In Arizona, Trump signs memorandum addressing water issues
Oct 19, 2018, 2:35 PM | Updated: 3:15 pm
PHOENIX — While in the Phoenix area for a campaign rally, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum addressing water issues in the western United States.
The order, signed in Scottsdale, directed the government to streamline regulations that Trump says are hindering work on four major water projects: the Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project in California, the Klamath Irrigation Project in Oregon and the federal Columbia River system in the Pacific Northwest.
The memorandum directs the Interior and Commerce departments to speed up environmental reviews, streamline regulations and come up with a timeline to comply with the regulations.
Trump says his directive will be a big help to the arid West, which relies on federally funded water projects to irrigate crops and supply cities.
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The president was in the Valley to lend his support to Senate hopeful Martha McSally and other Arizona Republican candidates.
A rally was set for 6:30 p.m. at International Air Response at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Trump also was scheduled to tour Luke Air Force Base in the West Valley with McSally before the Mesa event.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
