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inland waters. But I think that the public problem is the same, regard- 

 less of the location. So, we are trying to attack the overall situation, 

 knowing full well there is an argumentative approach to the dilference 

 in the two areas. But we think the problem is there. 



Mr. Howard. On page V-33 of volume 3 of your report, you state, 

 and I quote : 



The Water Resources Council, established in the Water Resources Planning 

 Act of 1965 (PL 89-90) awards planning grants to the States for their compre- 

 hensive planning in the development of water and related land resources, includ- 

 ing estuarine resources. This planning considers that the nation's watersheds and 

 to the rivers which supply them with fresh water. These watershed relationships 

 determine the characteristics of estuaries and coastal areas and influence their 

 usefulness to man. Among the many objectives of such planning is a consideration 

 of appropriate regional institutional arrangements necessary to implement the 

 comprehensive plans. It also advises the President on national water policy, 

 maintains a continuing assessment of national water supply needs, and coordi- 

 nates the activities of Federal water resources agencies. The Council also over- 

 sees the execution of congressionally authorized comprehensive water and 

 related land resources planning projects for specific river basins. Existing 

 Federal-State river basin commissions under the aegis of the Council are orga- 

 nized and functioning in 15 of the 30 coastal States, and alternative Federal-State 

 planning coordination mechanisms are organized in all thhe remainig coastal 

 areas under the general leadership of the Water Resources Council. 



Secretary Hickel. Yes ; thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that the 

 bill provides that I have to coordinate, as Chairman of the Water Re- 

 sources Council, with all the other Federal agencies that might be in- 

 volved in this particular act. I think, and I will turn this over to my 

 Undersecretary in a moment — that there is some overlapping. But I 

 also think there are some vacuums in the whole planning between 

 water pollution control, the Water Resources Council activities, and 

 what we are trying to do. xlnd I don't know how to better answer that 

 than to say that what we are trying to do is to finally arrive at legis- 

 lation for which we don't have the authority in the Water Pollution 

 Act, for an example, or under the Water Resources Council's mandate. 

 Land use in those areas would pinpoint the problem. 



Mr. Cramer. The makeup of the Water Resource Council, as I 

 understand it, was established by the Water Resoui'ce Planning Act 

 of 1965, and, Mr. Chairman, as I recall, was made up of members of the 

 Cabinet, with the Secretary to have jurisdiction over water problems 

 generally. Isn't that correct ? 



Secretary Hickel. That is correct. 



Mr. CR.VMER. You indicated you serve on that Water Resources 

 Council. Who else serves? 



Secretary Hickel. The Secretaries of Health, Education, and Wel- 

 fare, Agriculture, Commerce, and the Army and the Chairman of the 

 Federal Power Commission. That is pretty close; quite a goodly 

 number. 



Mr. Cramer. As I understand it, the objective of that was to provide 

 for general policy decisions on the high cabinet level relating to 

 water resources programs. Of course, in addition to this, the report 

 states that the act also permits awarding of planning grants for their 

 comprehensive planning in the developing of water and related land 

 resources. 



Could you indicate how you feel that the bill before us would dove- 

 tail into that general planning authority ? 



Secretary Hickel. If I could just make it sort of in a nutshell. 



