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H. Background <br />A. In 1956, Congress enacted the Colorado River Storage Project Act (CRSPA). Among <br />the purposes of CRSPA is the "comprehensive development of the water resources of <br />the Upper Colorado River Basin." A feature of CRSPA, in section 5(e), is the use of <br />hydroelectric power revenues to aid in the development and repayment of certain <br />irrigation costs of participating projects within the Upper Colorado River Basin (aid -to- <br />irrigation) 43 U.S.C. § 620d(e). <br />B. In section 5(e) of CRSPA, Congress apportioned funds for aid -to- irrigation repayment to <br />each of the Upper Division States as follows: 46.0% to the State of Colorado; 21.5% to <br />the State of Utah; 17.0% to the State of New Mexico; and 15.5% to the State of <br />Wyoming. For a variety of reasons, the application of this apportionment is resulting in <br />the collection of revenues for aid -to- irrigation beyond what is necessary to repay the <br />irrigation components of the completed and under construction irrigation projects as <br />authorized in section 5(d)(4), 43 U.S.C. § 620d(d)(4). <br />C. Section 5(e) of CRSPA allows an Upper Division State to consent to the use of revenues <br />collected pursuant to 5(e) to be used in another Upper Division State. <br />D. CREDA and the Upper Division States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming <br />desire to enter into this interim agreement to implement Section 5(e) of CRSPA in a <br />manner that reduces the CRSP firm electric service rate. <br />E. The Parties desire to enter into this interim agreement to provide additional resources to <br />further the purposes currently authorized in CRSPA 43 U.S.C. § 620(c)(1). <br />F. This MOA does not imply support for or require the de- authorization of projects that are <br />currently authorized. It does not prevent the states or parties within the states from <br />seeking authorization of additional projects or from seeking appropriations for authorized <br />projects under CRSPA, as amended and supplemented. It does not require cost sharing <br />or matching funds by the state parties. <br />G. It is the intent of the signatories not to seek any legislative changes to the apportionment <br />process as it is currently described in CRSPA. <br />111. Purposes The Parties intend that the actions by them contemplated in this MOA will: <br />A. Reduce the impact on the CRSP firm power rate by eliminating the collection of power <br />revenues beyond that amount needed to repay the costs of the projects identified in A.1- <br />6 of the Agreement section below. <br />B. Create a methodology for collecting MOA Revenues for use by Reclamation within the <br />Upper Colorado River Basin for the benefit of the Upper Division States. Under this <br />MOA, CRSP power revenues collected in accordance with this MOA will be used by <br />Reclamation to further the purposes of CRSPA through application of those revenues to <br />the costs of implementation of projects recommended by the Non - Federal Parties. The <br />