FEDERAL AND STATE DROUGHT RESPONSE 


                                              Release No. 0030.97

                                     Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION JOINS WESTERN GOVERNORS IN IMPROVING FEDERAL AND STATE  
  DROUGHT RESPONSE 

     WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would lead a new federal
working group organized to ensure a coordinated federal response to drought
emergencies in the West.

     At a White House meeting today with Western governors, Glickman signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Western Governors' Association Chairman
Edward Schafer to improve federal and state coordination and cooperation in
responding to drought emergencies.

     "The federal government does an outstanding job dealing with Western
disasters, such as fires and flooding, but we can do better when it comes to
drought emergencies," said Glickman.  "This agreement lays the foundation for
better management of drought response.  It will improve communication between
the states and the federal government and provide state and local officials
with a central point of contact for drought relief information."

     USDA will lead the federal effort that involves the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the Department of the Interior and the Small Business
Administration.  The MOU also establishes a western drought coordination
council among the signing entities, to include representatives from USDA and
the Department of Interior, the Small Business Administration, FEMA, and the
Western Governors' Association.  In addition, the federal agencies will agree
to establish a federal interagency drought coordinating group to serve as a
vehicle for working with the states and regions on drought issues.

     "This approach is a first step to making government agencies work better
together to improve service," Glickman said.  "The collaborative nature of
this agreement -- where federal, state and local governments are working
together to identify effective solutions -- will help us all battle the less
dramatic, but more enduring scourge of drought.  USDA is proud to be leading
the federal agencies in their effort to help improve the planning,
communication, data and response systems necessary to effectively manage
current and future drought assistance and programs."


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