Document deD2kGK3j920Q57BnepQ9y5Q

Water Infrastructure: Proposal for Presidential Policy Directive and Implementing Task Force "Mr. Trump will work with Congress to pass legislation that will reform several Acts to improve our nation's water infrastructure during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. Trump says that clean water will be a "top priority" for his administration and that it may be "the most important issue weface as a nation for the next generation"." Water is our most precious resource, one that is essential to human life and health. As much as 25-30% of the treated water leaks into the ground as it flows through pipes installed as many as 150 years ago. Those losses represent a massive waste of a scarce resource, energy and associated capital. Water is also a vital national security issue- many of today's armed conflicts, including Syria and Yemen, began because of water shortages. Investment in water infrastructure means more jobs: every $ 1 billion invested in infrastructure creates or supports 28,500 jobs, and every dollar invested in water and wastewater infrastructure adds $6.35 to the national economy. Moreover, every dollar of water infrastructure investment generates $1.35 in federal tax revenue Water also offers an opportunity to project American leadership and boost exports of U.S. solutions, products, and services abroad. Despite the need, at present the nation has no coherent, comprehensive water strategy. o Water policy is determined by as many as thirty federal agencies, commissions, and other organizations who administer dozens of overlapping and often conflicting agendas, priorities, programs and regulatory regimes. o These silos of competing and conflicting regimes create significant inefficiencies and waste scarce resources, while hamstringing the effective management of our water and wastewater infrastructure. As a foundational first step to addressing these critical issues, the President should issue a Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) prioritizing water infrastructure development, safety and security and outlining a vision for a fully integrated, efficient and effective national water infrastructure strategy. The PPD could also establish, or direct the Administrator of EPA to establish, a task force or commission on water infrastructure policy coordination and security (the "Water Infrastructure Task Force") to develop a rational and efficient national water infrastructure policy and strategic plan for water infrastructure investments and administration, and foster better collaboration and coordination across federal agencies. o Similar to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC), this bipartisan Water Infrastructure Task Force would depoliticize the decision-making process, and raise confidence that infrastructure funds would be spent judiciously. o Although there are several informal inter-agency coordination mechanisms, they have had only limited success in breaking down the silos that create inefficiency, waste, and ineffectiveness. o The Administrator of the EPA could coordinate formation and activies of the Water Infrastructure Task Force. o Membership would include key agencies (EPA, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, State, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and private sector stakeholders. Drafts of the PPD and Executive Order were prepared by transition team. An announcement on World Water Day, March 22, would generate positive attention on a high-profile issue at a time when the media and world water community are focused on the issue. It would also fulfil another campaign promise within the First 100 Days. The U.S. Water Partnership, a bi-partisan group co-chaired by Sec. Madeline Albright and Sec. Colin Powell, has an event scheduled at the State Department that day that would provide a ready-made platform for the announcement. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 3/4 ED 002061 00111396-00001