Water Resources People and Issues
pushing. This, I think, varies from District to District as to how strongly it
is enforced.
Q: Do you think perhaps that one problem that might develop here is that a
community might say-the engineers or whoever in the community might
say-gee, you gave us a good idea, now how about giving us the money to
do it? Do you feel there's a reluctance on the part of communities to get
involved in some of these efforts without a substantial investment on the part
of the federal government?
A: With respect to a few communities that I know, the representatives of the
Corps, in effect, said to the community, try to get us to obtain money for a
real survey that we'll carry out. They didn't say, you know you could get
most of what you want by having a floodplain information report, and then
use some local consultants to work out a plan for yourself here.
I think the Planning Division was less than vigorous in trying to sell the
services of the Floodplain Management Group.
Q: I see. Do you think perhaps that the District offices too were not particularly
vigorous in advertising this service?
A: Yes. That would appear to be the case. What I think is clear is that in a
number of instances the representatives of the District office did not mention,
let alone push, the floodplain management services as being a possible aid to
the solution of a local community's problems.
Q: Well, in the early 1970s, at least according to some people, the Corps had a
change of heart. General Fred Clarke as Chief of Engineers established an
Environmental Advisory Board and promulgated several regulations with the
intent of carrying out the spirit and the specific guidance of NEPA. To what
extent, if any, do you think the Corps did change at this time? Is that too big
a question?
A: I don't think I have anything more than horseback opinions on that. A fairer
judgment would be based on very careful analysis of what the Corps had been
producing in the way of reports at that time.
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