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U~ ,-... ' ~(): '.. could be completed in three years. Thirteen years have now elapsed. However, at long last, the definite plan report and final environmental impact statement have been completed and have received final approval. In additIon, the local court has just created the expanded water conservancy district which will serve as the local sponsor and repayment entity for the project. Thus, all is ready for construction. The genesis of thIs project Is the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. By that act, the AnImas-La Plata project was desIgnated as a potential participatIng reclamation project, subject to a findIng of feasibIlity and specific authorIzation by the Congress. Both of these latter events have occurred. Forty- six percent of the power revenues derived from the Colorado RIver Storage Project are specifically and exclusively dedicated to Colorado to assist in the repayment of those project features attributable to irrigation. The necessary revenues will accrue to both Colorado and New Mexico during the repayment period for the project. If the law is to be followed, these revenues cannot be used for any purpose other than to assist in the repayment of designated Colorado and New MexIco reclamation projects. We simply ask that a portion of these revenues be dedicated to the construction of the Animas-La Plata project as Congress has already specifically directed. I would also note that the Colorado River BasIn Project Act of 1968 specifies that: The Secretary (of the Interior) Is dIrected to proceed as nearly as practible with the construction of the Animas-La Plata, Dolores, Dallas Creek, West Divide, and San Miguel partIcipatIng Federal reclamation projects concurrently with the construction of the Central Arizona Project, to the end that such projects shall be completed not later than the date of the first delivery of water from said Central Arizona Project.... Sec. 501(b), P.L. 90-537, 82 Stat. 885. The Central Arizona Project is scheduled to deliver water commencing in 1985. Obviously, the Congress is obligated to proceed in a timely manner sInce there will be a four to five year constructIon period for the project. Failure to appropriate funds for the initiation of construction would be unfortunate since legal problems concerning the first delivery of water from the Central Arizona Project might then arise. The third component of our request relates to the need to provide funding in the FY82 budget for continuing planning on and reformulation of the previously authorized San Miguel, West DivIde, Fruitland Mesa, and Savery Pot-Hook projects, the first 3