Basin States' Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement, CO River Interim guidelines for Lower Basin Shrotages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

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protection afforded to the Upper Basin by Lake Powell, and to delay the onset and minimize the extent and duration of shortages in the Lower Basin. 4. On May 2, 2005, the Secretary announced her intent to undertake a process to develop Lower Basin shortage guidelines and explore management options for the coordinated operation of Lakes Powell and Mead. On June 15, 2005, the Bureau of Reclamation published a notice in the Federal Register, announcing its intent to implement the Secretary`s direction. The Bureau of Reclamation has proceeded to undertake scoping and develop alternatives pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (the NEPA Process), which the Parties anticipate will form the basis for a ROD to be issued by the Secretary by December 2007. 5. On August 2S, 2005, the Parties wrote a letter to the Secretary expressing conceptual agreement in the development and implementation of three broad strategies for improved management and operation of the Colorado River: Coordinated Reservoir Management and Lower Basin Shortage Guidelines; System Efficiency and Management; and Augmentation of Supply. 6. On February 3, 2006, the Parties transmitted to the Secretary their recommendation for the scope of the NEPA Process (Preliminary Proposal), which refined many of the elements outlined in the August 25, 20051etter. 7. In February 2007, the Secretary issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS} pursuant to the NEPA Process. The DEIS includes an alternative, called the Basin States' Alternative, that is based on the recommendations of the Parties. 8. At the request of the Secretary, the Parties have continued their discussions relative to the areas of agreement outlined in the letters of August 25, 2005 and February 3, 2006, and the DEIS, and have agreed on: a) additional actions for their mutual benefit designed to augment the supply of water available for use in the Colorado River System and improve the management of water in the Colorado River; b} recommendations to the Secretary for adoption as the preferred alternative in the Final Environmental Impact Statement and in the ROD; and e) consultation processes among themselves, and consultation recommendations to the Secretary for incorporation into the ROD. C. Pu~~ose. The Parties intend that the actions by them contemplated in this Agreement will: improve cooperation and communication among them; provide additional security and certainty in the water supply of the Colorado River System for the benefit of the people served by water from the Colorado River System; and avoid circumstances which could otherwise form the basis for claims or controversies over interpretation or implementation of the Colorado River Compact and other applicable provisions of the law of the river. 5