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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxof0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DOCUMENT RE.zUIME
064 9 - [b194b966]
Iaproved Project Authorizations end Agency Practices Can
increase Co:iqressional Control of WatEr Pesources Prcjects.
CED-78-123. B-1679Li. July 11, 1978. Released July ;5, 1978. 23
pp. + 3 appendices j12 [p.).
ieport to Sen. Edmund S. MusKie, Chairzan, Senate Ccsmittee on
Ludqet; Sen. Henry Delinon, Rankinq Minority Meaber; by Elmer B.
Staats, Comptrcller General.
Issue Area: Water and Water Related Ecgrams (2500).
Contact: Community and Economic DevcUopmcnt Div.
3udqet Function: Natural Resources, Ervircameut, and Energy:
water Resources and Power (301).
orqenizatio1 Concerned: Department of the Intericrz Bureau of
Reclamation; Department of the Army: Ccrps of Engineers.
Conqressional Relevance: House Committ. : on Interior and Insular
Affairs; Senate Committee on Energy and Natur,,1 Resources;
Senate Committee on Budget. Sen. Edmund S. Nuskie; Sen.
fienry Bellmon.
Authority: Flood Ccntrol Act of 1965 (P.L. 89- 98). Water
Fesources Develcpment Act of 1974. katex hesources
Ueveiopment Act of 197b. Colorado Siv~r 3asin Salinity
Control Act, title I.
The Congress has used two separate authorization
rethods to control the development of funding cf water res.urces
projects--the two-phase authorizaticn for the Corps of Engineers
anid an authorization ceiling for the Eureau of Beclamaticn. The
two-phase authorization was begun in 1974 to give the Congress
increased control ov.r the design of bater rescurces projects
and the changes which occur during project planning ty providing
the Conqress with a _econd look during the planning phase befcre
authorization of construction. Findings/Conclusicns: Each of
the authorization methcds provides Ecme benefits to thE
Corqress, but neither is adequate by itself to provide effective
control over planninq and developing the prcjects. Nc Ccrps
projects have been throuqh the twv-phase process because of
delays by the Secretary of the Army and the Office of Management
and budqet in reviewinq Corps planning documents. Aithcuch the
Corps must state that a project is without sutstantial
controversy to allow a continuaticn of plat;ning, no criteria for
defining this term have been established. The Corps has ct
adequately notified the Congress of chacgis to projects and the
reasons for them. It has erceeded estimated costs by significant
amounts toL nonirflationary items without notifying the
authorization committees aid has credited inflation for too much
ot increasei co.:ts. benefits of the authorizatica ceilinc are
that it serves as an early indicator of prcblems, limits Feaeral
expuziiture6, and controls the nature and scope of projects.
Currtat pcoblems in establishing the authorization ceiling are
that it is establi-hed too early in the planning process for](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxof0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)