Should we establish the Bureau of Reclamation as the coordinating agency for the approval of surface water storage projects?

This bill has Passed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

This bill establishes the Bureau of Reclamation as the agency in charge of the permitting process for approval of surface water storage projects on Federal lands. Sponsor: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4]
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Opponents say

•     We should be eliminating subsidized water, not streamlining regulatory processes. Studies show that the scarcity of water comes from our poor distribution for it. For example, we should eliminate subsidized water for agricultural interests: requiring entities to pay the full cost for a scarce resource will eliminate wasteful and inefficient use of it.
•     The Bureau of Reclamation is the wrong agency to oversee the approval of “surface water storage projects” or water reservoirs. This control should be given to states, communities, and regional entities.  
•     Bestowing the authority of approval to one agency could allow for environmental laws to be ignored or weakly adhered to. Accountability comes from competing regulatory processes.

Proponents say

•     “Droughts are nature’s fault.  Water shortages are OUR fault.” [1] We need to make the approval of surface water storage projects on Federal lands easier for U.S. farmers who live in areas where irrigation from direct surface flow is limited due to geography. To do this we must dispel regulatory processes that are time consuming and cost prohibitive.
•     Current law requires oversight by federal agencies that often contradict each other. This bill streamlines the approval process by selecting the Bureau of Reclamation as the coordinating agency for all reviews, analyses, opinion, statements, permits, license, or other federal approvals.
•    This bill is about efficiency, not weakening regulations - no environmental laws will be bypassed, and all data will be available to the public online to ensure accountability and transparency.