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Show VI-56 UPDATING THE HOOVER DAM DOCUMENTS COLORADO RIVER STORAGE PROJECT ,51 Powell Filling Period." The comments of the Arizona Power An-, thority were similarly requested and the stuff of the authority hns afforded us an opportunity to read a draft of its proposed comments. Ever since receipt of your letter, key members of our staff have been and, contrary to our expectations, still are, engaged in the final stages of the preparation of Arizona's answering brief in Arhonn v. California, el of., and could not be detached to review the referenced materials. Accordingly, although our interest in the subject continues unabated and notwithstanding that we shall continue to participate in negotiations and conferences regarding them, we are unable at this time to comment in detail on these filling criteria. The stream commission is vitally interested in the physical, legal, and economic availability of Colorado River water for utilization in Arizona and the impact thereon of policies to govern the filling and operation of the Glen Canyon Reservoir. It is, of course, essential that criteria, either filling or operating, shall accord with the law of the river, a subject upon which the criteria under discussion are notably silent. It is essential also that they shall have regard for the future development of the basin's last water resource. As negotiations looking to the development of criteria to govern releases from the Glen Canyon Reservoir have progressed, they have veered away from long-range considerations. The criteria under discussion are concentrated upon problems of hydroelectric power and of compensation for loss of hydropower production during the filling period. We are deeply concerned over this fact and believe that every effort should be made to return to the objective of long-range operation criteria. Sincerely yours, Wayne M. Akin, Chairman. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives. Washington. D.C., July 1/,, 19G1. Hon. Stewart L. Ud\ll, Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D.C. Dear Stewart: I am transmitting herewith, as you requested, my reaction to the proposed filling criteria for the Glen Canyon Reservoir. The criticism is intended to be entirely constructive, and I want you to know that I do understand the difficulty in which you and the Bureau of Reclamation are placed in this particular matter. Whatever your final decisions are, I shall do my very best to be helpful and to see that the program is carried out without unnecessary delay and hindrance. Again, my appreciation to you. Sincerely, Wayne N. Aspinall. |