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<br />OJ2<i78 <br /> <br />to the Settlement Agreement, and following the enactment of <br />necessary federal and state legislation. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />In summary, all of the conditions of the' settlement have been <br />satisfied, except for the construction of the Animas-La Plata <br />Project, and the Agreement remains in effect. <br /> <br />Colorado's Suggestions <br />Concerning the Issues to be Addressed <br /> <br />We all know that the Animas-La Plata Project has been marked by <br />contentious debate and acrimony. It has been characterized by <br />hardened positions on all sides. For our part, the state of <br />Colorado is committed to these discussions, as perhaps our only <br />opportunity to have open, honest dialogue, at the same table with <br />the Tribes, proponents and opponents of the proj ect, and the <br />federal agencies that have permitting and construction <br />responsibilities. We view this process not as an obstacle, but as <br />an opportunity to open new communications, to forge new <br />understandings, and to achieve results that will honor our moral <br />and legal commitments to the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute <br />Tribes, to the water users of southwest Colorado, to the <br />environment, and to our taxpayers. We are willing to address, in <br />good faith, all reasonable solutions that wi~ be brought forward <br />through this process. We will be committed to the full <br />implementation of all agreements that result. <br /> <br />Our purpose in setting out a brief history is to give these <br />discussions a context. That history does not bind us like a <br />straightjacket, but it does inject important considerations, <br />complexities and perspectives to this process. Significant issues <br />were addressed in the Settlement Agreement and Act, and in the <br />Animas-La Plata Project itself. Enormous resources have been <br />spent, by all sides, in environmental compliance and permitting <br />work related to the Project. If we understand history, we can <br />build on that history, craft new solutions, and create lasting <br />results. <br /> <br />The state of Colorado believes that the history which we have <br />outlined injects certain "realities. into this process. We present <br />these realities not as limitations to these discussions. We <br />present them as issues that will need to be addressed and dealt <br />with in these discussions. Others may add to or subtract from this <br />list, but we present them from the state's perspective for initial <br />consideration by the participants: <br /> <br />1. The Settlement Agreement established the quantification <br />and priority of Tribal reserved and non-reserved water <br />rights on many streams and rivers in Southwestern <br />Colorado. These rights have been decreed in Colorado <br /> <br />9 <br />