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<br />~. <br /> <br />') <br /> <br />operation matters and is part of a comprehensive arrangement between the two nations <br />that incorporates, at a minimum, the material terms of the Basin States' Proposal. The <br />Basin States stand ready to discuss this comprehensive arrangement. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Colorado River AUl!mentation Proiects <br /> <br />Implementation of projects to augment the long-term supply of the Colorado River is of <br />utmost importance not only to the Basin States and the millions of people who live here, <br />but to the nation as a whole. While no specific augmentation projects are included in the <br />current Basin States' Proposal, the need to develop a process to implement augmentation <br />projects must remain at the forefront of the Basin States' and Interior's agendas. <br />Changes to existing or new federal regulations may be necessary to effectuate <br />augmentation projects. <br /> <br />The Preliminary Proposal outlined a concept for water users in Arizona, California, or <br />Nevada to secure additional water supplies by funding the development of a <br />non-Colorado River System water supply in one Lower Division State for use in another <br />Lower Division State by exchange. Through the cooperation of the International <br />Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, similar arrangements could <br />be established by which non-Colorado River System water supplies in Mexico could be <br />developed for use in the United States by exchange. <br /> <br />\ <br />) <br /> <br />The Basin States view the inclusion in the DEIS of a quantitative analysis of the impacts <br />to the Colorado River resulting from the implementation of future augmentation projects <br />as a positive step and encourage you to include the same analysis in the FEIS in order to <br />begin to establish the environmental compliance framework for future augmentation <br />I <br />projects. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Conclusion <br /> <br />In closing, the Basin States thank you for your leadership and urge Interior to adopt a <br />ROD that includes all of the material terms of the Basin States' Proposal. <br /> <br />~--) <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />4 <br />