Rep. McNerney Responds to Bureau of Reclamation's Public Comment Period for the Northerly Districts' Draft Drainage Settlement Agreement

Statement

Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's announcement of a public comment period for the Northerly Districts' draft drainage settlement agreement:

"I am pleased to see the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) heeding our recommendation to bring openness and transparency to this negotiation process, by offering a public comment period on the draft drainage settlement agreement between Reclamation and the Northerly Districts. The Drainage Settlement Agreement (Agreement) between the Northerly Districts and the United States' Departments of the Interior and Justice not only contains a number of damaging provisions for the environment and taxpayers, but is currently being negotiated without transparency or input from the public. I am concerned that shifting drainage management responsibilities in this Agreement will negatively affect the Delta and future federal contract terms. It is critical that the public is able to review the Agreement and be heard."

In April of this year, Rep. McNerney led some of his House colleagues in the Northern California region in sending a letter to President Obama calling for greater transparency and public comment on the drainage settlement agreement between the United States and the Northerly Districts, as well as highlighting serious ongoing concerns with the drainage settlement agreement terms between Westlands Water District and the United States.

Reclamation notes that comments are due by close of business on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

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