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<br />o <br />OJ <br />o <br />w <br /> <br />legislation was introduced in both houses. The Senate Bill <br />was numbered S. 752 and is cosponsored by all 14 Basin <br />senators. The House Bill is numbered H.R. 2790. The Subcom- <br /> <br />mittee on Water and Power of the Senate Committee on Energy <br /> <br />and Natural Resources held a hearing in September of 1983. <br /> <br />Although all state, federal and outside witness testimony was <br /> <br />supportive of the legislation, the Department of Agriculture <br />and the Department of the Interior witnesses suggested <br /> <br />modification to some sections. <br /> <br />The states analyzed the requests from the two <br />departments and determined that they could agree to most of <br />the requested changes. The issue that was most difficult to <br /> <br />resolve was future cost sharing. The Administration had re- <br /> <br />quested that for newly authorized Department of the Interior <br /> <br />salinity units and for the new Department of Agriculture <br /> <br />program the states' share of the costs be increased over what <br /> <br />was legislated in 1974. The states have now agreed to a plan <br />that does satisfy the Administration's request. <br />The original legislation provides for a reimbursement to <br />the Federal Treasury from the Upper and Lower Basin accounts <br />of 25% of the federal costs. This reimbursement takes place <br /> <br />over 50 years without interest. This non-federal cost is <br />paid with 85% coming from the Lower Basin Account and 15% <br />from the Upper Basin account. The states have agreed that <br />allocations to the Lower Basin account for future salinity <br /> <br />control projects will be repaid within the first year <br /> <br />-3- <br />