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11 <br />Because the Department's selection will provide benefits to the Colorado Ute Tribes which are not <br />identical to those envisioned in the 1988 Settlement, this ROD, in and of itself, does not allow for <br />implementation of activities specific to RA4. Congressional authorization is needed to achieve final <br />implementation of the 1988 Settlement. <br />This ROD does, however, provide the Department's confirmation that the Administration proposal, <br />as modified, is the best means to finalize the settlement. It should also be noted that the cost of RA4 <br />would be significantly less than the cost associated with the original settlement. By executing this <br />ROD, the Department adopts the reasoning and analysis contained in the July 2000 Final <br />Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement ( FSEIS). Nonetheless, until such time as <br />authorization is provided or other statutory guidance is forthcoming, the Department will not <br />commence any significant activities (e.g. construction) in furtherance of RA4. <br />The components of RA4 are as follows: <br />Structural <br />Off - stream reservoir of 120,000 acre -feet total capacity (including a conservation <br />pool of approximately 30,000 af) at Ridges Basin <br />280 cfs pumping plant <br />a pipeline from the pumping plant to the reservoir <br />a pipeline to transport M &I water to the Shiprock area for the benefit of the <br />Navajo Nation <br />Non - structural <br />$40,000,000 acquisition fund for the Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute <br />Tribes to purchase existing water rights on a willing buyer /willing seller basis or <br />to engage in other resource development activity <br />The Department's selection of RA4 as the recommended course of action is in accord with the <br />Department's policy "to recognize and fulfill its legal obligations to identify, protect, and conserve <br />the trust resources of federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal members." (512 DM 2). The <br />Colorado Ute Tribes, who participated in the development of the FSEIS and were consulted with on <br />an ongoing basis during its development, have strongly endorsed RA4 as their preferred course to <br />resolve the remaining issues associated with the 1988 Settlement. <br />The following sections provide additional information concerning the rationale for this decision, <br />including the analysis performed; critical issues which were considered; and commitments which <br />are hereby made in association with the chosen alternative should Congress authorize its <br />implementation. <br />II. Background & Associated Issues <br />2 <br />