The Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act directs the federal government to streamline approval processes for major water supply and storage projects in California. Specifically, it requires the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to identify all significant water projects under their jurisdiction, designate compliance officials for each agency, and within 30 days identify regulatory obstacles that unnecessarily delay or hinder these projects. The bill then instructs these officials to develop plans to suspend, revise, or eliminate regulations that create undue burdens—defined as unnecessary obstruction or delay in water permitting and delivery—without compromising public interest or legal compliance. This legislation essentially codifies parts of a 2024 executive order aimed at accelerating California's water infrastructure development during the state's drought and disaster response challenges.
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