CRWUA 2006 Resolutions and Supporting Position Statements

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2. the removal, to a site in the State of Utah, for permanent disposition and any necessary stabilization, of residual radioactive material and other contaminated material from the Moab site and the floodplain of the Colorado River. In November 2001, the Department of Energy (DOE) took possession of the Atlas uranium mine tailings site from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In April 2005, DOE announced its decision to move the Moab tailings pile to Crescent Junction located 30 miles north of Moab and 15 miles east of Green River. On September 14, 2005, the DOE signed a Record of Decision which specified that the DOE will: 1. move the uranium mill tailings and other contaminated material to the Crescent Junction site, and 2. implement active groundwater remediation at the site. The Association supports Congressional appropriations to accomplish the relocation of the mill tailings pile as soon as practical. Resolution No. 2006 -13 - -- FEDERAL ACTIONS TO DESIGNATE OR REDESIGNATE LANDS Any federal action to create, within categories, designate (or redesignate) lands shall not affect or impair existing water rights or uses. Such designation shall not create any water right or use. Designation actions shall defer to state law and be made subsequent to consultation with the affected State(s) and Congressional delegation(s). Position Statement - -- Federal Actions to Designate or Redesignate Lands - -- (Resolution No. 2006 -13) Prior designation or redesignation of federal lands has impaired water rights and their use throughout the Colorado River Basin. Such designations are contrary to sound public policy and have occurred without appropriate deference to state law regarding the use and control of water resources, without public input, and without adequate analysis of the impacts on the human environment. Past and proposed applications of the 1906 Federal Antiquities Act in designation of national monuments are an affront to the affected states' rights. Designations under the 1906 Antiquities .pct should only be made after consultation with the affected State(s) and Congressional delegation(s). Resolution No. 2006 -14 - -- COLORADO RIVER ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN The Colorado River Water Users Association urges the Secretary of the Interior to adopt the Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River System Reservoirs (AOP) by October V of each year. Position Statement--- Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - -- (Resolution No. 2006 -14) Each year the Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River System Reservoirs (AOP) is prepared in accordance with Section 602 of the Colorado River Basin Project Act (P.L. 90 -537) and the Criteria for Coordinated Long -Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968. The purposes of the AOP, as specified in that document each year, are to determine: (1) the projected operation of the Colorado River reservoirs to satisfy project purposes under varying hydrologic and climatic conditions; (2) the quantity of water considered necessary as of September 30 to be in storage in the Upper Basin reservoirs as required by Section 602(a) of the Colorado River Basin Project Act; (3) water available for delivery pursuant to the 1944 U.S.- Mexico Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (IBWC); (4) whether the reasonable consumptive use requirements of mainstream users in the Lower Division States will be met under a "normal," "surplus," or "shortage" condition as outlined in Article III of the Operating Criteria; and (5) whether water apportioned to, but unused by, one or more Lower Division States exists and can be used to satisfy beneficial consumptive use requests of mainstream users in other Lower Division States as provided in the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court Decree in Arizona v. California (Decree), and the Interim Surplus Guidelines. 16