WORKING ABSTRACT FOR A
COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED WATER POLICY

This document was created for the July 28, 2009 National Water Policy event as a working draft for federal legislation to shape national water policy.

Purpose:

This Act would provide funding ($10-15 million) for the Executive Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) research account for FY2011 to carry out the initial development of a comprehensive integrated water policy (CIWP). Coordination and Entities Involved:

The intent is for OSTP to develop and implement a comprehensive, integrated water policy (CIWP) in coordination with the following Federal entities:

  • Council on Environmental Quality;
  • Environmental Protection Agency's Science and Technology Office;
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Drinking Water;
  • U.S. Geological Survey;
  • U.S. Department of Interior;
  • U.S. Bureau of Reclamation;
  • U.S. Department of Energy;
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture;
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs;
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection;
  • U.S. Department of State; and
  • jurisdictional U.S. Congressional Committees

Duties:

This Act specifically directs OSTP to coordinate a study of current water management programs with the President of the United States and listed Federal entities, while seeking input from each of the relevant Congressional Committees and major entities responsible for:

  • water resource management, water-borne illnesses, and national security at the State and regional (watershed) level;
  • international water management and national governance and security-related entities in countries throughout the world.

Each of the Federal entities involved will be directed to perform a systems analysis study coordinated with OSTP and recommend ways to increase water supplies and improve the availability, reliability, and quality of freshwater resources to meet critical municipal, industrial, agricultural, Energy, Security and Environmental needs, in consultation with the States, Tribes, and local public and private entities responsible for water management.

  • The study shall identify common principles of operation that if applied bring cohesion to national water policy;
  • OSTP shall include in this study a comprehensive assessment of future water supply and demand needs of Native American communities;
  • Also, as part of this systems study, OSTP with its partner organization shall seek methods to expand U.S. water supplies to help adapt to climate variation, population growth and other large-scale stresses including conducting a study of existing and possible future sustainable water supply facilities, above and below ground. When appropriate, non-structural elements should be recommended over structural elements in order to safeguard the environment;
  • Recommendations for planning should occur within the framework of watershed management, and not State-by-State, not project-by-project, and not contrary to the natural boundaries of the watershed; and
  • Finally as part of this systems study, OSTP is directed to develop a process for evaluating the feasibility of creating an office in the White House that would be tasked with implementing the CIWP.

Report and Implementation:

OSTP is directed to furnish a final report to the President of the United States and the respective authorizing Committees in Congress within one year of the program's enactment. Upon completion of the report, OSTP is authorized by the President of the United States and the respective authorizing Committees in Congress to establish an office in the White House to coordinate with the President and relevant Federal entities responsible for water resource management and research of and prevention of waterborne illnesses, to carry out the implementation of the recommendations furnished in the report for a comprehensive integrated water policy at the domestic and international level.

Additional Funding and Duties:

Congress would also appropriate funding/reprogram money to all relevant Federal agencies involved in coordination, research and study, development of report, and implementation of recommendations. OSTP would be provided with a full-time staff dedicated to the development and implementation of a CIWP. Upon completion of the report, the President may choose to appoint someone from the public or private sector.