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EO 12319Executive OrderReagan · R

Executive Order 12319

River Basin Commissions

This executive order terminates six river basin commissions established under the Water Resources Planning Act, with five closing on September 30, 1981 and the Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission closing on December 31, 1981. It directs federal agencies to cooperate in orderly transitions to member states, transfers federal assets to states with OMB approval, and revokes the original executive orders establishing each commission.

46 FR 45591
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Impact dates

  1. Revocation of Executive Order 11659 takes effect

  2. Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission terminates

  3. Revocation of Executive Orders 11331, 11345, 11371, 11578, and 11658 takes effect

  4. Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, Ohio, New England, and Missouri River Basin Commissions terminate

Key directives

  • Terminate Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, Ohio, New England, and Missouri River Basin Commissions effective September 30, 1981
  • Terminate Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission effective December 31, 1981
  • Federal agencies shall cooperate with commissions and member states for orderly close-out and transition
  • Transfer federal assets to member states or their designees for water resources planning purposes, subject to OMB Director approval
  • Federal agency members directed to continue coordination in future state and interstate basin planning arrangements
  • Revoke Executive Orders 11331, 11345, 11371, 11578, and 11658 effective October 1, 1981
  • Revoke Executive Order 11659 effective January 1, 1982

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Five river basin commissions terminate September 30, 1981
  • Federal cooperation with close-out begins

Near term (90d)

  • Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission terminates December 31, 1981
  • Executive order revocations take effect October 1, 1981 and January 1, 1982
  • Asset transfers to states with OMB approval

Long term

  • Shift from federal-interstate water planning to state-led basin arrangements
  • Permanent elimination of Water Resources Act commission structure

Risks & tensions

  • Tight 21-day wind-down for five commissions may create operational disruption
  • OMB approval requirement for asset transfers could delay or complicate state transitions
  • Vague standard for 'appropriate' commission activities eligible for state transition (Sec. 2)
  • No specified deadline for asset transfers, leaving timing uncertain
  • Potential tension between federal 'continue coordination' directive and elimination of institutional infrastructure
Executive Order 12319: River Basin Commissions · Executive Orders