Information
Resolution of the Board of Directors
On March 19, 2010 the Board of Directors of WESTCAS unanimously passed a Resolution calling upon both the Executive and Legislative branches of government to involve the public and local governments in all water policy legislation.
WESTCAS Resolution March 19, 2010
U. S. Government Resource Links
The White House
U. S. House of Representatives
House Committee on Natural Resources
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
House Committee on Appropriations
House Budget Committee
U. S. Senate
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Senate Appropriations Committee
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Senate Budget Committee
The Roll Call
Regulatory Comments
Appropriations Testimony
WESTCAS utilizes its Legislative Committee for the review of legislation and preparation of testimony regarding proposed annual appropriations for federal agencies budgeted for water resource management activities. The Legislative Committee typically follows multiple federal agency budget proposals. For further insight into recent WESTCAS statements on agency appropriations, please refer to the specific example testimony below for the following agencies: Bureau of Reclamation, Corps of Engineers, EPA, USDA, USGS, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Instructions for Providing FY10 Appropriations Testimony in House and
Senate-March 6, 2009
Instructions for Appropriations Testimony
WESTCAS submits testimony regarding the FY 09 Environmental Protection Agency Budget
on April 25, 2008.
WESTCAS Testimony on FY 2009 EPA Budget
WESTCAS submits testimony regarding the FY 09 Budget for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on March 19, 2008.
WESTCAS Testimony for the Energy and Water Subcommittee 3-19-08
WESTCAS supports increased federal funding for water reclamation/reuse Title
XVI to assist in addressing the serious drought conditions throughout the
Reclamation states. See the following testimony for details.
WESTCAS EandW Approprops FY08 Bureau
WESTCAS supports increased funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, and the
establishment of performance criteria which will ensure water resource projects
are funded and completed within a timely manner. See the following testimony for
details.
WESTCAS EandW Corps08
WESTCAS supports increased funding for EPA's State Revolving Loan funding
programs for water and wastewater; water quality research; and State and Tribal
Assistance Grants (STAG). See the following testimony for details.
WESTCAS FY08 EPA Approps Testimony
WESTCAS supports increased funding for the FY08 USDA budget and FY07 Farm Bill
regarding conservation programs and rural development in order to protect water
quality and water supplies in the arid west. See the following testimony for
details.
WESTCAS Ag Approps Testimony Fy2008
WESTCAS is concerned about the ongoing reductions in the USGS budgets in light
of major changes in the Arid West due to global warming and natural disasters.
WESTCAS stresses the need for USGS scientific data and analyses to support water
resource management. See the following testimony for details.
WESTCAS Interior AppropsFY08 USGS
WESTCAS USGS Budget Analysis 06
Fish and Wildlife Budget 2007
Authorizing Testimony
WESTCAS utilizes its Legislative and Regulatory Committees for the review of legislation and preparation of testimony regarding specific water-related authorizing legislation. For further insight into recent WESTCAS policy positions on authorizing legislation, please refer to the example testimony below.
WESTCAS submitted testimony for the record regarding S. 2156 "The Science
and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and Responsibly Enhance Water
Act (SECURE) before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
December 11, 2007.
WESTCAS Testimony on S 2156 The Secure Water Act 12-11-07
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held two days of
hearings on July 17 and 19, 2007 on the "Status of the Nation's Waters,
Including Wetlands, Under the Jurisdiction of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act. Much of the testimony provided was in
reference to H.R. 2421, a bill that would amend the Clean Water Act and
among other changes, alter the definition of "waters of the U.S.".
WESTCAS provided testimony for these hearings regarding the definition,
and it is included below.
WESTCAS waters of the U.S. testimony-house-July 2007
WESTCAS supports extending the authority for drought assistance via their support
for an amendment to the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991.
BOR Drought Relief Testimony
WESTCAS supports the development of a new Clean Water Funding Bill and
increased authorization for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds. WESTCAS
supports serious consideration of a Clean Water Trust Fund. See the following
testimony for details.
WESTCAS CW Infrastructure Financing January 19 07
Support Letter for Water Quality Financing
Water Infrastructure Financing Testimony
WESTCAS Support Letter
Key Legal Cases
WESTCAS members are kept abreast of key state and federal court decisions that
influence the management of water resources. Examples of key legal cases include
the following.
Western Amicus Brief
Western Users Amicus Brief
Western Amicus Motion
Key Water Policy Documents
WESTCAS members, via the Legislative and Regulatory committees, collaborate to
create key water policy documents that have had and may have influence on water
resources management in the arid west. Drafts and background materials of policy
positions are presented to the WESTCAS Board for approval, and once approved by
the Board are put into the WESTCAS Policy Statement Template. The following
documents are examples of background materials for Policy statement development,
as well as final WESTCAS Policy Statements.
WESTCAS
Policy Statement Template
Background Material for Policy Statement Development
WESTCAS Policy Statements
WESTCAS Policy
Statement on Whole Effluent Toxicity