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I� 1 ■ ■ 9 ■ • �� _ <br /> 9•B-� <br /> See "Fee Increase for Hetch Hetchy, page 2 <br /> �... <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> TO: SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTIL[TIES COi.4MISSION <br /> FR: DARYL 01�'EN <br /> THROUGH: PATRICIA E. MARTEL <br /> RE: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 9, 2004 <br /> Following is a discussion of federal legislative and other issues of concern <br /> to the PUC. <br /> Permittin Initiative . <br /> Late in the last session of Congress �ve succeeded in passing our initiative <br /> to streamline the pertnitting process for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). <br /> Workin� closely with Congresswoman Pelosi and her staff we crafted legislative <br /> tan�uage to establish a joint permitting office headquartered in San Francisco. <br /> This oftice will house representatives ofall federal agencies with permitting <br /> � authority for the CIP, including the Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife, and <br /> the National Marine Fisheries Service. The office wi11 also make space available <br /> to corresponding state a�encies should the state choose to participate. The co- <br /> location of permitting officials will increase communication and efficiency in the <br /> permitting process. The language also permits the PUC to reimburse the agencies <br /> for the costs associated with permittin� activities. This initiative will do much to <br /> ensure that the CIP is not delayed by lack of attention from federal agencies. <br /> Con�resswoman Pelosi submitted the legislative language to the House <br /> Transportation and Infrastructure Committee �vith a request that it be included in <br /> the �Vater Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization under <br /> consideration in the Committee. The Committee agreed, and the bill, with our <br /> permittin� initiative included, passed the House in October. <br /> When it became apparent that the Senate �vas not going to consider the <br /> WRDA reauthorization in time to afford the PUC the opportunity to make use of <br /> the pertnitting authority in the early stages of design engineering, we began to <br /> consider alternatives. Ultimately, we were successful in getting the provision <br /> included as a rider in the FY 04 Appropriations bill for the Corps of En�ineers. <br /> That bill was signed inro law just prior to Thanksgiving. <br /> � <br />