Evening star., 1952-02-18
Bill on Wafer Policy
Gives Control 10 IS
Basin Commissions

A draft Of q proposed national
water policy law, made public to-
day by members of the recent
Presidents National Water Re.
sources Policy Commission. wouid
place control over the development
Iof the Nations water resources ir
Is river basin commissions.
The proposed bill, issued a year
after the commissions report to
the President. also provides for a
Federal Beview Board to co-ordi-
nate all river basin development
projects.
The commission q year age
issued three reports after an ex-
tensive study Of the Nations water
resources. These consisted Of "a
Water Policy for the American
People: "Ten Rivers in America 1
Future" and water Resources
Law"
The draft of the proposed bill
made public today also was given
the President along with the COM
missions full reports.
It is understood, however, that
the proposed bill was held up until
further study of the commission
reports could be made by the Bud
get Bureau. at the Presidents re-
quest.
To Congress Next Month.
During the last yea- tine Budget
Bureau has been working on q
draft Of legislation establishing q
National water policy law, ex-
|pected to reach Congress early
next month.
In a statement accompanying
the proposed bill. Morris L. Cooke
chairman Of the commission, said
the bill was made public in "ac.
|cordance with the considered
judgment of all members who
served on the Presidents Water
Resources Policy Commission, and
with the consent of President Tru-
man"
Under terms Of the bill, each OF
the Is commissions would con-
sist Of 9 members, and would be
headed by a chairman appointed
by the President with Senate ap-
proval.
The bill provides that each ba-
sin commission chairman would
receive $17.500 q year, and that
commission members would be
paid $4,000 a year.
Local Role Assured.
The bill states that local parti-
cipation in basin planning and
development would be assured by
the local members. and further
provides that system Of public
hearings be established in pre-
pairing for basin development.
In addition to planning for
basin development along q multi
purpose line. the commissions also
would be responsible for estab-
lishment Of a 20-year development
plan.
Co-ordinating the commissions
Of the Is major basin areas would
be a f1ve-member Federal Review
Board to be appointed by the
President. Board members would
receive salaries of $17.50O q year,
and would serve at the pleasure
of the President.
The boards duties would be to
review all projects advocated by
basin commissions, to prepare bud
gets and present to the President
and Congress each year a blanket
request for funds for basin devel-
opment.
Have Planning Role.
Under terms of the bill the
major task Of planning and de-
velopment would fall to the basin
commissions.
The bill seeks to write into the
law recommendations made by the
commission in its report to the
President last year.
The bill furthermore provides
that projects advanced by basin
commissions would be evaluated
according to an investment ap-
praisal statement as provided by
the review board.
In order to facilitate reimburse
ments through direct charges
where practicable, and otherwise
through cooperation Of State and
local governments. the bill speci-
fies requests for project authori-
cations would be accompanied by
specific plans and provisions de-
signed to assure maximum reim-
bursements.
In flood control projects. for
example. agreement would be
made with State and localities to
pay those portions Of the project
costs that would directly benefit
these States and localities. ALI
other costs would be assumed By
the Government.
No. Interest Charges.
The repayment by the States
and localities would extend ovel
10 50-year period and would be
without interest charges.
The bill provides that where
power developments are con.
lstructed, rates would be suficient
to cover the portion Of the annual
Operation and maintenance costs
allocated to power, the cost Of re.
placement allocated to power and
payments to States and local gov
|ernments equal to taxes which
would have hNen navohlA IN,