The Department of the Interior announced Secretary's Order 3446 to streamline Bureau of Reclamation projects across 17 Western states, aiming to reduce administrative overhead, lower costs, and speed up water infrastructure development. The order allows local water and power partners to manage certain procurement processes and negotiate contract modifications under federal oversight, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized, "The Trump administration is focused on unleashing American infrastructure, cutting unnecessary red tape and lowering costs for families, farmers and communities." He added that "By empowering local partners and simplifying federal processes," projects can be completed faster, delivering water and power to regions in need while supporting economic growth in the West, as reported by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Secretary’s Order 3446 will start with the B. F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion, in partnership with the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, to add 130,000 acre-feet of storage to the San Luis Reservoir. The authority will handle major procurement tasks for the project. Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek said, "The order directs the Bureau of Reclamation to review many of its processes, manuals and guidelines to identify further operational efficiencies." The order also directs a review of regulatory requirements, engineering design, and environmental compliance, with coordination from water and power users, tribal nations, and other stakeholders. A similar approach may be used in other bureaus, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for future federal projects, as stated by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
