44 



designated by the Chair of the Task Force. Including these 

 agencies will facilitate coordination of existing programs and 

 policies. 



H.R. 4481 creates a National Council to review and select 

 restoration projects for funding that are consistent with and 

 supportive of the Strategy. The Service believes that this is a 

 reasonable approach to project selection. A local or regional 

 approach would have the benefit of improved responsive:. jss to 

 local needs. However, such an approach would also reguire 

 establishing parallel review systems that might create 

 inconsistencies in application of the Strategy. Reguirements 

 that restoration projects include local cooperators and cost- 

 sharing would insure responsiveness to local needs. 



Many Federal agencies and programs are now taking watershed 

 approaches. For instance, the Administration is pursuing 

 watershed and ecosystem approaches in the context of the Clean 

 Water Act reauthorization. We understand that the Committee is 

 working to ensure that H.R. 4481 would complement, rather than 

 duplicate, the Clean Water Act. The Administration welcomes the 

 opportunity to work with you on recommendations we might have 

 towards this end. 



The Service has a long history of working with State, local, 

 tribal governments, private interests, and other Federal 



