Laserfiche WebLink
-The Pueblo Chieftain Online <br />The Pueblo Chieftain Online <br />Select file then print to print this article. <br />Published: Wednesday February 04, 2004 <br />GOP yet to take stance on water mitigation bill <br />John Salazar <br />By TOM Mc"OY <br />THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />DENVER - Gov. Bill Owens and House Speaker Lola Spradley still haven't taken a position on <br />a water basin -of- origin bill that Rep. John Salazar will take into committee today. <br />Salazar, D- Manassa, said he is optimistic HB1040 will win House Agriculture Committee <br />approval. He's still looking for top Republican support if and when it reaches the full House for <br />debate. <br />He will ask the committee to amend out of his bill an entire section that would bar two agencies <br />- the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Colorado Water Resources and Power <br />Development Authority - from funding water projects that impair or increase costs for water <br />users in a basin of origin. <br />"They totally objected to that section," Salazar said, not wanting to stir state agency opposition <br />that could submarine the entire bill. <br />The bill still would prohibit water court judges from approving a water rights change or <br />exchange decree if it fails to protect existing users from injury or increased costs as a result of <br />an out -of -basin transfer. <br />Salazar's proposal lifts the requirement if the applicant enters into an enforceable mitigation <br />agreement with the river basin's water conservation or water conservancy districts. <br />"I haven't seen the amendment, so I can't comment on it," Spradley, a Beulah Republican, said <br />http: / /www. chieftain .com /print /news/1075878000/3 2/4/2004 <br />