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Show The Bureau is no dummy. They knew this tool 2. We thought once Utah Power and Light requested and was granted water rights for power development (which they have) through the Strawberry Collection System, that this would constitute "change of purpose" from that of Irrigation to M & I and raise questions of re-authorization. The Bureau knew this too. Its move was shrewd. By letter to the Sierra Club ,on November 14, it informed Brian Beard of Logan, that it was "reversing" this purpose. Just like that I And, even though CRCUP requested they be kept up on developments of the Bureau, also, at a July 19 meeting, CRCUP was not sent this letter. CRCUP and the Sierra Club ignored implications of this letter until I discussed with you, on January 21, '79, writing Senators Jackson and Udall for interpretation of this re-authorization issue. The CUP has progessed as far as it has in Utah because the water developers outthink, outfox, and outdo the Utah public. They effectively antici te opposition maneuvers and respond to challenges. All the while we think we have them at Bay - they are jumping the gun! While we are looking for lost balls (instream flows) they wrap up the ball game (Indian compact)! The last thing the Bureau wants, in view of a taxpayers' revolt and a Carter reduced budget, is to face opposition to appropriations in combination with questions of reauthorization. The Bureau lost out in California last year through the taxpayer's revolt. It faces a suit on the Central Arizona Project. What better to hang its fortunes on now than the long-festering Ute Indian issue. Indian rights are riding high today. Interior, under Andrus, will be unwilling to rip off the Utes again - as it cooperated in doing in the "Deferral Agreement". What better umbrella to guarantee CUP development.' And, ultimately, to probably stifle public involvement in many of the issues in northeast Utah: wilderness designation, wildlife habitat protection, Clean Air and Clean Water, non-degradation of streams, identifying National Resource Waters, Wild and Scenic Rivers - under conditions of developing oil shale, tar sands, power, oil and gas, phosphate ore and constructing roads and highways into Brown's Park area as well as the Book Cliffs. Happily, the groundwork for this compact and its benefits has been carefully laid down by Steve Boyden, Salt Lake Attorney for the Ute Tribal Council. (This Council does not represent all Utes or all agreements, but this situation is the controlling one.) 1.Boyden has pursuaded the Ute Tribal Council to accept the CUP as a "bird in hand" and the only alternative for water supply for irrigation. Although this purpose is the justification used by the Bureau, use of Indian water for mineral development * The Sierra Club is not regarded seriously as a threat to the Bureau now since it lost litigation on the CUP once. |
