IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 86

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding Federal decisions, actions, and

regulations affecting water.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 15, 1999

Mr. BLUMENAUER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding Federal

decisions, actions, and regulations affecting water.

Whereas watersheds and water issues transcend local, State,

tribal, and national boundaries;

Whereas the Federal Government has long been involved in

the development of water policy through its management

of water resources, its construction of water and navigation projects, and its implementation of Federal regulatory statutes;

Whereas Federal decisions and actions affecting water have

focused on addressing a series of engineering challenges

rather than implementing a long-term, comprehensive

plan developed with adequate coordination among Federal departments and agencies;
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•HCON 86 IH

Whereas despite devoting years of effort and spending billions

of dollars to meet the challenges posed by water issues,

the Federal Government cannot guarantee the people of

the Nation clean drinking water, reliable flood protection,

or lakes and rivers that can support recreation or wildlife;

Whereas despite the fact that public and private entities

spent $260,000,000,000 between 1970 and 1984 to construct and operate wastewater treatment facilities, it is

becoming increasingly difficult to supply the needs of the

Nation for safe, clean water;

Whereas despite the fact that the Federal Government spent

more than $38,000,000,000 between 1960 and 1985 to

control flooding, flood losses in the United States now average approximately $8,000,000,000 each year;

Whereas, when adjusted for inflation, current annual losses

due to flooding in the United States are 4 times greater

than such losses experienced in the early 1950’s;

Whereas fish habitat in more than 50 percent of the Nation’s

streams suffer from such adverse water conditions as turbidity, high temperature, high concentrations of toxins,

and low levels of dissolved oxygen;

Whereas more than 50 percent of the wetlands that existed

in the contiguous United States 200 years ago are now

gone, greatly diminishing the natural mechanisms of

flood control and water cleansing;

Whereas Federal regulations hinder the implementation of innovative strategies that are necessary to meet the water

needs of the Nation; and
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•HCON 86 IH

Whereas comprehensive, innovative watershed plans that recognize the relationship between land use and water must

be developed and implemented: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the de3 partments and agencies of the Federal Government

4 should—

5 (1) coordinate, to the greatest extent possible,

6 Federal decisions and actions that affect water;

7 (2) ensure that each Federal decision or action

8 that affects water promotes, to the greatest extent

9 possible, the use of water in a sustainable manner;

10 (3) promote processes for developing com11 prehensive watershed plans that include all appro12 priate local and regional governments within water13 sheds and that consider the implications of land use

14 on water;

15 (4) consider the impact on entire watersheds

16 when making a Federal decision or taking a Federal

17 action that affects water;

18 (5) promote the involvement of citizen and envi19 ronmental groups and the business community in

20 watershed planning processes, and provide for such

21 involvement when making a Federal decision or tak22 ing a Federal action that affects water;
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•HCON 86 IH

1 (6) establish clear standards for compliance

2 with Federal regulations affecting bodies of water or

3 water supplies; and

4 (7) provide flexibility for such compliance, using

5 market forces whenever possible.

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