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<br />, <br />'\ <br />~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />July 21, 1992 <br /> <br /> <br />The Honorable Manual Lujan, Jr. <br />Secretary of the Interior <br />U,S, Department of the Interior <br />1849 C Street, N.W. <br />Washington, D.C 20240-9000 <br /> <br />Subject: <br /> <br />United States Bureau of Reclamation Draft Regulations for Administering <br />Entitlements to Colorado River Water in the Lower Colorado River Basin <br /> <br />Dear Secretary Lujan: <br /> <br />The United States Bureau of Reclama(ion (Reclamation) has been administering <br />Colorado River water entitlements in the lower basin without the benefit of a formalized <br />administrative procedure, In an effort supported by the states of Arizona, California and <br />Nevada (States), Reclamation undertook the drafting of rules and regulations addressing the <br />administration of these entitlements and provided copies to (he States for their informal <br />review, The States and water users responded with comments, anticipating that there would <br />be another informal review prior to the general circulation of the redrafted rules and <br />regulations. Unfortunately this process has been interrupted by the regulatory moratorium <br />issued by the President of the United States. <br /> <br />We appreciate the objective of the regulatory moratorium. However, rules and <br />regulations for administering water entitlements within the lower Colorado River basin are <br />essential for proper management of the river systems and for administration of Colorado <br />River entitlements. Therefore the States request an exemption from the regulatory <br />moratorium for this specific purpose. <br /> <br />The Colorado River provides a vital resource to the arid southwest. The region is <br />in the sixth year of drought. Optimizing the benefits afforded by this resource mandates <br />effective management. Although the "Law of the River" establishes the allocation for the <br />use of Colorado River water, a formalized administrative procedure to guide the operation <br />and management of the river system is needed as soon as practicable. Appropriately <br />structured rules and regulations will facilitate more efficient water use and help protect the <br />regional economy. To continue without rules and regulations invites continued abuse, <br />uncertainty and inconsistency in the use and management of the water resources of the <br />Colorado River. <br /> <br />03'13 <br />