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MemoMemorandumObama · D Quiet signal

Presidential Memorandum

Building National Capabilities for Long-Term Drought Resilience

This memorandum institutionalizes the National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP) as an interagency task force to coordinate federal drought resilience efforts. It directs agencies to take specific actions by December 31, 2016, across six goal areas including data integration, drought planning, critical infrastructure risk communication, federal coordination, market-based water approaches, and water efficiency technology. The NDRP is housed at USDA with co-chairs from Agriculture and rotating Commerce leadership, and must produce a charter within 90 days and an initial progress report within 150 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 16053

Impact dates

  1. Agency actions under Section 4 due

  2. Initial report to Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience

  3. NDRP charter completion

Key directives

  • Institutionalize NDRP as interagency task force with USDA housing administrative functions
  • Agencies shall share drought/water data with state/local/tribal officials
  • Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and OSTP Director shall coordinate data integration activities
  • Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security shall jointly publish critical infrastructure drought risk assessment
  • Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Army shall coordinate federal drought activity integration
  • Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture and EPA Administrator shall coordinate market-based infrastructure approaches
  • Secretaries of State, Agriculture, Energy, Interior, and EPA Administrator shall coordinate water technology efforts
  • NDRP shall meet quarterly minimum
  • Complete NDRP charter within 90 days
  • Submit initial report to Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience within 150 days
  • All agency actions under Section 4 due by December 31, 2016

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • NDRP established as interagency task force
  • USDA designated to house administrative functions

Near term (90d)

  • NDRP charter due within 90 days
  • Agency actions due by December 31, 2016

Long term

  • Quarterly NDRP meetings ongoing
  • Annual reporting to Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience
  • Action Plan maintained and updated as necessary
  • Rotating co-chair position every 2 years

Risks & tensions

  • All actions explicitly 'subject to availability of appropriations' may limit implementation
  • Rotating co-chair structure could create leadership discontinuity
  • Requires consensus among 13+ agencies for charter and Action Plan updates, potentially slowing decisions
  • No enforcement mechanism for state/local/tribal participation; federal role is complementary
  • Vague 'to the maximum extent possible' qualifier on agency obligations
Presidential Memorandum: Building National Capabilities for Long-Term Drought Resilience · Executive Orders