REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 2 OF 1966
Eff. May 10, 1966, 31 F.R. 6857, 80 Stat. 1608, as amended Pub. L. 90-83, §10(c), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 224
Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled February 28, 1966, pursuant to the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949, 63 Stat. 203, as amended [see 5 U.S.C. 901 et seq.].
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
Section 1. Transfers of Functions and Agencies
Sec. 2. Assistant Secretary of the Interior
There shall be in the Department of the Interior one additional Assistant Secretary of the Interior, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall, except as the Secretary of the Interior may direct otherwise, assist the Secretary in the discharge of the functions transferred to him hereunder, who shall perform such other duties as the Secretary shall from time to time prescribe. [As amended Pub. L. 90-83, §10(c), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 224.]
Sec. 3. Performance of Transferred Functions
The provisions of sections 2 and 5 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1262) shall be applicable to the functions transferred hereunder to the Secretary of the Interior to the same extent as they are applicable to the functions transferred to the Secretary thereunder.
Sec. 4. Incidental Provisions
Sec. 5. Abolition of Office
[All functions of the Secretary of the Interior and the Department of the Interior administered through the Federal Water Quality Administration, all functions which were transferred to the Secretary of the Interior by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1966, and all functions vested in the Secretary of the Interior or the Department of the Interior by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (see Short Title note set out under 33 U.S.C. 1251 ) were transferred to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1970, §2(a)(1), eff. Dec. 2, 1970, 35 F.R. 15623, 84 Stat. 2086.]
Message of the President
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1966, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949, as amended, and providing for reorganization of certain water pollution control functions.
Thirty-five years ago Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said: "A river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure."
Only recently has the truth of this observation entered the public conscience. For we now recognize that the Nation's rivers, far from being treasured, have been carelessly neglected for too long.
Today we face a harsh reality. Our waters are burdened with blight. We know that every river system in America suffers from some degree of pollution. This menace is growing more serious with every passing day.
We have just begun to take the steps to clean and restore our waters.
The task is immense. The journey will be long.
If our new programs are to succeed we must combine our efforts-Federal, State, local, and private-in new and creative partnerships.
The attack against water pollution should be unified and coordinated.
It should be carried forward as an integral part of comprehensive planning for the development of river basins.
But, most importantly, the Government's management structure must be strengthened and reshaped to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
In my February 23 message on the quality of our environment I stated:
"* * * we must reorganize the Federal effort. In the past, the Federal anti-pollution effort has been organizationally separate from water conservation and use programs.
"One agency should assume leadership in our clean water effort.
"That agency should be the Department of the Interior."
The Department of the Interior, for many years, has been concerned with the comprehensive management and development of the Nation's water resources.
It plans, constructs, and operates multiple-purpose water and related land resources, projects.
It carries on research and development on the removal of minerals from water.
It administers the Water Resources Research Act.
The Secretary of the Interior also serves as Chairman of the Water Resources Council responsible for coordinating river basin planning. Under the Clean Rivers Restoration Act of 1966 and other legislation which I have recently proposed, the Secretary will become the focal point for Federal efforts in this area.
It is wise management to place under his control the related resources and authority now in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
The reorganization plan maintains a proper and effective role for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare with respect to the health aspects of pollution. At the same time it places in the Department of the Interior all of the necessary tools to move forward the drive to clean America's waters.
The reorganization plan herewith transmitted will transfer to the Secretary of the Interior the functions of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act except for responsibilities relating to public health for which the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has special competence. That Department will retain responsibility under section 3(b) of the act for advising on public health questions involved in determinations by Federal agencies of the need for and value of the inclusion of storage for water quality control in Federal reservoirs. The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration would be transferred to the Department of the Interior.
The Secretary of the Interior in administering the act will also be required to consult with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare on public health aspects relating to water pollution. This consultative responsibility is now vested in the Surgeon General by section 2(k) of the Water Quality Act of 1965. The plan transfers that responsibility to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
The Water Pollution Control Advisory Board and the hearing boards provided for in the act would be transferred to the Department of the Interior, together with their respective functions. The reorganization plan also makes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare a member of the Advisory Board and gives him the opportunity to select a member of each hearing board.
The reorganization plan would in no way impair the rights and benefits of commissioned officers of the Public Health Service who may transfer to the Water Pollution Control Administration.
The reorganization to be accomplished by the plan transmitted herewith will enable the Federal Government to organize for action against pollution on a river basin basis under the unified leadership of the Secretary of the Interior.
After investigation, I have found and hereby declare that each reorganization included in the accompanying reorganization plan is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes set forth in section 2(a) of the Reorganization Act of 1949, as amended. I have also found and hereby declare that it is necessary to include in the accompanying reorganization plan, by reason of the reorganizations made thereby, provision for the membership of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare on the Water Pollution Control Advisory Board and for the appointment and compensation of an additional Assistant Secretary of the Interior. The rate of compensation fixed for that officer is that which I have found to prevail in respect of comparable officers in the executive branch of the Government.
The reorganizations provided for in the reorganization plan transmitted herewith will produce significant long-range savings and economies by reason of the efficiencies in organization and in the elimination of duplication of effort it will bring about. It is, however, impracticable to specify or itemize at this time the reductions of expenditures which it is probable will be brought about by the taking effect of the reorganizations included in the reorganization plan.
I recommend that the Congress allow the accompanying plan to become effective.
Lyndon B. Johnson.
THE WHITE HOUSE, February 28, 1966.