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Show ( ^stizenss for a Responsible CersfraS Utah Prajec! 721. 2 nd Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah, 64103 X March 23, 19&L The Honorable Mark 0. Hatfield, Chairman Energy and Water Conservation Subcommittee on Appropriations Room 1318 Dirksen Office Building Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Hatfield: This hearing presentation is made to request the following.: 1. The Committee address and resolve the repayment status of the Bonneville Unit (BU) of the Central Utah Project, participating project in the Colorado River Storage Project. It is important that the Committee members read all pertinent interpretations and understandings of the proposed supplemental repayment contract now "before the Department of Interior and the C«*»»JVc( Utah Water Conservancy District. A letter clarifying repayment obligations to the Federal government was sent from former Assistant Secretary Guy Martin, Land and Water Resources, to the Commissioner, Water and Power Resources Service, January 18, 198l. The information stated in the letter was not known to Utah residents. 2. The Committee reject the $71,000,000 FY 19c2 proposed funding for the Central Utah Project pending consideration of our reasons for opposition to continued CUP development, as stated in our statement. The Committee review need, for the CUP as planned. It is our position that much of the public dissatisfaction with the CUP stems from the following situations: - Projected increases in construction costs cf CUP, only IS - 20JS completed, already are four to five times authorized costs. - The proposed repayment contract stipulates a repayment ceiling seven times greater than the present ceiling. - Costs to Utah taxpayers, of undeterminable length cf time, and for amounts which far exceed those the public agreed upon for development of CUP. - The failure of the State to utilize extensive quantities of wasted and available but unutilized water resources, to develop available and cheaper State water management programs, and to instigate municipal, industrial and agricultural conservation. Utah's water Problem is not one of lack of water, it is one of failure to manage efficiently what wat er we h ave, - The hold-up on State water development until CUP is completed. - The failure of CUT to meet current water needs in the area of needs of Utah citizens - been Indian and non-Indian. - The continuing uncertainties of locations ±0^ safe constructions of nmip.^ CUP cost overruns are mostly based on geologic problems. - T•l he oxhorbitant and. unnecessary environmental destr«xton high costs of replacement. |
