The CHAIRMAN. And the bill you have before you is a copy of the bill introduced by Representative Wilson of Oklahoma! Senator KERR. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. And we have no report on the bill thus far. Senator KERR. Our committee in the Senate, Mr. Chairman, had asked for reports also, and I am sure they are in the process of coming here and I only wanted to introduce in the record a copy of the reports that have come to the Senate committee from the Federal Power Commission and the Department of Agriculture if that is agreeable to the committee. The CHAIRMAN. It is quite agreeable. (The reports referred to follow :) Hon, DENNIS CHAVEZ, Chairman, Committee on Public Works, FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION, United States Senate. DEAR CONGRESSMAN CHAVEZ: In response to your request of April 14, a report on S. 1576, a bill to establish the United States Study Commission on the Arkansas-White and Red River Basins, was prepared and submitted to the Bureau of the Budget for clearance. In view of your letter of May 18 requesting immediate report on S. 1576, three copies of the report are submitted herewith without the usual clearance from the Bureau of the Budget. Sincerely yours, NELSON LEE SMITH, Chairman, FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION REPORT ON S. 1576, EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS A BILL To establish the United States Study Commission on the Arkansas-White and Red River Basins The bill S. 1576 provides for the establishment of a United States Study Commission on the Arkansas-White and Red River Basins to investigate, study and survey those basins and to formulate, within a specified time, a basic compre hensive and integrated plan of development of the land and water resources involved for submission to and consideration by the Congress. The Commission would also make recommendations for executing and keeping current such plan. The plan formulated by the Commission would be for flood control and prevention; domestic and municipal water supplies; the improvement and safeguarding of navigation; the reclamation and irrigation of land, including drainage: possibilities of hydroelectric power and industrial development and utilization; soil conservation and utilization; forest conservation and utilization; preservation, protection, and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources; the development of recreation; salinity and sediment control; pollution abatement and the protection of public health and for other beneficial purposes. The Study Commission would be composed of 13 members appointed by the President as follows: (1) One, who shall serve as chairman, and shall be a resident of the river basins involved and not an official or employee of the United States. (2) Four, consisting of a representative of and who is officially connected with each of the Departments of Agriculture, Army, Interior, and the Federal Power Commission. (3) Eight, upon recommendation and nomination of the respective Governors of each of the States of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Study Commission would cease to exist within 3 months after the date of submission of its final report to the President and the Congress. Under the proposed bill full use would be made of existing agencies and of the several plans of development formulated by the agencies. The Federal projects now constructed and in operation, under construction, authorized for construction, or that may be authorized substantially in accordance with the reports currently before Congress, if in compliance with the first section of the Flood Control Act of 1944, could not be altered, restricted, or otherwise impeded or interfered with by reason of the bill. As is evident from the name of the Commission, it would not be a construction or operating agency. The bill, in effect, would seek to accomplish, within the river basins involved, by legislative sanction the aims and purposes of the Federal Inter-Agency River Basin Committee. The Study Commission would probably be organized along the lines of the field committees in the Columbia and Missouri River Basins but the effectiveness of coordination should be greatly improved through the powers conferred upon the Commission by legislation. The bill appears to recognize the manifold land and water resources problems within the river basins, their interrelationship and the provisions of existing law with respect to the development of the basins. The bill, if enacted, should afford the means whereby a comprehensive and integrated plan for development of the basins can be formulated by combining, under legislative directive, the separate plans of the four Federal agencies and the States directly concerned with such development, and by reconciling differences that exist in the various agency and State plans. The formulation of a comprehensive plan, as proposed in the bill, for development, control, and utilization of the water and land resources of the basins involved for the several beneficial public purposes enumerated will unquestionably be in the general public interest and should prove to be of immeasurable benefit not only to the residents of those basins but to the Nation as a whole. The Federal Power Commission is fully in accord with the purposes and objectives of the proposed Study Commission and recognizes that these purposes and objectives cannot be realized without full participation and cooperation between the United States and the States directly involved. In providing a workable organization to take advantage of existing agencies which have been engaged in similar studies for many years, the bill appears to offer a practicable and expeditious method of accomplishing its objectives and making the water resources of the area available for many important uses. The Commission suggests one minor revision in the bill. The directive appearing in section 7 (5) of the proposed bill appears to be patterned after section 1 (b) of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 887) but the directive does not define the water uses as was done in section 1 (b) of that act and section 7 (3) of the proposed bill. It is believed that all three sections should be in conformity and, therefore, it is suggested that section 7 (5) of the proposed bill be amended to read as follows: "(5) Proposals for the use for navigation and generation of power of waters arising in States lying wholly or partly east of the ninety-eighth meridian shall allow only for such use as does not conflict with any beneficial or consumptive use (present or future) in States lying wholly or partly west of the ninetyeighth meridian, of such waters for domestic, municipal, stock water, irrigation, mining, or industrial purposes." FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION, By NELSON LEE SMITH, Chairman. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Senator DENNIS CHAVEZ, Chairman, Committee on Public Works, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR CHAVEZ: Reference is made to your recent request for the views and suggestions of the Department of Agriculture with respect to S. 1576, a bill "To establish the United States Study Commission on the Arkansas-White and Red River Basins," The Department is in agreement with the objectives of the bill to provide for a mechanism whereby an integrated and cooperative study can be made and a comprehensive and coordinated plan prepared to conserve, utilize, and develop the land and water resources of the Arkansas-White and Red River Basins. We also believe that such a study and the formulation of a comprehensive plan will be greatly facilitated and will result in the greatest benefit to the region if the activity is jointly carried out by the several interested Federal agencies and the States involved. We have two specific suggestions to offer with respect to the bill: 1. On page 3, line 7, we would suggest that the words "except as herein provided" be deleted. It does not appear to be the intent of the bill to revoke exist ing authorities of the participating Federal agencies to make surveys and studies and to prepare plans for activities for which they now have a responsibility for carrying out. Rather it appears that the intent of the bill is to authorize coordinated surveys and planning activities by the Commission which are in addition to the normal activities of these agencies. We suggest that the inclusion of the phrase referred to might have the affect of taking from the several agencies their existing authority to continue to make surveys and prepare plans in connection with land and water resources, conservation and development and that in order to avoid such a possibility the phrase should be deleted. 2. On page 9, line 5, we would suggest that the phrase "(area-wide or otherwise)" be deleted. The working of the bill without this phrase would be sufficiently broad to permit the Commission to make recommendations relating to the establishment of payout schedules on any basis and within any geographic limits that the Commission's studies indicate the schedules should be established. The inclusion of the phrase does not, therefore, broaden the authority of the Commission. It could, however, be interpreted as an implied directive to the Commission that its recommendations relative to pay-out schedules should be directed toward an area-wide basis. In view of your subsequent request, we are not awaiting advice from the Bureau of the Budget as to the relationship of this proposed legislation to the program of the President. Sincerely, A. J. LOVELAND, Senator KERR. If I may, I would like to read one brief paragraph from each of those reports. The CHAIRMAN. I think if you have copies it would be in order to pass them around so we might know what it is about. Senator KERR. Mr. Chairman, if I may tell you, we got ready for this on such short notice, and the reports have only just been set up. and while I do not know how extensive you wish me to cover it, I can give the committee in about 2 minutes the pertinent parts of them if you would like. The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed. Senator KERR. From the Department of Agriculture: The Department is in agreement with the objectives of the bill to provide for a mechanism whereby an integrated and cooperative study can be made and a comprehensive and coordinated plan prepared to conserve, utilize and develop the land and water resources of the Arkansas-White and Red River Basins We also believe that such a study and the formulation of a comprehensive plan will be greatly facilitated and will result in the greatest benefit to the region if the activity is jointly carried out by the several interested Federal agencies and the States involved. From the Power Commission: The Federal Power Commission is fully in accord with the purposes and objec tives of the proposed Study Commission and recognizes that these purposes and objectives cannot be realized without full participation and cooperation between the United States and the States directly involved. Now, from the Department of Agriculture came two suggestions for clarifying amendments, and from the Federal Power Commission came a suggestion for one simple clarifying amendment, which of course we would be only too happy to do if they improve the language of the bill. Gentlemen, today I would like to discuss one of the richest regious of the richest nation of the world. I want to talk about the area drained by the Arkansas, White and Red Rivers. It is 800 miles long and 400 miles wide. It includes almost one-tenth of the land area of the entire United States. And as I discuss this bill, and my discussion will be brief, I want you to bear in mind that it is not the purpose of this bill to create an authority; it is not the purpose of this bill to interfere with any authorized projects or projects to be authorized; it is not the purpose of this bill to curtail, hamper, change or amend the functions of any agency of the Government. It is the purpose of this bill to bring about the study and the use of the facilities which the Government of the United States and the particular States involved have, through which a greater amount and more complete information can be brought back to this Congress for its information and for such action as it may deem to be consistent and indicated by the information which has thus been brought to it. Seven and a half million people live in this region. They live on more than 177,000,000 acres of land. They live on a land which has been endowed by nature with fertility and potentials which only a very few areas in the world can equal or surpass. The annual farm production of this inland empire exceeds $600,000,000. It produces the greatest variety and amount of fuel resources of any comparable area in the United States. The area has 37 minerals in commercial quantities. This region embraces all or a part of eight States-Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Within the boundary of these sovereign States, virtually all types of climatic conditions prevail, virtually all types of topography are represented. In a sense, at least, they depict a cross section, in miniature, of the conditions which exist in these United States. Within this wide and divergent region, practically all the problems of water use and control, common to inland areas, may be found. On the western side, the shortage of water is acute. Industrial expansion is hampered, agriculture is a constant gamble, and there is either too much water or too little. Flash floods develop within hours, sometimes minutes, to dump thousands of cubic feet of water upon helpless residents. These residents flee their farms, to return, to plant their crops, only to discover that where there was once too much, there is now not enough. Sun and searing winds scorch their grain, burn their corn, and crush their hopes. On the eastern side of the region, it is a different story. Rain-in great abundance-falls on waiting crops. But the crops have been planted in the richest land-land which lies on the river bottoms. And as the strong stalks seek greater growth and yield, and come to the full fruit of the crop, the floods come to destroy with ruthless hand, what the rains have nurtured with gentle caress. The latent wealth of this area, according to the experts, could pour more billions of additional dollars into the coffers of the Nation annually. If all the present farm land were efficiently operated, according to the experts, and the surplus farmers placed in factory and industrial jobs, they could find more than a million jobs. To develop this wealth, a real study must be made. A study must be made, not only of water power, water conservation and water control, but incorporated with these must be soil conservation and soil utilization. Each phase of development must be closely tied in with the other phases. Only then can complete and maximum development be obtained. By utilizing each of these parts of the plan and inte grating it into an entirety, the whole plan can emerge, with all its tremendous benefits. Taking them point by point, let's see what the result could be: Power: Many of the most attractive water power sites between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains lie in the Arkansas-White and Red River Valleys--but less than 10 percent of this potential has been developed. Navigation: Up until the year of 1872, navigation of these rivers was feasible and possible. Today, navigation of the Arkansas River to Catoosa, Okla., just 15 miles short of Tulsa, is not only feasible but economically practicable. Navigation on the Ouchita to Camden. Ark., the Red River to Denison, Tex., the Canadians to central Oklahoma will within a few years be an actuality. Because of the fact that the products of this region are bulk commodities, such as oil, coal, minerals, agricultural products, and so forth, which lend themselves to this type of transportation, they can be easily and economically shipped by water. The substantial saving in freight rates which will result will more than compensate the carrying charge of such projects. This saving, resulting from lower freight and transportation rates. not only would enhance the commercial value of the area, but it would also serve as an additional inducement for new industry to locate here. Soil conservation: A comprehensive adjustment program must be initiated for soil and water conservation and land use. This would include terracing, shelter-belt plantings, farm ponds, and other soil conservation and water-flow retardation measures. In addition, pollution prevention and recreational expansion must also be studied. In line with this need, I, and 10 other Senators, have introduced a bill (S. 1576), creating a 13-man Commission representing the States affected and the Federal agencies involved. Senators Chavez (Democrat, New Mexico), Anderson (Democrat, New Mexico), Thomas (Democrat, Colorado), Connally (Democrat, Texas), Johnson (Democrat, Texas), McClellan (Democrat, Arkansas), Fulbright (Democrat, Arkansas), Millikin (Republican, Colorado), Johnson (Democrat. Colorado), and Schoeppel (Republican, Kansas) were joint authors with me. The Commission is allowed 21⁄2 years to bring forth a basic plan of development for the Arkansas, White and Red River Basins Representative Wilson of Oklahoma has introduced an identical bill. H. R. 4331, which is before your committee for consideration. This interagency and State study of the area, would serve to develop projects over the entire basin. It would harmonize the services of the Corps of Engineers with the services of the Bureau of Reclamation. It would also dovetail the facilities of the Soil Conservation Service, the Federal Power Commission, the Fish and Wildlife Seryice, and other agencies concerned with conservation and use of natural resources. Under the provisions of the bill, each governor of the eight States. Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, will nominate a representative to the Commission. This bill also contains new provisions jointly recommended by the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Reclamation Association. These provisions enable the Congress, for the first time, to use a new |