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<br />.>' <br /> <br />i" <br /> <br />.... <br />w <br />w <br />co <br /> <br />Senate (S. 752) in this Congress and was cosponsored by all fourteen <br />basin senators. It was also introduced into the House (H.R. 2790) <br />and cosponsored by many basin congressmen. When hearings were held <br />by the Senate in the last session of this Congres, Interior and <br />Agriculture witnesses appeared and gave general support for the <br />state-drafted legislation but did ask for some specific modifica- <br />tions. The states hsve met on several occasions to consider the <br />Administration's requests. On December 23. 1983, the states forwarded <br />revised legislative language to Congress which haa the support of <br />all seven basin states and is responsive to all of the Administration's <br />requests. <br /> <br />The proposed amendment a to P.L. 93-320 will increase the amount <br />of state cost sharing for future authorized Department of the Interior <br />salinity control units and for similar cost sharing on the Department <br />of Agriculture efforts, Future cost sharing provisions call for <br />payback to the Federal Treasury from the two basin power accounts of <br />25% of the federal expenditures by both Interior and Agriculture <br />shortly after the expenditure of the funds or for payback of the 25% <br />over time with interest. The legislation will authorfze the construc- <br />tion of five new Department of the Interior salinity control units <br />but it does not raise Interior's spending ceiling which was established <br />by the Congress in 1974. The authorization of five new units will <br />allow the Secretary of the Interior the latitude to proceed with the <br />units, or portions thereof, which are the most cost effective. The <br />legislation provides that cost effectiveness will be the criteria <br />for the selection of salinity control efforts. <br /> <br />Experience has demonstrated that some of the most cost effective <br />measures are on the irrigated farms of the basin. The legislation <br />authorizes a new Colorado River Basin salinity control program for <br />the Department of Agriculture. The agriculture program would allow <br />additional cost sharing directly from the basin farmers when they <br />elect to participate in a voluntary program of onfarm irrigation <br />improvement practices. It also allows the Department of Agriculture <br />to work directly with canal companies, irrigation districts, or <br />other subdivisions of state government. <br /> <br />The legislation also sets criteria for the replacement of <br />incidental wildlife values when wildlife habitat is disrupted by the <br />salinity control effort. This subject was not addressed in 1974. <br />The legislation also clarifies the responsibility of the government <br />and local entities for operation, maintenance, and replacement of <br />salinity control features. <br /> <br />The states now anticipate that the Senate Energy and Natural <br />Resources Committee will hold a markup session on S, 752 in the near <br />future. Following that session we look forward to prompt favorable <br />floor action. With the support of the Administration the states <br />also anticipate early hearings in the House Interior Committee and <br />favorable House action. <br />