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Strategy and Recommendations for Modernizing America's Water

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Strategy and Recommendations for Modernizing America's Water Strategy and Recommendations for Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure Initial Reports and Recommendations Prepared by the Water Subcabinet Pursuant to Executive Order 13956 titled “Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure” issued October 13, 2020. January 2021 Submitted by: The Water Subcabinet Dr. Tim Petty Assistant Secretary for Water and Science U.S. Department of the Interior Co-Chair, Water Subcabinet Anna Wildeman Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Co-Chair, Water Subcabinet Bill Northey Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation U.S. Department of Agriculture R.D. James Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works U.S. Department of Defense Daniel R. Simmons Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy U.S. Department of Energy Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet, Ph.D., USN Ret Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U. S. Department of Commerce 2 MEMO January 12, 2021 To: Mary Neumayr, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality Kelvin Droegemeier, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cc: Larry Kudlow, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Brooke Rolling, Acting Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Rachael Slobodien, Chief of Staff of the Council of Economic Advisers From: Dr. Tim Petty, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior and Co-Chair of the Water Subcabinet Anna Wildeman, Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Co-Chair of the Water Subcabinet Subject: Reports and Recommendations prepared pursuant to Executive Order 13956, titled “Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure” Modernizing the management of our Nation’s water resources and infrastructure improves the quality of life for every American. For the past three years our agencies have coordinated like never before to help ensure that all Americans have access to safe, reliable water supplies essential for our communities, our economy, and for recreation and the environment. On October 13, 2020, Executive Order 13956, titled “Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure” was issued formally establishes an interagency Water Subcabinet that will streamline the Federal government’s approach to managing America’s water resources and work to upgrade our Nation’s water infrastructure, safeguard public health, and create jobs. The Water Subcabinet includes the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of the Army (Civil Works), the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Pursuant to Executive Order 13956, the Water Subcabinet is delivering the following items: • Section 4 “Reducing Inefficiencies and Duplication” – The first assessment of Federal water related task forces, working groups, and other formal cross-agency initiatives (Federal interagency working groups) being considered for coordination, consolidation, or retirement. This assessment, along with recommendations for coordination, consolidation, and retirement, will be updated and provided to CEQ, OSTP, and OMB quarterly, beginning January 2021, per the methodology described in the Section 4 Federal Action Plan. • Section 5 “Improving Water Resource Management” – The initial report and recommendations, which examine specific National water resources and infrastructure issues. • Section 7 “Integrated Infrastructure Planning” – The report and recommendations to support integrated planning and coordination among agencies to modernize our Nation’s water infrastructure. • Section 8 “Water Sector Workforce” – The Report on Recommendations to Ensure Maintenance and Sustainability of America’s Water Workforce. 3 Sec. 4. Reducing Inefficiencies and Duplication. Currently, hundreds of Federal water related task forces, working groups, and other formal cross-agency initiatives (Federal interagency working groups) exist to address water resource management. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Water Subcabinet shall, to the extent practicable, identify all such Federal interagency working groups and provide recommendations to the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on coordinating and consolidating these Federal interagency working groups, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. Pursuant to section 4 of Executive Order 13956, the Water Subcabinet submits the following report and recommendations (“Section 4 Action Plan”). Reducing Inefficiencies and Duplication Introduction Within the Federal government and across the Nation, numerous Federal departments, agencies, and bureaus facilitate Federal water related task forces, working groups, and other formal cross-agency initiatives (Federal interagency working groups) that are tasked with similar, if not identical, missions, goals, and objectives across geographic and subject matter areas. Duplication and redundancy creates inefficiencies and delays policy implementation, resulting in wasteful spending, dilution of dedicated resources, and confusion between participants and decision makers, as well as beneficiaries and external stakeholders. More fundamentally, such duplicative efforts risk of undermining the mission of the working groups themselves. Through increased coordination and streamlining the Federal interagency working groups, Federal, state, and local participants will achieve: • Increased productivity and effectiveness in accomplishing the intended mission of the Federal interagency working groups; • More efficient and focused use of resources for better delivery of services and implementation of activities at the regional, state, and local levels; • Improved communication and time management; • Greater transparency and accountability to better capture progress and success, expedite processes, and increase responsiveness in decision making; and • A clear and up to date vision of the current status, challenges, and accomplishments of these working groups. Methodology To reduce unnecessary duplication across the Federal government, the Water Subcabinet will undertake quarterly or other regularly scheduled assessments of existing Federal interagency working groups and provide consistent recommendations to coordinate, consolidate, or retire existing Federal interagency working groups. The Water Subcabinet will initiate the following practices: 4 • Quarterly Data Call of All Federal Interagency Working Groups o Member agencies of the Water Subcabinet will, beginning in January 2021, update quarterly the list of Federal interagency working groups and provide recommendations to the Chairman of CEQ, the Director of OMB, and the Director of OSTP on coordinating, consolidating, or retiring existing and new Federal interagency working groups. o To organize and assess associated and related Federal interagency working groups, recommendations will be categorized using either a Geographic (i.e., the Great Lakes region) or Subject Matter (i.e., forecasting) area. Moving forward, additional categories may be established as deemed appropriate. • Designation of One Federal Lead o The Department, Agency or Bureau that is designated as the lead entity in an identified Geography or Subject Matter area, will be tasked with ensuring quarterly updates are provided and making recommendations for coordinating, consolidating, or retiring related interagency working groups. o Upon adoption by the Executive Office of the President of the recommendations, the lead Department, Agency or Bureau working in close coordination with the Water Subcabinet, shall implement the recommendation to coordinate, consolidate, or retire the existing Federal interagency working groups. • Assessment & Recommendations o Working groups within an individual Geographic or Subject Matter area, the Water Subcabinet shall be assessed for coordination, consolidation or retirement based on based on, but not limited to, the following criteria: . Mission Accomplished – Has the Federal interagency working group met its specified mandate? . Frequency and Relevance – When did the Federal interagency working group last meet? How often does the Federal interagency working group meet? . Origin and Authority – How was the Federal interagency working group created (i.e., Legislation, Executive Actions including Executive Orders and Presidential Memorandum, Court Settlement, etc.)? Under what authority does the working group convene? What authority, if any, does the working group administer? Recommendation Recommendations to CEQ, OMB, and OSTP must include the following metrics for consideration: • Justification – Summary of the data call, categorization, and assessment process; • Propose New Organizational Alignment for the Federal Interagency Working Groups – As described and supported by the Justification summary; and • Appropriations Summary – The Water Subcabinet will provide a snapshot analysis of the current appropriations of each Federal interagency working group
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