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<br />
<br />'0015~3
<br />
<br />Legal Aspects of the Upcoming Reallocation of
<br />Hoover Dam Energy: The Conflict Between
<br />Arizona, California, and Nevada
<br />
<br />Keith W. Kroese
<br />
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<br />"Well. . . yes, and here we go again.") Another dispute over the
<br />distribution of the resources created by the Boulder Canyon Project Act
<br />(BCPA)2 has arisen among the states of Arizona, California, and Nevada.)
<br />The present dispute involves the reallocation of the hydroelectric power
<br />generated at Hoover Dam when the current power contracts expire in
<br />1987.4 Arizona and Nevada assert that they are entitled to a greater share
<br />of Hoover Dam power while California argues that it has a statutory right
<br />to continue receiving its current share.
<br />The original allocation of Hoover Dam energy, still in effect today, is
<br />heavily weighted in favor of California. The California allottees receive
<br />approximately sixty-four percent of the Boulder Canyon Project power.s
<br />
<br />1...'
<br />, .
<br />
<br />I. B.S. THOMPSON, THE GREAT SHARK HUNT 17 (1980).
<br />2. 43 U.S.c. ~~ 617-617u (1976 & Supp. IV 1980).
<br />3. See Proposed General Consolidated Power Marketing Criteria or Regulations for Boul-
<br />der City Area Projects, Revision, 47 Fed. Reg. 36.946. 36,947-48 (1982) [hereinafter cited as Re-
<br />~ised Marketing Criteria]. This is not the first controversy that has arisen between the states with
<br />rcs~ct to the Doulder Canyon Project. although the previou!. disputes were over water. See Ari-
<br />zona v. California, 373 U.S. 546, 586 (1963) (BCPA and the water contracts entered into by the
<br />Secretary of the Interior control the apportionment of Colorado River water among the states);
<br />Ar'.zona v. California, 298 U.S. 558, 571-72. (1936) (denying Arizona's petition for leave to file a
<br />bill of complaint seeking. in effect, a judicial apportionment of unappropriated Colorado River
<br />water among the states because of the impossibility of joining the United States, an indispensable
<br />party, in th;: suit); Arizona v. California, 283 U.S. 423, 437 (1931) (BCPA is a valid exerCIse of the
<br />constitutional power to improve navigation).
<br />4. See Revised Marketing Criteria, supra note 3. 43 U.S.C. ~ 617d (1976) authorizes the
<br />Secretary of the Interior to contract for the generation and delivery of electrical energy but limits
<br />the duration of the contracts to 50 years from the date when "such energy is ready for delivery."
<br />The original power contracts had a 5O-year duration. R. WILBUR & N. ELY, THE HOOVER DAM
<br />POWER AND WATER CONTRACTS AND RELATED DATA 596 (Ist ed. 1933) [hereinafter cited as
<br />CONTRACTS]. The contract period was in accordance with the mandate of 43 U.S,C. ~ 617(c),
<br />which required the Secretary to enter into contracts adequate to ensure amortization of the United
<br />States' expenses within 50 years. See 43 U.S.C. ~ 617 (1976). The 50-year period covered by the
<br />power contracts commenced on June I, 1937. R. WILBUR & N. ELY, THE HOOVER DAM Docu-
<br />MENTS 85 (2d ed. 19411) [hereinafter cited as DOCUMENTS). Power will thus be available, as the
<br />oontracls expire, by May 31, 1987. Proposed General Consolidated Power Marketing Criteria or
<br />Regulations for Boulder City Area Projects, 46 Fed. Reg. 46,864 (1981) [hereinafter cited as Pro-
<br />posed Marketing Criteria].
<br />5. Letter from Secretary of the Interior R. L. Wilbur to the Senate Committee OD Appropri-
<br />ations (June 17, 1930), in CONTRACTS, supra note 4, at 601,'
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