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A-LP. partners agree on payments Early contributions likely to result in savings for groups By Shane Benjamin Herald Staff Writer The state and local governments and water districts that will con- struct the Animas-La Plata Water Project agreed Thursday on the amount each will pay before con- struction begins on the controver- sial Ridges Basin reservoir. The agreement stipulates how much each group must pay before construction begins in order to attain benefits awarded for early payment. The project benefits from early payment because the money can be used to get construction started. Two groups have said they plan to pay their share of the cost before the Nov. 9 deadline, when con- struction of the project is sched- uled to begin. The Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority will pay $7.3 million, and save roughly $2.5 million by payiug eady, said Pat Schumacher, Bureau of Reclamation manager for Durango. The San Juan Water Commis- sion plans to pay $6.9 million before construction begins, and will also save about $2.5 million, Schumacher said. There is some risk involved in paying early because the money will be used to begin building A-LP, and if the project winds up not being completed for some reason, the money already spent is lost. The state of Colorado could pay $23.9 million up front - nearly 11 percent of the total cost of the pro- ject - but has no plans to do so. lnstead, the state may decide to pur- chase part of the project at a higher cost once it is under construction, . See PARTNERS, Pege 12A I h"- Durc_"''"jC'> \-\uc:...lc( Oet o~..- 5 Lo() \ \ Iii Partners: Some will pay early, others will not Continued from Page 1 A Schumacher said. Likewise, the La Plata County Conservancy of New Mexico has not indicated a desire to pay up front. According to the amended cost- sharing agreement, the conservan- cy would have to pay $3.6 million - or 1.6 percent of the total cost. Michael Black, spokesman for Taxpayers for the Animas River, an organization opposing A-LP, ques- tioned why Colorado is not signing on to pay early, which could save the state money down the road. Randy Seaholm, a board mem- ber for the Colorado Water Conser- vation, said he did not have a rea. son other than that is what the state has decided to do. David Robbins, a lawyer and chief negotiator for the A-LP and Southwest water conservancy dis- nicts, said the state may not have the money, or may have more important spending priorities at this time. Black also complained that the amended cost-sharing agreement has been negotiated behind closed doors. But officials involved with the agreement said all of the regu- lar meetings to discuss the agree- ment have been public. The amended cost-sharing agreement will be available to the public, and public comment about the wording and terms will be accepted until Oct. 26 at the Bureau of Reclamation. The BUreau and the Animas-La Plata Project cost-share partners will meet again if necessary Nov. 5 to discuss proposed changes. Schumacher said having all eori. ties agree on wording for the cost- sharing agreement Thursday 'WaS a major accomplishment considering how many agencies are involved. "It's another milestone toward getting this project going," he said, The Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority will hold a meeting at 9 a.m. today in the Anasazi Room of the Dou- bleTree Hotel to discuss the amended cost-sharing agreement 9 if.' ., .", (