Reclamation Association. We believe that the program fills a very definite need throughout the West. We are especially appreciative of the support and cooperation that has been given to this program by this committee. I believe every project which has been submitted to the committee has been approved, and the program is moving forward in a very fine manner. Following are the lists of projects now underway for which we endorse appropriations wholeheartedly: Loans underway Browns Valley Irrigation District, California. Donna Irrigation District, Texas. Eastern Municipal Water District, California. Solano Irrigation District, California. South San Joaquin Irrigation District, California. New loans Klamath Basin Improvement District, Oregon Weber-Box Elder Conservation District project No. 2, Utah CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION We believe the recommendations made by the Bureau of the Budget for construction and rehabilitation will in most, if not all, instances carry this program forward in very good shape for the current_year. We endorse the program and urge appropriations as recommended by the Bureau of the Budget for this purpose. We note that there are two new projects included in the list of projects in the construction and rehabilitation program, the Glen Elder unit in Kansas and the Oahe unit, James section, in South Dakota. We are glad of the opportunity to endorse those new starts. DEPRECIATING VALUE OF THE DOLLAR Although the appropriations during the past several years have shown some increase, it should be noted that the actual increase in the amount of work is not as significant as the dollar increase might indicate, based upon the 1947-49 dollar. Attached is a tabulation showing the actual appropriations and also the actual purchasing value of the amount appropriated, based upon the 1947-49 dollar, for each year from 1948 through 1962 (exhibit No. 2). ATTACHMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS I have attached several appendixes to my statement, including the two previously referred to, and also two resolutions which were adopted at the last annual meeting of our association in Billings, Mont., in October 1961. I would like to request that these attachments and resolutions be included in the record as a part of my statement. Again, Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank you and the members of your committee for the very fine cooperation and the many courtesies that have been extended to me over the years that I have been appearing before you as a witness on behalf of the National Reclamation Association, representing the irrigation interests of the West. Respectfully submitted. WILLIAM E. WELSH, Secretary-Manager. 1 Excludes $3,200,000 included in Missouri River Basin investigations. EXHIBIT No. 2 $1,575,000 $9,790,000 10, 126, 100 5,865, 091 11,942, 993 16, 376, 275 18, 356, 784 10, 564, 696 4,301, 930 4,457, 431 8,066, 741 8,019, 000 10, 134, 500 9, 520, 118 7,594, 004 797, 550 $1,042, 400 1,037, 790 7,294, 667 9,467, 610 1,279,000 10, 940,000 1,233,000 13,035,000 Tabulation showing construction appropriations for reclamation including actual construction appropriations and purchasing power of construction appropriations based upon the 1947–49 dollar for fiscal years 1948 through 1961 RESOLUTION No. 5. AUTHORIZATION AND APPROPRIATIONS FOR CONTINUED RECLAMATION PROGRAMS Whereas water is the lifeblood of municipal, agricultural and industrial existence; and the continuous conservation, development and utilization of the water resources of the States of this Nation are necessary to the growth of the Nation; and Whereas remaining undeveloped water supplies are limited in amount, erratic in availability, are located long distances from necessary points of use and require major storage for control; and Whereas the reclamation States provide expanding markets for the Nation's goods and are absorbing a large share of the increase in population in the United States because of the location of needed and newly discovered raw materials in the area and the ever-present necessity for the decentralization of industry in the interest of national defense; and Whereas the Federal Government, since its inception, has recognized its responsibility in the support of improvement resulting in public benefits, including the Reclamation Act of 1902 and subsequent legislation relating to the development and construction of major multipurpose water-use projects; and Whereas such improvements and water-use projects must be carried forward in keeping with increasing national needs and on a feasible local and national economic basis; and Whereas the development of basinwide projects for the full use of a water resource is a difficult, complicated and time-consuming process often involving many States having common interests in interstate streams, requiring decades of effort; and Whereas the magnitude and necessity for multiple use basinwide developments within the framework and limitations prescribed by interstate compacts and State laws require joint action by the States involved and the support of all reclamation States; and Whereas greater public understanding and appreciation of local, regional, and national benefits of the entire reclamation program are necessary: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That: (1) The National Reclamation Association vigorously reaffirms its support of the basic principles of reclamation accepted as national policy for more than 50 years, namely; (A) Use of Federal money without interest for the irrigation features; (B) Use of power revenues on a feasible economic basis to help pay reclamation costs, and (C) The inherent right and obligation of the people of the reclamation States with the assistance of the Federal Government to develop fully their water and power resources in accordance with applicable interstate compacts and the water laws of the respective States, which are and should be binding on the United States in the development of water resources. (2) The individual States, and especially the Reclamation States through the directors of the National Reclamation Association, be urged to support vigorously and unanimously, a reclamation program designed to fully develop the land and water resources of the Nation within the limit of available water supplies. (3) The officers of the National Reclamation Association inform the public of the basic facts and far-reaching benefits of present and proposed water-resource development. (4) The officers of the National Reclamation Association bring to the attention of the President and Congress the extent to which the national welfare and available expanding markets will be impaired and curtailed if the Federal reclamation program is not expanded. (5) The officers of the National Reclamation Association bring to the attention of the President and Congress the ever-present need for authorization of new projects justifiable under the law which will develop, control, conserve, and utilize the water resources of the Nation to keep pace with its expanding population and improving standards of living. RESOLUTION No. 14. ADEQUATE APPROPRIATIONS FOR WATER DEVELOPMENT Whereas the objective of the National Reclamation Association is the complete development of the land and water resources of the West; and Whereas such reclamation development, being of distinct benefit to the whole Nation, has been a Federal policy for more than half a century; and Whereas a sound reclamation program is dependent in large measure on continued and coordinated investigation, planning, research and construction programs of the several Federal agencies concerned with water resources development; and Whereas the accomplishment of these programs calls for adequate appropriations by the Congress: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That: (1) The National Reclamation Association hereby directs its officers to support before the Congress requests for sufficient appropriations to: (a) Permit the Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers to continue progressive and uninterrupted investigations, planning and construction programs in consonance with the needs therefor: (b) Support acceleration of the Forest Service program of revegetation, watershed restoration, range improvements, and physical improvements of national forests, which will improve water production and control erosion: (c) Support and continue the snow surveys and streamflow forecasting of the Department of Agriculture; (d) Permit prompt and continuing acquisition, publication, and distribution by the Geological Survey of basic data respecting both streamflow and ground water resources throughout the Nation; (e) Permit completion of standard topographic mapping of the United States, if possible, by the year 1970; (f) Support research, investigation, and action programs in soil and water conservation, basic and essential to the sound development and full continued care of the Nation's land and water resources, basinwide and in harmony with multiple-use projects development; (g) Support the land capability inventory to be completed as soon as practicable; (h) Support collection and dissemination of basic meteorological data by the U.S. Weather Bureau; (i) Provide for the control and eradication of noxious weeds and insects on Federally-controlled lands; (2) The various departments and agencies affected should devise standards and procedures such as will eliminate or minimize duplication of investigations, research and the basic work common to more than one department or agency. (3) Information developed by the Federal Government shall be made available, at reasonable cost, to all citizens who desire its use. (4) The various affected States are urged to give full support to the foregoing program. BUDGET REQUESTS ADEQUATE Chairman HAYDEN. You may proceed. Mr. WELSH. There are several phases of the program which have been discussed before you from year to year, including particularly general investigations. I know that we have been down here over a period of years talking about the necessity of a certain program at a certain level for general investigations, but we are very much pleased with the trend that that item is taking. We have a statement prepared here which shows the allocations for all different purposes under general investigations and it does show a very favorable trend, and we believe that the budget requests that are made this year for that purpose will take care of the program in very good shape. Chairman HAYDEN. I am very glad to hear that because it has been very difficult in the past to get all the money that was needed for that purpose. Mr. WELSH. We appreciate the support we have had in getting that particular item up there on that basis, Mr. Chairman. I think that the recommendations that have been made for the construction rehabilitation program also will take care of the existing program, the existing projects, in very good shape. CENTRAL UTAH PROJECT I recently received a letter from our good reclamation friend, Senator Bennett, concerning the Central Utah project, so this morning I called the Bureau of Reclamation people to inquire further about that, and I understand that there is now in their budget request an item of $107,000 for advance planning for that and they are requesting an additional $370,000, I believe it is, for that item. We think that is a very good and a very worthwhile project. Certainly, set out there in the middle of the desert, it is the most undeveloped part of the entire United States, and if that can be developed, we would like to support it. Chairman HAYDEN. Have you ever visited that area? Mr. WELSH. Yes, sir. SMALL RECLAMATION PROJECTS Going back to the Molokai and the small reclamation program, that is a program which our association sponsored, to begin with, until we had the Small Projects Act through the Congress. We think it is a very good program. We appreciate the support that has been given to it. I believe that every project that has been submitted to this committee under the small reclamation projects has been approved, and we appreciate that, and we do strongly support that program. Chairman HAYDEN. They have been very good projects up to now? Mr. WELSH. Yes, sir. I do not believe, Mr. Chairman, that it is necessary for me to take up any more time. I know that you have a long ordeal to hear the testimony covering the whole matter. Chairman HAYDEN. Thank you for your appearance. Mr. WELSH. We do appreciate the support which you have given reclamation over the years. sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman HAYDEN. Mr. Oakes, we will be glad to hear from you, EDISON ELECTRIC INSTITUTE STATEMENTS OF CHARLES E. OAKES, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO., AND APPEARING AS CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE ON POWER CAPACITY AND POOLING OF THE EDISON ELECTRIC INSTITUTE; EVERETT PALMER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO., AND JOHN KEARNEY, OF THE EDISON ELECTRIC INSTITUTE STAFF GENERAL STATEMENT Mr. OAKES. My name is Charles E. Oakes. I am chairman of the board of the Pennsylvania Power & Light Co., and I appear here today as chairman of the policy committee on powercapacity and pooling of the Edison Electric Institute. With me are Mr. Everett Palmer, vice president of the Pennsylvania Power & Light Co., and Mr. John Kearney of the EEI staff, who will assist in my presentation. The institute includes 188 operating companies. These companies serve over 47 million customers comprising over 97 percent of all the customers of the investor-owned electric industry and some 77 percent of our Nation's electric users. The member companies of the institute have taken a real interest in the making of economically sound interconnection and pooling of their facilities for many years and they find the BPA's request now before this committee for consideration of some concern and especially so by our member companies in the Northwest. Within this particular regional group are Washington Water Power and Puget Sound Power & Light in Washington; Portland General Electric and Pacific Power & Light in Oregon; Idaho Power Co.; Montana Power Co.; and in California, Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison. |