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W -..J W (J) III. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT A. Function A primary function of the public involvement process was to identify water- related prd,blems and needs. The problems and needs were verified by a planning t~am and plans were formulated to meet those needs to the extent possible. :The scope of the public involvement was limited to specific groups involved with the salinity of the Colorado River water and energy production, principally public agencies, utilities, and companies involved in energy technology. Equally important was the State's view of acceptable and desirable water usage. Limitations or constraints on development, usage, and transporta- tion of resources were identified by representatives of the seven States in the Forum,and these constraints were incorporated into the formulation criteria. 'Plans were then formulated in accordance with the input of public participation groups and perception of the acceptable and most desirable water usage. B. Process On May 28, 1980, about 50 copies of a pl an of study were released for public com~ent. Overall, the responses and comments were generally suppor- tive and positive. The public contacts included the seven Colorado River Basin States, Federal agencies, environmental community, and energy development companies. Four formal pub 1 i c part i c i pat i on group meetings were conducted. The first was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on September 10, 1980, with the Forum Work Broup. The Forum expressed favor in local energy use of saline water over ;a long distance pipeline which would export the water. By letter of September 30, 1980, the Forum forwarded to Reclamation a copy of "Policy for Use of Brackish and/or Saline Waters for Industrial Purposes." This policy statement (appended) indicates that to implement the concept of using saline waters, and thereby further extend its basic salinity policies, the Colorado River Basin States support the Bureau of Reclamation special study of saline water collection, pretreatment, and potential i ndustr i a 1 use . The second meeting was with the energy development companies in Las Vegas, Nevada, on ,October 16, 1980. The energy interests' general consensus was to support the concept of use of saline water for powerplant cooling and coal slurry pipelines. However, they felt that the technology on use of saline water in cooling towers must be studied further or proven. They also expressed the need for financial incentives to offset the incremental costs that would occur through the use of saline water. Representatives of the environmental community at the third meeting on October 24, 1980, in Denver, Colorado, suggested that further consideration be given to pipeline systems to transport coal out of the Basin to load center areas. Interest was also indicated in disposing of saline water in dry lakes for use in salt gradient solar ponds. II I-I ~ , -