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<br />needs of the FR/EIS so as not to interfere with the issuance of a complete and unfettered <br />ROD. It was further stated that the group will support the Corps if they need additional <br />funding to complete the study, but we need to know soon what the status is. <br /> <br />The discussion then moved on to the agricultural (ag) credit issues. Tracy Bouvette <br />stated that it is the intention of the Chatfield Project to incorporate the ag component <br />(temporary ag use of the storage space), that is available as a result of the 1986 Water <br />Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorizing language, into the FR/EIS through <br />qualitative analysis only, to simplify the NED portion of the FR/EIS. This approach is <br />something that the farmers and the CWCB support for the CWCB is willing to pay for <br />storage in Chatfield based on the best and highest use (currently defined as municipal and <br />industrial water supply) to simplify the FR/EIS economic analyses; accurately depict the <br />changing use of water in the Denver Front Range; and allow the CWCB the ability to <br />utilize Chatfield storage under future contracting with local water users with the <br />maximum flexibility allowed under the WRDA 1986 project authorization. This <br />proposed approach, which the Corps also supports, is expected to help stream line <br />production of the FR/EIS and water contracting processes. John Micik said that the 1986 <br />WRDA is very clear, and that this approach is allowable under that authorization. He <br />also indicated that the packaging of the FR/EIS and the ROD, which is handled at the <br />District, is very important with respect to how the final decision is made. As John Micik <br />said, "presentation is everything." <br /> <br />That led the Chatfield group to talk about obtaining comparable reallocation Records of <br />Decision. John Micik commented that when you use the term ROD, you're referring to a <br />final decision. In most cases the District Commander signed the agreement. Unless the <br />Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA) wants to review the report, it <br />would be handled at the district level. (John Micik noted that he will have to check on <br />whether the EIS has to be handled at the same time as the Feasibility Report.) John <br />Micik again noted that it is important how the ROD is presented. The ROD is a stand- <br />alone report, but it can be bound with the Feasibility Report. The District office is <br />responsible for putting this together. All decision documents operate from the District <br />level. Division is part of HQ. Micik noted that the Corps has people in HQ who will <br />provide guidance on how to put together the ROD. He was not certain about reallocation <br />RODs, but noted that HQ does have the format as to how they need to be put together. <br />Tracy Bouvette asked how a reallocation differs in a situation involving a federal (Corps) <br />facility versus a non-federal facility. John Micik stated he would see what he can find in <br />terms of reallocation RODs; however, he indicated that reallocation projects do not <br />require the same level of analysis and documentation as is needed for a new facility. <br /> <br />The discussion then moved to mitigation issues. John Micik asked if the Chatfield group <br />was looking for a model agreement that would separate water because there is a separate <br />authority for temporary storage and use of water. Tracy Bouvette asked if, once the ROD <br />is signed, can we begin design and construction since we have made progress on this. <br />John Hendrick asked whether mitigation could be phased so that Chatfield State Park <br />could continue to operate and generate revenue during mitigation construction. Tracy <br />asked to what extent can we evaluate storing additional water in Chatfield during <br /> <br />3 <br />