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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />(,'IJ <br /> <br />-._, <br /> <br />approved funding of the purchase through the Colorado Water <br /> <br />"" <br />~J Conservation Board Construction Fund. Passage of the legislation <br />c> <br />~, was led by key legislators from both parties. $400,000 would be <br /> <br />loaned (this amount will now be reduced to $350,000) and $100,000 <br /> <br />would be granted to Conejos. <br /> <br />The Water Conservation Board has <br /> <br />approved the specific financing package based on water revenues. <br /> <br />The Governor has indicated his very strong support for Platoro in <br /> <br />line with his strong economic development policies. The congres- <br /> <br />sional delegation is strongly behind the sale. And of historical <br /> <br />significance in light of the bitter controversies of prior years, <br /> <br />the. conveyance is strongly supported by neighboring water users on <br /> <br />the Rio Grande. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS <br /> <br />The transfer of facilities from the United states to the <br /> <br />Conejos Water Conservancy District does not in itself change the <br />operation of the project in any significant respect. The Bureau <br /> <br />of Reclamation has concluded under its guidelines that formal <br /> <br />environmental assessment is not required under NEPA. <br /> <br />Of course, a 1951 reservoir did not undergo current NEPA <br /> <br />evaluation at the time of planning and construction. No environ- <br />mental mitigation was required or provided; no instream flow water <br /> <br />rights were acquired nor operating criteria imposed. Nevertheless <br /> <br />agreements addressing certain environmental impacts of the existing <br /> <br />10 <br />