Water Resources Archive

83nCONGRESS_{1ST SESSION}

H

R

5301

•

•

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAy 20,1953

Mr. MILLER of Nebraska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

A BILL

To amend and supplement the reclamation laws to provide for

Federal cooperation in non-Federal projects, and for other

purposes.

1

Be it enacted by the Senatf3 and House of

Representa-2

tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3

That, in order to encourage local and State development of

4

projects provided for under the reclamation laws, hereafter,

5

when national benefits from functions considered

nonreim-6

bursable under reclamation law will result t}J.erefrom, the

7

Secretary of the Interior is authorized to participate in the

8

development of such projects

in

accordance

with the

pro-9

visions of this Act.

10

SEC. 2. As used in this

2

1

(

a) The term "Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of

2

the Interior.

3

(b) The term "project" shall mean any reclamation or

4

irrigation

project,

includillg incidental features

thereof,

5

whether single or multi-purpose, authorized by the Federal

6

reclamation laws, or constructed by the United States

pur-7

suant to said laws, or in connection with which there is a

8

repayment contract executed by the United States pursuant

9

to said laws, or any project constructed or operated and

10

maintained by the Secretary of the Interior through the

11

Bureau of Reclamation for the irrigation of arid lands, or

12

for other purposes.

13

(c) The term "Federal reclamation laws" shall mean

14

the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and all Acts

15

amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

16

_{(d) The term "organization" shall mean any}

conserv-21

17

ancy district, irrigation district, water users' association, or

18

any other organization which is organized under State law

19

and which has capacity to enter into contracts with the

20

United States pursuant to the Federal reclamation laws.

- .

SEC.._3. The

.Se~retary

is

a~thorized

and directed to

22 -

p~~i~ipat~with ~y c~~s~~ancy

district; .

irrig~tion

district,

23

-~w~ter~s-~;s'

•

a~soei~ti

on,

:~r

other public body

organiz~dund~r

-- .

24

State law, in the construction of projects for irrigation,

recla-25

mation, power, domestic, industrial, or commercial water

3

1

supply, the preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife,

2

flood control, navigation, pollution abatement, or related

3

purposes.

4

SEO. 4. Any such organization or non-Federal public

5

body incorporated under State law desiring to obtain Federal

6

participation under the provisions of this Act shall submit

7

project proposals therefor to the Secretary

in

such form and

8

manner as he shall prescribe.

9

SEO. 5. Project proposals shall set forth a plan and

esti-10

mated costs in detail, comparable to those included in

pre-II

authorization reports required by the Oongress or Federal

12

agencies; shall be subject to the provisions of section 1 (c)

13

of the Act of March 2, 1945 (59 Stat. 11) ; and shall include

14

a proposed allocation of capital costs to functions such that

15

costs for facilities or features used only for a single purpose

16

shall be allocated to such purpose, and costs for facilities or

17

features used jointly for more than one purpose of

develop-18

ment, shall be allocated among the purposes served

in

such

19

a way that each purpose will share equitably in the costs of

20

such joint facilities or features.

21

SEO. 6. If the project plans nleet engineering standards

22

established by the Secretary, and if the project is found by

23

the Secretary and by the Governor of the State in which

24

said project is located (or an appropriate State agency

des-25

ignated by him), to be financially feasible, the Secretary is

4

1

authorized and directed, subject to the provisions of section

2

7 of this Act, to make payment from Federal funds, amounts

3

equal to the approved allocation to functions considered to

4

be nonreimbursable under reclamation law:

Provided,

That

5

no such payment shall be made by him until the requirements

6

of section 7 shall have been met, and lmtil the expiration

7

of sixty days while Oongress is in session, after he shall

8

have notified each member of the Oommittee on Interior

9

and Insular Affairs of the Senate and of the House of

Rep-10

resentatives of the proposed payment.

11

SEC. 7. Responsibility for construction, operation and

12

maintenance of projects of the category set forth in section 6

13

of this Act shall remain with the non-Federal agency, its

14

successor or successors, under whose charge they are

initi-15

ated:

Provided,

That there shall be executed between the

16

United States, acting through the Secretary, and the

or-17

ganization, a contract providing, among other

things-18

(a) the time and method for payment by the

Sec-19

retary to the organization of such sums as are

deter-20

mined to be payable under the terms of section 6 of

21

~his

Act;

22

(b) that such portions as provide national

bene-23

fits shall be operated in accordance with regulations

24

prescribed by the head of the Federal department or

5

1

agency responsible for that function in the Federal

proj-2

ect; and

3

(

c ) a procedure assuring protection of the interest

4

of the United States in the event any non-Federal body

5

fails to comply with such regulations as are prescribed

6

under subsection

(a)

of this section ; further, in the

7

event

of

continuing

noncompliance,

procedure

for

8

reimbursement to the United States for such funds as

9

may be paid by the United States under authority of the

10

provisions of section 6 of this Act.

11

SEC. 8. Upon application therefor the Secretary is

12

hereby authorized and directed to make advances to

organ-13

izations and to contract for the repayment thereof by

organ-14

izations for accomplishment of project purposes (including

15

the preparation of plans and specifications)

for projects

16

authorized by the Congress under the provisions of this Act or

17

other reclamation law:

Provided,

That such advances shall

18

be made only upon approval by the Secretary of the plans

19

and specifications, or any modifications thereof, for such

20

projects as are submitted by the organization concerned:

21

Provided further,

That the time for repayment shall not

22

exceed 40 years from the initial date of utilization of the

23

project if single purpose, or of each separable phase

if

6

1

may be found to be necessary by the Secretary:

And

pro-2

vided further, That the organization so contracting shall

3

operate and maintain such project or projects in conformity

4

with contractual requirenlents determined to be appropriate

5

for the protection of the United States.

6

Title to the project or projects constructed pursuant to

7 this section shall at all times be in the contracting

organiza-8

tion, its successor or successors.

9

Sums advanced hereunder shall be repaid in

acco~aance

10

with the general repayment provisions of sections 2 (d),

11

9 (c), and 9 (d) of the Reclamation Project Act of August

12

4, 1939 (ch. 418, 54 Stat. 1187; 43 U. S. O. 485).

Noth-13

ing in this section shall be construed to repeal or limit the

14

procedural and substantive requirements of section 8 of the

15

Act of

J

tIDe

17, 1902.

16

Rights to the use of water delivered to distribution works

17

constructed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be

18

appurtenant to the lands irrigated, and beneficial use shall

19

be the basis, the measure, and the limit of such rights.

In

20

the sale of electric power or lease of power facilities

prefer-21

ence shall be given to municipalities and other public

corpo-22

rations or agencies; and also to cooperatives and other

non-23

profit organizations financed in whole or in part by loans

7

1

made pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and

2

any amendments thereof.

3 SEC.

9. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated

4

such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions

5

of this Act.

6 SEC.

10. This Act shall be deemed a supplement to the

7

Federal reclamation laws.

83DCONGRESS

1ST SESSIOl'f

H. R.

5301

A BILL

To amend and supplement the reclamation laws to provide for Federal cooperation in non-Federal projects, and for other purposes.

ByMr. MILLER of Nebraska

MAY20,1953

Referred to the Committee on Interior and Insnlar

•

83DCONGRESS_{1ST SESSION}

H R

5301

•

•

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAy 20,1953

Mr. MILLER of Nebraska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

A BILL

To amend and supplement the reclamation laws to provide for

Federal cooperation in non-Federal projects, and for other

purposes.

1

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of

Representa-2

tives of the United States of America in Oongress assembled,

3

That, in order to encourage local and State development of

4

projects provided for under the reclamation laws, hereafter,

5

when national benefits from functions considered

nonreim-6

bursable under reclamation law will result therefrom, the

7

Secretary of the Interior is authorized to participate in the

8

development of such projects in accordance with the

pro-9

visions of this Act.

10

SEC. 2. As used in this

2

1

(

a) The term "Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of

2

the Interior.

3

(b) The term "project" shall mean any reclamation or

4

irrigation project,

including incidental features

thereof,

5

whether single or multi-purpose, authorized by the Federal

6

reclamation laws, or constructed by the United States

pur-7

suant to said laws, or in connection with which there is a

8

repayment contract executed by the United States pursuant

9

to said laws, or any project constructed or operated and

10

maintained by the Secretary of the Interior through the

11

Bureau of Reclamation for the irrigation of arid lands, or

12

for other purposes.

13

(

c) The term "Federal reclamation laws" shall mean

14

the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and all

Act~

15

amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

16

_{(d) The term "organization" shall mean any}

conserv-17

ancy uistrict, irrigation district, water users' association, or

18"

any other organization which is organized under State law

, "

19

and which has "capacity to enter into contracts with the

20

United S,tates pursuant to the Federal reclamation laws.

21

_{SEC. 3. The Secretary is 3.uthorized and directed to}

22

participate with any conservancy district, irrigation district,

23

water users' association, or other public body organized under

24

State law, in the construction of projects for irrigation,

recla-25

mation, power, domestic, industrial, or commercial water

3

1

supply, the preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife,

2

flood control, navigation, pollution abatement, or related

3

purposes.

4

SEC. 4. Any such

org~nization

or non-Federal public

5

body incorporated under State law desiring to obtain Federal

6

participation under the provisions of this Act shall submit

7

project proposals therefor to the Secretary in such form and

8

manner as he shall prescribe.

9

SEC. 5. Project proposals shall set forth a plan and

esti-10

mated costs in detail, comparable to those included in

pre-II

authorization reports required by the Oongress or Federal

12

agencies; shall be subject to the provisions of section 1 (c)

13

of the Act of March

2,

1945 (59 Stat. 11) ; and shall include

14

a proposed allocation of capital costs to functions such that

15

costs for facilities or features used only for a single purpose

16

shall be allocated to such purpose, and costs for facilities or

17

features used jointly for more than one purpose of

develop-18

ment, shall be allocated among the purposes served in such

19

a -way that each purpose will share equitably in the costs of

20

such joint facilities or features.

21

SEC. 6. If the project plans meet engineering standards

22

established by the Secretary, and if the project is found by

23

the Secretary and by the Governor of the State in which

24

said project is located (or an appropriate State agency

des-25

ignated by him), to be financially feasible, the Secretary is

4

1

authorized and directed, subject to the provisions of section

2

7 of this Act, to make payment from Federal funds, amounts

3

equal to the approved allocation to functions considered to

4

be nonreimbursable under reclamation law: Provided, 'rhat

5

no such payment shall be made by him until the requirements

6

of section 7 shall have been met, and until the expiration

7

of sixty days while Congress is in session, after he shall

8

have notified each member of. the Committee on Interior

9

and Insular Affairs of the Senate and of the House of

Rep-10

resentatives of the proposed payment.

11

SEC. 7. Responsibility for construction, operation and

12

maintenance of projects of the category set forth

in

section 6

13

of this Act shall remain with the non-Federal agency, its

14

successor or successors, under whose charge they are

initi-15

ated: Provided, That there shall be executed between the

16

United States, acting through the Secretary, and the

01'-17

ganization, a contract providing, among other

things-18

(a) the time and method for payment by the

Sec-19

retary to the organization of such sums as are

.deter-20

mined to be payable under the terms of section 6 of

21

this Act;

22

(b) that such portions as provide national

bene-23

fits shall be operated in accordance with regulations

24

prescribed by the head of the Federal department or

5

1

agency responsible for that function in the Federal

proj-2

ect; and

3

(

c) a procedure assuring protection of the interest

4

of the United States in the event any non-Federal body

5

fails to comply with such regulations as are prescribed

6

under subsection (a)

of this section; further, in the

7

event

of

continuing

noncompliance,

procedure

for

8

reimbursement to the United States for such funds as

9

may be paid by the Uriited States under authority of the

10

provisions of section 6 of this Act.

11

SEC. 8. Upon application therefor the Secretary is

12

hereby authorized and directed to make advances to

organ-13

izations and to contract for the repayment thereof by

organ-14

izations for accomplishment of project purposes (including

15

the preparation of plans and specifications)

for projects

16

authorized by the Congress under the provisions of this 4ct or

17

other reclamation law:

Provided,

That such advances shall

18

be made only upon approval by the Secretary of the plans

19

and specifications, or any modifications thereof, for such

20

projects as are submitted by the organization concerned:

21

Provided further,

That the time for repayment shall not

22

exceed

40

years from the initial date of utilization of the

23

project if ·single purpose, or of each separable phase if

6

1

may be found to be necessary by the Secretary:

And

pro-2

vided further,

That the organization so contracting shall

3

operate and maintain such project or projects in conformity

4

with contractual requirements determined to be appropriate

5

for the protection of the United States.

6

Title to the project or projects constructed pursuant to

7

this section shall at all times be in the contracting

organiza-8

tion, its successor or successors.

9

Sums advanced hereunder shall be repaid in accordance

10

with the general repayment provisions of sections 2 (d),

11

9 (c), and 9 (d) of the Reclamation Project Act of August

12

4, 1939 (ch. 418,

54

Stat.

1187; 43 U. S. O. 485).

N

oth-13

ing in this section shall be construed to repeal or limit the

14

procedural and substantive requirements of section 8 of the

15

Act of Jlme

17, 1902.

16

Rights to the use of water delivered to distribution works

17

constructed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be

18

appurtenant to the lands irrigated, and beneficial use shall

19

be the basis, the measure, and the limit of such rights.

In

20

the sale of electric power or lease of power fa'cilities

prefer-21

ence shall be given to municipalities and other public

corpo-22

rations or agencies; and also to cooperatives and other

non-23

profit organIzations financed in whole or in part by loans

7

1

made pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and

2

any amendments thereof.

3 SEC.

9. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated

4

such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions

5

of this Act.

6 SEC.

10. This Act shall be deemed a supplement to the

7

Federal reclamation laws.

83DCONGRESS

1ST SESSIOft

H. R. 5301

A BILL

To amend and supplement the reclamation laws to provide for Federal cooperation in non-Federal projects, and for other purposes.

ByMr. MILLER of Nebraska

MAY20, 1953

Referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular

83n CONGRESS_{1ST SESSION}

H

R

490·3

•

•

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 28, 1953

Mr. BENTSEN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-mittee on Interior and Insular Affairs

A BILL

To alnend and supplement the reclamation law to provide for

Federal cooperation

in

non-Federal irrigation projects, and

for other purposes.

1

Be

it

enacted by the Senate and House of

Representa-2

tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3

That, in order to encourage local and State deyelopnlent of

4

water resources for irrigation, reclamation, and related

pur-5

po es, hereafter, ,vhen national benefit from functions

con-6

sidered nonreimbursable under reclamation lay'\' ,,,ill result

7

therefrom, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and

8

directed to participate vvith water-users' organizations or

9

other public bodies organized under State layv, in the

con-10

struction of water-re

olu~ce-developlnent

projects for

2

i

tlon, reclamation, dome tic, indu trial, or commercial water

2

supply, conservation of fish and wildlife, flood control,

navi-3

gation, pollution abatement, or related purposes.

4

SEC. 2. Irrigation districts, water-users' organizations,

5

and other non-Federal public bodies created under State law

6

desiring to obtain Federal participation in a non-Federal

7

water-resource-development project shall submit project

pro-8

posal therefor to the Secretary of the Interior in such form

9

and manner as he shall prescribe.

10

SEC. 3. Project propo al

shall set forth a plan and

11

estimated co ts in detail comparable to those included in

pre-12

authorization reports required by Congress of Federal

agen-13

cie; shall be ubject to the provi ions of section 1 (c) of

14

the Act of March

2,

1945 (59 Stat. 11) ; and shall include

15

a proposed allocation of capital costs to functions such that

16

costs for facilities or features used only for a single purpose

17

of ,vater-resource

development shall be allocated to such

18

purpose, and costs for facilities or features used jointly by

19

more than one purpose of water-resources development shall

20

be allocated among the purposes served in such a way that

21

each purpose will share equitably in the costs of such joint

22

facilities or features.

23

SEC. 4. If the project plans meet engineering standards

24

established by the Secretary of the Interior and

if

the project

25

is found by the Secretary and by the Governor (or an

ap-3

1

propriate State agency designated by him) of each State

2

concerned, to be financially fea. ible, the Secretary of the

In-B terior is authorized and directed to contribute funds in

4

amounts equal to the approved allocations to functions

'con-5

sidered to be nonrein1bursable under reclamation law:

Pro-6

vided, That no such contribution shall be made by him until

1

the expiration of

ixty day., while Oongress is

in

e sion,

8

after he shall have notified each of the memher of the

Oom-9

mittees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate and of

10

the House of Representatives of the proposed contribution.

11

SEC. 5. Responsibility for operation and maintenance

12

of projects of the category set forth in paragraph

4

of this

13 'Act shall remain with the non-Federal agency under whose

14

charge they

~re initiated: Provided, That uch portion a

15

provide national benefit

shall be operated in accordance

16

with regulations prescribed by the head of the Federal

de-17

partment or agency responsible for that function in Federal

18

projects.

19

SEC. 6. In the event any non-Federal body fails to

20

operate a project in compliance with such Federal

regula-21

tions as are provided in accordance with section 5 of 'this

22

Act, such body may be required by the Secretary of the

23

Interior to reimburse the United States for such funds as

24

may' have been contributed by the United States under

25

authority of the provisions of this

Act~

4

..L

SEC. 7. Upon application therefor the Secretary of the

2

Interior is hereby authorized and directed to grant loans tQ,

3

and to contract for the repayment thereof by, water-user'

4

organizations for construction (including the preparation of

5

plan and specifications) by them of works for the

irriga-6

tion of their lands included in projects authorized by the

7

Congre s under the provisions of this Act or other

reclama-8

tion law:

Provided,

That such loans shall be made only upon

9

approval by the Secretary of the Interior of the plans and

10

specification

for the proposed works a

submitted by the

11

water-users' organizations concerned:

Provided further,

That

No benefits- or privileges under reclamation laws including

25

repayment provision _-.shall'- be denied because, such

,,~orks

12

the time for repayment shall not exceed forty years from dafe

13

of completion of the sy tern plus a deYe]opment period 'of

14

ten years or less as may be found to be. necessary by the

15

Secretary

of

the Interior:

Provided further,

That

water-16

users' organizations so contracting shall operate and maintain

17

such works in conformity with reasonable contractual

re-18

quirelnents determined to be appropriate for the protection

19

of'

the- United States, and when full repayment has been

20-

made to the United State, , the Secretary of the Interior shall

21

relinquish all claims under said contracts.

Title to

distri-22-

bution works constnlcted pursuant to this section shall at

23

,all-

tim-es be in the contracting water-users' organizations.

5

1

have been constru'cted pursuant to this section.

The

provi-2

sions of this section shall apply only to irrigation purposes,

3

including domestic and stock water, and loans hereunder

4

shall be repaid in accordance with the general repayment

5

provisions of section 2 (d ) and 9 (d) of the Reclamation

6

Project Act of August

4,

1939 (ch. 418, 54 Stat. 1187; 43

7

U. S. O. 485) .

Nothing in this section shall be construed

8

to repeal or limit the procedural and substantive

require-9

ments of section 8 of the Act of June 17, 1902.

Rights to

10

the use of water delivered to distribution works constructed

11

pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be

appur-12

tenant to the lands irrigated and beneficial use shall be the ,

13

ba is, the measure, and the limit of such rights.

14

SEC. 8. The term "'water-users' organizations" shall

15

include any conservancy district, irrigation

di~trict,

nonprofit

16

water company or other agency having authority under

17

State law to construct and operate works for irrigation or

18

related purposes and which has capacity to enter into

re-19

payment contracts pursuant to Federal reclamation laws.

20

SEC. 9. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated

21

~uch

sums a.s may be necessary to carry out the purposes of

22

this Act.

23

SEC. 10. This Act shall be deemed a supplement to

24

Federal reclamation laws.

830CONGRESS

1ST SESSION

H. R.

4903

A BILL

To amend and supplement the reclamation laws to provide for Federal cooperation in non-Federal irrigation projects, and for other purposes.

ByMr. BENTSEN

ApRIL28,1953

Referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS

Itappears to the staff that there m,ight well be in Interior a .division into which would be merged all the present activities of the Bureau ,of' Reclamation and Bonneville, Southwestern, and Southeastern Power Administ.rations. This could mean a great reduction in offices, personnel, and in administrative overhead and other costs. If legislative factors preclude such a consolidation, an alternate plan would be the development of, and required adherence to, a uniform' water and power policy by all agencies within the ·Department.

With reference to the foregoing report of the Investigative Staff, an additional study has been made by persons well informed with respect to Bureau activities, which indicates that a $21,000,000annual savings could be realized by implementing reorganization of the Bureau. The committee hopes that a reorganization program along the line suggested by this investigation can be fully effectuated in the fiscal year 1954. It is recognized that the suggestions for consolida-tion of agencies within the Department may require legislaconsolida-tion. It is suggested that the Secretary carefully explore any need for legislation which may become evident with the proper legislative cOlnmittees.

As a general policy the committee will not consider appropriations for any project not authorized by legislation and for which construc... tion funds have not been previously appropriated. It is recommended that existing law be amended to require such specific Congressional authorization for all projects. The committee's concept of a project is not that the Missouri River Basin project, for example, is a single project, but rather a group of individual projects each one of which should be specifically authorized in legislation.

employed by the Bureau. In 1946 the personnel was increased to over 14,000 and continued upward to a high of 19,000 in 1950, with present employment around 13,800. Appropriations for general administrative expense of the Bureau show even ~reatervariations increasing from a low of $660,000 in 1945 to a high of $6,860,000 in 1951 with $5,250,000 for 1953.

As evidence of the program which was projected by the Bureau, attention is directed to a "letter of transmittal" from Cotnmissioner Michael W. Straus to the Secretary of the Interior dated August 5, 1948, submitting for information the tlreclamation program, 1948-54." Mr. Straus says in part: "Substantial ao-propriations would be required for the program, as follows:

Fiscal year: Fiscal year-Continued

1948_- $204,200,000 1952 $715,500,000 1949 . 312,700,000 1953______________ 78],900,000 1950 535,400,000 1954 720,200,000 1951 622,000,000

Bureau pfficials of vatying grades have been consulted as has also the Secretary of the Interior relative to the need for reorganization and reduction of the Bureau of Reclama.tion staff. There has been a unanimity in the expression of need for such a reorganization. As a result we are disposed to' suggest that t.he Washington office might well be changed to that of a liaison office, with Denver being made the main admjnistra.tive center, and that the regions for reclamation field administra-tion be reduced from 7to3 and the district offices from 18 to 5, the distribution to be in the following areas:

Region I-Boise, Idaho: District-Ephrata, Wash. Region 2-Boulder City, Nev.:

District-8'a.cramento, Calif. District-Salt Lake City, Utah. Region 3-Denver, Colo.:

District-Billings, Mont. District-Bismarck, N. Dak.

BUREAU REORGANIZATION

The following material is taken from a repo~t ~f the ComI!1i.t~ee Investigative Staff which has been recently lookIng Into the actIvIties of the Bureau:

Inquiry into certain administrative and policy matte:s .reveals that the .Bureau, commencing in 1945 built up a staff de!'igned to admInIster a constructIOn pro-gram much largerth~nwas provided by the Congress, year bJ:' year. The general reclamation area was arranged to provide 2 staffoffi~es (Washmgto~and Denver); 7 regional offices (Boise, Idaho, Sacrament.?l CalIf., Boulder CIty, Nev., Salt Lake City, Utah, Amarillo, Tex., Billings, Mont., and Denver, Colo.)i and 18

district offices. . .

Even before assuming that the Congress WIll restrIctt~e.Burea:u to a program somewhat in line with or lowert~anthat of r.ece!lt years, It IS ObVIOUS theBurea~ is greatly overstaffed with regIOnal and dIstrIct offic~s and personnel.. It IS interesting to note that the Bureau employees totaledsl~ghtlyovet: 7,000 In 1940 and generally held at this level through 1945 when slIghtly under 7,000 were

EXCERPT FROM REPCRT NO.

314 --

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION BILL,

1954

by

House Committee on Appropriations

BUREAU OF RECLAMA1'ION This would seem to spread region 3 over an immense area, but there is

com-. I . f th fi I paratively little Bureau activity in present region 5 and Denver is readily accessible

The budget (\stImate for the Bureau ?f Rec amat.IOn or e sca by all forms of transportation and by mail, telephone, and telegraph to all reaches

year 1954 is $231 188 000. The commIttee has allowed an appro- of the proposed enlarged region.

b

riation of$133,146,675. This is a reduction of$98,041z325 below the The committ~edoubtless ~ll take ~ognizanceof the.f~ctthis re?rgani~ation

d t f t d $73 301 316 below the appropriatIOns for 1953. proposal w0l!ld Involve a maJor operatIO.n and thatprec~pltateand, n,nmedlate.lY U ge es 'l.ma e an " . , . f d f . i- complete actIOn could cause muoh confusIOn and lost motIOn. AccordmglY,1Vh1le

The commIttee has been generally hb.eralln app.r0~Ing ~n s or~rr any possible directive'should be all-embracing and firm the committee might

gation and conservation of resources In accomphshu?-g tlns reductIOn. consider a stipula~i?nwhichwoul~provide that the Burea:u !Iave 60d~ysto

pre-The committee wishes to point out several matters In the cO!lduct of pare for the transItion and an addItional 60 days to place It In effect-m 3 stages

h B to b' h't es the Secretary to gIve very If that would make for more orderly procedures.

t e ureau . progr.am .w IC I urg Ifthe organization is to be worked down in terms of regional and district offices

serious conslderatlbn dUrIng the fiscal year 1954. to the extent suggested or otherwise, obviously there is going to be a large shrink-age in the personal service requirements. However, as the committee will recog-nize, reducing regional offices from 7 to 3 would not mean it would be an orderly procedure to strike four-Sevenths of the appropriation for these services-it is not that simple.

Nevertheless, by reason of the human element which will enter into considera-tions having to do with personnel reducconsidera-tions, the committee might well consider the advisability of setting personal services limitations which could not be vio-lated. Or perhaps it would be deemed consistent to provide that there shall be a minimum reduction in personnel by January 1, 1954, of, say, 35 percent, and that such percentage reduction should be more or less uniform for aJl grades. This group feels that a thorough investigation would show greater overstaffing at the

~M~~. •

Consideration might well be given by the committee to the possibitities which might flow from a merger of all the water and power agencies in Interior. Asof now we have the Bureau of Reclamat.ion in certain areas producing and selling hydroelectric power. In present region 1 the Bureau produces power at Grand Coulee Dam but that power is distributed and sold by Bonneville Power Admin-istration. In region 5 the Southwestern Power Administration, repOrting to the Secretary of the Interior, distributes and sells power produced by the Corps Of Engineers. In regions 6 and 7 the ·Bureau produces, distributes, and sells power and also it distributes and sells power produced by the Corps of Engineers.

It is the committees feeling that future requests for prpject authori-zations and appropriations should include project justifications, cost allocations, and payment schedules based on a separate economic justification for each individual project. •

It is assumed that the Secretary- will undertake an early study' with a view to obtaining reauthorizatIOn for existing projects which have been undertaken on the basis of a finding of feasibility by the Secretary and will seek legislative authorization for any additional projects which may be recommended for appropriations in. the future. The committee is convmced that the present system of initiating projects purely on the finding of feasibility by the Secretary gives him "more authority than a bad man should have, and more than a good man should want".

REPAYMENT CONTRACTS

The committee is greatly concerned about the length of time it takes to get irrigation project repayment contracts executed. There are projects still in the 'construction stage, and in some instances almost completed, that have been under way for yea.rs and as yet no repayment contract has been :Qegotiated. This is ,not good busine~s

and the committee will not be inclined to continue appropriating additional construction funds under such circumstances in the future. With further reference to such contracts, it is hoped that the Secretary will find means of shortening the ten-year development period allowed on most projects before the repayment of construction costs begin. This will, of course, return mOte money to the reclama-tion fund in a shorter period of time, and in effect cut down the cost of~heproject to t~ebeneficiaries of it and reduce the number of years which the ~ebt will be a b?I'den to them. In addition, permission to payout In a shorter perIod than the contract provides should be granted where desired by the water users.

INTEREST COMP0NEN'.ll

r;r~e attention of th~ ~ommittee has again been directed to an

~pImonof a former SO~ICItorof the Department of Interior wherein It was held that the Interest computed on the construction costs allocated to municipal and industrial water .and power purposes can be .used as ;reyep.ue· for the repayment of costs allocated to irrigation. It IS the opillIOn of the commIttee that the amount of interest so com-puted t<?gether wi~h all reimbursable costs should be returned to the appro~rIatefund In the Treasury, It is the further opinion of the commIttee that the application of interest in such a manner to reduce t~erepayment ?f costs. that are already interest free is not in keeping WIth sound bUSIness prillciples.

Th~ committee ,!rges the Secretary of the Interior to review this practICe .at the earlI~s~opportunity and to direct the present Solicitor to submIt a legal opInIOn on the matter.

POLICY' ON POWER PRODUCTION

Th~committee believes that'the Hoover (Boulder) Dam is an out-standJ?g example of how Government and private enterprise can work hand-ln.-hand to mutual advantage. Here the dam, with penstocks, was built from Federal funds. The surplus power over and above

direct project needs was, as provid~d by law, leased to J?rivate utility companies and municipalities which finan?ed an~.built the trans-miSSIOn facilities. Here the Government IS receIvmg a reasonable return and the consumers of power are paying reasonable rates. The region beingserve~has grown i:r;t .amazing proI?or.tions.

Unquestionably In many addItIOnal cases,~Imilar arrangements to those existing at Hoover Dam could be negotiated. Encouragement should be lent· to such possibilities, with firm obligations undertaken,

Df course, to protect the pow-er-oonsuming public. GEN&RAl.I INV~STIGATrONS

The budget· request for this item is $6,250,000. The committee recommends $2 000 000 a reduction of $4,250,000 below the budget estimate and

$2

QOO000 below the 1953 appropriations. In addition to this reductio'n ~ General Investigations the committ~e has also made others in funds programmed for the separate proJects, under the Construction and Rehabilitation item.

It is convinced that the amounts allowed will be ample during fiscal year 1954, since the present Secretary of Interior will \lee~ consider-able time to make a personal survey of the numerous projects under consideration.

CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION

The recommended appropriation of $.108 396 675 for the construe..; tion and rehabilitatiqn program of the Bure~u is a reduction of

$85,491,~25 below the budget estimate of $193,888,000. It is also a reductIOn of $69,401,316 below the appropriations for the current fiscal year. A ~ubstantlial portion of this reduction, amounting to

$31, 550,000, will be achieved by applying additional estimated

un~blig8:tedbalances ~or the fiscal year 1953 to the 1954 program ThIs estImate of unoblIgated balances is in addition to the carry-over balanc.e of $~O,928,323 cont~mplated in the budget presentation for

those Items ill the constructIOn program for which funds are herein allowed. At the time of the hearings, the Bureau had revised its estimate of unobligated balances upward from $11,361 025 to $19-000,000. At the time of the hearings last year, the Bur~au estinlsted a b.alance of approximately $21,000,000at the end of fiscal yeaI' 19'j~J

ThIs balance turned out to be actually $49,625,211. This fact, plus the fa~t th~t there have bee:r;t consistently low estimates offered the comJ!lIttee ill years .passed .wIth respect to the unobligated balances,

prOVIdes the commIttee WIth great assurance that the total which will remain unobligated at the end of fiscal year 1953 will be in the. amount of $42,478,323 or more.

In applying the reductions which the committee has made for the various pr<?jects in the construction and rehabilitation program the general polIcy of not appropriating for things that industry and ~theI" groups can do for themsf'lves with private funds has been followed. A careful review of the bill ana this report will demonstrate that the committee has generally been liberal in approving funds for irrigation projects ana for the development of other resources where the Federal Government is responsible for such development and where it would not otherwise be accomplished. '

The reductions which the committee has made are reflected in the following table of amounts approved by the committee for each project:.

Program summary-Construction and rehabilitation

Program summary--Construction and rehabilitation-Continued

Projector unit _e'ltimateBudget Carryover_funds

Recom-mended in bill for 1954 Total pro- gramap-proved for

19M Project or unit estimateBudget Carryoverfunds

Recom-mended in bill for 1954

v

11,020,060 750,000 150,874,998 20,000 20,000 26,000 26,000 15,000 15,000 6,000 6,000 85,248 85,248 11,020,060 650,000 $100,000 42,478,323 108,396,675 20,000 26,000 15,000 6,000 85.248 5,929,965 19,765,000 2,500,000 Total. ____ ___ _ 193,888,000 Missouri River Basin project-Continued

Phase A-Continued

Transmission Division-Continued Williston-Garrison1)5-kilovolt

transmission line and substations Garrison-Voltaire 1I5-kilovolt ex-tension to Garrison switchyard __ Valley City substation additions _ Canyon Ferry-East Helena (double

circuit) 1I5-kiiovolt transmission

line _

Gering-Sterling 115-kilovolt and related substations _ Total, all other items _

1 1 1 1 1

-Subtotal. trnnsmission division__ Phase B, units ready for constTuetion _ Phases C and D, planning work and work

in connection or cooperation with Corps

of Engineers ._____________________ 2,000,000 500,000 500,000 Other departml'ntal agencies. 4,750.000 __ _ 2,500,000 2,500,000 Total Missouri River Basin project 1==7=3,==3=16==,=000=11===400=,000==1==49"",=14==8==,0==6=0=1==4=9,=5=48=,=06=0 137,396,675 150,874,998 -29,000,000

Subtotal all foregoing items_______________ 193,888,000 13,478,323 Estimated additional unprogramed carryover

balances to be available in 1954 -________ +29.000,000

Eklutna project, Alaska.-The.funds which were requested for this project are in excess of the amounts authorized in the basic legislation. The committee does' not feel justified in making such funds available until the authorizing legislation has been amend~d.

Oolorado River flood work and. levee system.-An appropriation of $150,000 against the program estimate of $1,905,000 has been ap-proved. On the basis of testimony.given to the commmittee at the time of the hearings, the Bureau is having difficulty obtaining neces-sary rights-of-way to accomplish the work proposed, at prices which it feels are reasonable, and consequently recommended this reduction to the committee.

Davis Dam project.-The Committee has disallowed $464,080 of the budget request. This amount was programmed for nlicro-wave equipment which is specifically disallowed.

The committee has information to the effect that a private utility may be willing to construct transmission lines and other facilities, for which $2,149,887 is programmed in the budget, to tie its own steam plant into the Davis Dam distribution system. Should the utility which owns this plant make an acceptable proposition, the eommittee instructs the Secretary to accept their proposal.

Colorado-Big Thompson proiect.-The committee has reduced the amount programmed for this project by $388,000 which amount was programmed for the Flatiron-Valmont transmission line.

Minidoka project, Northside pumping division.-The committee has reduced the amount programed for this project by $559,000, which was for electrical facilities which the Bureau advises may be eliminated. Palisades project.-Of the reduction made in the ftmds programmed for this project $50,000 was for the Palisades-Idaho Falls transnlission line. This item is. speeifically disallowed. Further, no funds pro-grammed for this project are to be used for the construction of the Palisades switch yard which willnot be needed for at least two years.

1,068,000 1,068,000 16,220,000 16,220,000 673,000 673,000 350,000 350,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 483,500 500,000 --- 1,580,889 --- 61,938 180,000 204,749 5,500,000 5,500,000 20,400,000 20,400,000 3,500.000 3,500.000 103,000 ll5,656 1.141,000 1,141,000 2,500,000 2.500.000 300,000 300,000 1,998,000 2,000,000 475,000 500,000 4,000,000 4,000, 000 ---957:000 300,000-957,000 30,000 30,000 673,000 673,000 4,500,000 4,500.000 1,657,000 1,657.000 6,500,000 ~,500, 000 6,000,000 6,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000 ---.-. ---_. - -- --5,000,000 5,000,000 161,000 161,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 300,000 300,000 112,812 ll2,812 4,000.000 4,000,000 $3.500,000 $3,500,000 500,000 500,000 400,000 400,000 55,000 55,000 2,000 25,000 55,000 £98,392 730,373 588,500 714,271 669,150 112,812 400,000 4.£09,340 Eklutna rroject, Alaska________________________ $12 791 000

GlIaproject, Arizona___________________________ 4; 500:000 ==============---$4:500:000- ----$4:.500:000 Colorado River front work and levee system,

Arizona-California-Nevada 1,905,000 150,000 150,000 Boulder Canyon project, Hoover Dam and

powerplant, Arizona-Nevada_________________ 373,000 300,000 300,000 Davis Dam project, Arizona-Nevada___________ 3,822, 000 3,357,920 3,357,920

AU~AmericanCanal, Arizona-California________ $133,380 133,380

Cachuma project, CaliforT'ia___________________ 6,510.000 36,782 6,510,000 6,546,782 Central Valley ftroject, Caliiomla_ 19,250,000 U, 182, 007 12,170,195 23,352,202

i~!i!~~J[§~~~;~=~~~~

50

~m :~~~~:~~:~~:~ ::::~~~~ :::::~~~~

,/

Paonia project,Colorado~ . .. _. _. _. . -. - - 7,000 2,422 7,000 9,42'l

M~~~o~J'a~~o~~~'_~eri~.~.~~ .~w~~ di~i:. 853,000 . _ Minidoka project, north sid.e pumping division,

Idaho - 1,627,000 .

Palisadfs project, Idaho-Wyomlng - --. 17,650,000 . Hungry Horse project, Montana . 673,000 _ }I'ort Peck project, Montana-North Dakota 3.50,000 . Verml'jo project, New Mexico 1,472,000 _ Rio Grande project, New Mexico-Texas 529,000 16,500 Middle Rio Grande project, New Mexico_ _ 1,580,889 GrantsPassproject,SavageRapidsDam,Oreg __ 61,P38 Provo River project, Utah_____________________ 380,000 24,749 Weber Basin project, Utah "______________ 6,776,000 _ Columbia Basin project, Washington__________ 21.930,000 _ Yakima project, Kennewick division,

Wash-ington --- --- 4,000,000 _

'Yakima project, Rosa division, Washington____ ~81,000 12,65~

Eden project, Wyoming ._______________________ 1,141,000 _ Kendrick project, Wyoming____________________ 2,970,000 _ Riverton project, Wyoming____________________ 475,000 _ Rehabilitation and_{projects__ _} betterment of existing _2,500.000

Drainage and minor completion program_______ 1, llO, 000

1 = = = = : = = = = 1 = = = = = 1 = = = = Hi&<Inuri Rinr Bf\Sin project:

PhaseA:

Bostwick division, Nebraska-Kansas___ 4,500, 000 _ Buford-Trenton project_________________ 300,000 Canyon Ferry unit. Montana__________ 957, ()(lO - • _ Cedar Bluff unit, Kansas______________ 30,000 _ Crow Creek unit, Montana____________ 673,000 _ :Frenchrr:an-Cambridge division,

Ne-braska - - - -- - - 4,875. 000 _ .Jam\ stvwn unit, North Dakota________ 1.657.000 _

Kirwin unit. Kansas __ - - ---. 8,359,000 -- _ Lower Marias unit, Montana___________ 7, 4(I, 000 _ Missouri Diversion unit,

Montana-. North Dakota - --- 5,263,000 ---Ral-id Valley unit, South Dakota_______ 4,230,000 ---Shadehill unit, South Dakota__________ 20.000 ---. St. Francis unit, Colr,rado-Kansas_____ 35,000 ---Webster unit. Kansas___ _ _ 6,080,000 ---Drainage and minor completion

pro-gram . 1===1=61=,000==:=--=-=--=-=--=-=--=-=-=1=====-==1===== Transmission Division:

Sioux Falls-Brookings ll5-kilovolt transmission line and substations_ Brookings-Watertown 1I5-kilovolt

transmission line and substations_ Watertown-Gorton-Huron-Amour

lI5-kiiovolt transmission line and substations_. __ -- - ---- ---Amour-Fort Randall-O~lvins

Point-Sioux Falls 1I5-kllovolt transmissbn line and substations_ Rapi<1 City-Midland lI5-kilovolt

transmissLm line and substations_ fort Randall-Winner 115-kiloyolt

transn.issi 1n line and substatlOns_ Fort

RanJall-9ahe-Mobridgf.-G.ar-rison 230-kllovolt transttrlSSlon liue and substations _ FOlt Randall-Siou:t City (dOUble

circuit) 230-kilovolttransmi.~sion

line and substations______________ $4,169,949 _ Oahe-Midland U5-kilovolt

trans-mission line and substations______ 535,000 _ Big Bend-Buron-Watertown

(don hie circuit) 23O-kilovolt trans-mission line80<1switchyard _ Bismarck-DeVSJ.J.169-kilovolt

Middle Rio Grande project.-The co~mitte.e has programed

$1,250,000 of unobligated 1953 funds for thIs proJect over a;nd above the $330,889 of carry-over funds which were budgeted for ~t. . . Provo River project.-Of the funds programmed for thIs proJect

$200,000was for the Deer Creek powerylant andf~cilit~es. Thi~item is specifically disallowed. The commIttee was gIven I.nfo~matIOn at the hearings to the effect t?at the water us~rs organIzatIOn on the Provo River project may deSIre to construct thIS power plant and have made such a proposal. to the Secretary. . .

Weber Basin pro]ect.-Of the reductIO~ In the amount <?f

$1,276,000 which the committee has made m the request for t~s project, $284,000 was programmed for tb;e Gateway an~ Wans~p power plants and facilit.ies. T?-~se tw? Items are ~p~Clfica~y dIS-allowed, in order to provIde addItIOnal tIme for negotIatIOns WIth .the utility in the area with regard to power supply throughout the proJect area._{Yakima project, Roza division. -The COmmIttee}. h_as di_{sa owe}II d h_{t e} amount of$778,000which was programmedfo~theRoz~power plant. Missouri River Basin project.-The Bureau IS authorIzed to expend

$300000 of the unobligated 1953 balances on the Buford-Trenton proj~ct, to stop bank erosion' from undermiJ:.ing: the pumping plant, to prevent further loss of land from bank erOSIOn mth~proJect proJ?er, and for other minor completion work. The commIttee recognIzes that bank erosion control work is the responsibility of the Corps of Engineers, however, thi.s situation appears to be one of great emergency

inorder to protect the mvestment of the FederalGover~entand the Investment of the irrigators in the proj~ct. The.c6mmi.t~ee ~xpec~s the Secretary to inform the Army EngmeeI~sof ItS posItIOn m thIS matter and to urge them to progra;m for ~hiskind of. work wherever it is needed in the future. In thIS partIcular case If the work for which funds are made available herein is not accomplished the entire

1953 crop production from the project lands will be .jeopa~diz~d. . The com.mittee has allowed $2,000,000 for the 111ssoun DIverSIOn unit against the programnled amour:t of $5,263,000. Thesefun~sfor continuing construction of the proJect are not to be. used un.tII the Bureau of Reclanlation has submitted to the Secretary for hIS con-sideration a plan of construction providing for one or more pumping plants, necessary canals and distribution system, t? serve. not to exceed 100,000 acres of land. None of th~ fun~s herem provIded. are to be expended for construction ~f the dIv~rsIOn. da~ or the LIttle Porcupine power plant proposed In connectIOn WIth It.

Transmission d~vision.-The committee has eliminated all funds

requested for new transmission line starts in the fiscal year 1954 for the Missouri River Basin project. This action has been taken to provide time for the Secretary to restudy and report on the regional power program. The committee suggests that an independent study for the purpose of deternlining a transmission system which is best suited to dispose of the potential power from the Missouri River Basin projects ma,y be desirable. It is understood that a delay of one year will not materially effect disposal of power becoming available from the multiple purpose projects in the Missouri River project area.

Construction of the Sinclair-W estvaco line in Wyoming has been stopped and the committee has rescinded $600,000 of 1953 funds not needed.

The $400 000 which has been allowed for the Big Bend-Huron-Watertown transmission line is to be used for the completion of plans and specifications for a line running from Big Bend, South Dakota, to Watertown to Granite Falls, Minnesota, which would provide the means of making Missouri Basin power available to "'-estern Minne-sota.

It was pointed out to the committee that a dangerous situation exists as a result of present location of certain transmission lines in Montana. The Bureau is instructed to reprogram unobligated balances from the 1953 program funds to effect the following trans-mission line location changes:

1. Relocate that section of the Missouri Basin transmission system in the vicinity of Sidney, Montana, to eliminate obstruction of the Richland County airport, at a cost of not to exceed$35,000.

2. Relocate approximately six miles of Fort Peck-Great Falls trallS-mission line, in the vic.inity of Havre, Montana, for the protection of a schoo], related public facilities and homes, at a cost no't to exceed

$90,000.

The committee has deleted all funds requested for the Transmission division for general property, stores and equipment. It is'requested that an inventory be made of not only this material, but of all such material in all agencies of the Department, with a view. to transferring such items from locations where the need may no longer exist for them to locations where it may be needed, and disposal of such material as can be clearly shown as not needed in the reasonable future. The committee has als() eliminated funds programed for project inves-tigations.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

The comtnittee has allowed an appropriation of$18,000,000against the budget request of $24,800,000 for this program. The amount allowed is a reduction of $6,800,000 below the budget estimate and

$1,000,000 below the amount available in the .current year.

The committee has disallowed $800,00.0 which was requested for transfer to the Department of Agriculture for agricultural services, in connection with reclamation projects. This monay was requested for use of the Soil Conservation Service ,and other agencies of the Depart-ment of Agriculture to carryon research and to give technical assist-ance to farmers for improved irrigation·on f~rmsin reclamation proj-ect areas. The committee believes it desirable that funds appro-priated for reclama.tion work should not be extended for a,ctivities beyond ~eliveryof irrig~ti.on. wa~er to farms: This request for funds to~tu~y J!llprovement~illIT~IgatlOna1?-d to supply technicalassistanc~

to IrrlgatIOn farmers IS agrlcultural ~n character. and apparently in somewhat the same category as agrIcultural aSSIStance on

nonirri-ga~edfarms.

'r

he committee feels that t~isis a worthy program but strIctly an AgrICulture Department functIOn for which funds should be included i:n the Agriculture Department Appropriation Bill.

. The commItt.ee expects thatthe.b~koft~ereduction in the opera-tIOns and maIntenance apprOprlatIOn will be achieved through at.trition of personnel and th:ou~hreductions which may be

accom-pl~shed ~hrough the reorgarnzatIOnal study suggested previously in

thIS sectIOn of the report.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

The committee recommends an appr?p;riation of$4,250,000 against the .budgetreque~t o~ $5,2~0,900. ThIS IS a reduction of$1,000,000.

As m the foregolllg Item, It IS expected that much of this reduction can be arrived at through attrition, and the elinlination and consoli-dation of field offices of the Bureau.

83D CONGRESS

1st Session .} HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES {

DOCUMENT· No. 221

PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CONSERVE AND IMPROVE THE. NATION'S NATURAL RESOURCES

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

RELATIVE TO

A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CONSERVE AND' IMPROVE THE NATION'S NATURAL RESOURCES

JULY31, 1953.~Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the State ot

the Union and ordered to be printen

To the Congress of the United States:

In the stress of dealing with urgent problem.s of peace and security and budget appropriations and tax revenues, we som.etim.es overlook the fund am.ental im.portance to our national wellbeing of constructive, forward-looking policies designed to conserve and im.prove the Nation's natural renewable resources.

Before the Congress adjourns, therefore, I believe it will be useful to focus attention on som.e of our basic land and water resource prob-lems and to point the way for constructiv-e efforts to improve the m.anagement and use of these resources.

In m.y state of the Union m.essage, I called attention to the vast importance to this Nation now and in the future of our soil and water, our forests and minerals, and our wildlife resources. I indicated the need for a strong Federal program. in the field of resource developm.ent. At the sam.e tim.e I pointed to the necessity for a cooperative partner-ship of the States and local com.m.unities, private citizens, and the Federal Governm.ent in carrying out a sound natural-resources program.

In addition to the imm.ediate danger of waste resulting from. inade-quate conservation measures, we m.ust bear in m.ind the needs of a growing popula~ionand an expanding economy. At present we are

2 CONSERVE AND IMPROVE THE NATION'S NATURAL RESOURCES faced with excess reserves of some agricultural commodities and the need for production adjustments to gear our agricultural economy to current demands. But in the long run, we shall need to give increased attention to the improvement and reclamation of land in its broadest aspects, including soil productivity, irrigation, drainage, and the replenishing of ground-water reserves, if we are adequately to feed and clothe our people, to provide gainful em.ploym.ent, and to continue to improve our standard of living.

Our basic problem is to carry forward the tradition of conserva-tion, improvement, and wise use and development of our land and water resources-a policy initiated 50 years ago under the leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt. To do this within the framework of a sound fiscal policy and in the lighi-J of defense needs will require

the maximum cooperation among the States and local communities, farmers, businessmen, and other private citizens, and the Federal Government. Itwill require the development of clear guidelines to be established by the Congress as to the proper functions of the Federal Government. Itwill require the revitalization of renewable resources by users who should be entitled to reasonable assurances in connec-tion with authorized uses. It will require adherence to sound princi-ples for the financing and the sharing of the cost of multiple-purpose land and water resources development. It will require improved Federal organization to accomplish a more logical division of respon-sibilities among the various Federal agencies in order that resource development programs may be carried on with the greatest efficiency and the least duplication. And it will require comprehensive river basin planning with the cooperation of State and local interests.

This administration is moving ahead in the formulation of sound organization and improved policies for the use of our soil, our public lands, and our water resources. I have requested, and the Congress has granted through Reorganization Plan No.2, increased authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to improve the organization of the Department of Agriculture. I have recently established by Executive order a National Agricultural Advisory Commission. A review is being made of the basic power policies of the Federal Government in connection with multiple-purpose river basin development as it relates to private economic development. The Corps of Engineers is making a study of the basis for State and local financial participation in local flood-protection works. There are under detailed study various proposals for dealing with the complicated problems of overlapping and duplicative authority among the several resource"-development agencies. And the Bureau of the Budget and the resource agencies are reviewing the present standards and procedures for" evaluation and cost allocation of water resource development projects.

It is fortunate that today there is a growing recognition. on the part of land users and the public generally of tbe need to strengthen conservation in our upstream watersheds and to minimize flood damage. Inadequate conservation measures and unsound land-use patterns vastly increase- the danger of loss of valuable topsoil from wind erosion in time of subnormal rainfall and from water erosion in time of floods.

This should be done as an integral part of our total flood-control and water-use program. In our past efforts to better utilize our water resources, to control floods and to prevent loss of life and