This Plan is identifying the activities and how we're going to fund them in partnership to build resilience to drought.

Do you think that our previous efforts on management within the region taught us a lot because obviously we have had many people here on other water settlements that have been through extensive legal battles?

I think having a seat at the table for everyone certainly conveyed that.

Well, Mr. Iseman, we have already had a line item for the Yakima Basin for several years now, correct?

We actually can increase the cargo shipments, because there is that demand and product to be shipped.

We knew we could do it cooperatively, together.

I do think that it gives others around the country in the West, a glimmer of hope that perhaps after decades of their own water wars they might be able to come to legislative solutions that will prevail for all stakeholders.

Doing nothing is not free?

The fact that everybody was there meant that it was going to be a serious approach.

What I like about this Plan is that you can get agreement on the lowest hanging fruit.

I cannot say how impressed I am and excited by the Plan that you have put forth that is now incorporated in this legislation.

It seems just like yesterday. And definitely I would say that the transformation of delivery of goods and services has been quite impressive.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And thanks for holding this hearing.

I think looking at this as, if nothing else, an example for how low hanging fruit can be something that we prioritize in our most stricken drought areas.

It would have been great if you would have said it was about Seattle-Tacoma instead of L.A.-Long Beach.

We are very collaborative; I mean, the Klamath Basin comes to mind. Why isn't the Klamath Basin pursuing a similar approach?

So, it is the collateral that--so, you are looking for ways to have things without a high level of----

Ports Are Us when it comes to the Pacific Northwest.

I think your leadership position in the Department of Energy is instrumental in ensuring that all the interests across various Government agencies are formulated in a final position, which is critical in the timing of the negotiations.

I think we have gone for a long time with a certain level of uncertainty.

We need to continue to look to the science to solve these problems. There are no shortcuts.

It is the largest cleanup site in the entire world, and its complexity dwarfs anything we have ever done at any other Federal site.

I think we keep, I don't know if we are waiting, as you say, so the efficiency issue is counterbalanced by the issue that I am very concerned about groundwater contamination.

Dr. Regalbuto has been nominated to lead the Department's Office of Environmental Management.

We are the only country, again, the only country, that bans an export on oil as an oil producer.