Board Meeting 03/08/1995

• Board Meeting Date: 3/8/1985
• Description: Minutes, Agenda, Memorandums March 8, 1985
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

utilities in the state with the objective of obtaining financing
for the development of authorized CRSP projects or other projects
which would result in an equivalent level of development. The
means to achive this objective are negotiable. Motion adopted
unanimously.
Agenda Item 13 - Colorado River Enhanced Snowpack Test (CREST)
Mr. McDonald recalled that at its January 14-15 , 1985 , meeting,
the Board discussed funding proposals for CREST and adopted motions
reiterating the state ' s previous position on CREST. Also, the
Board provided comments for the Governor' s consideration as he
prepared his response to the November 23 , 1984 , letter from the
Commissioner of Reclamation regarding CREST.
On January 31, 1985 , the staff met with representatives of the
other basin states and the Bureau of Reclamation to discuss ways
that would permit the CREST program to move ahead. At that meeting,
Colorado restated its opposition to the use of CRSP power revenues
for the funding of CREST.
A proposal by California was discussed that would defer the
states ' "share" of the cost of implementing CREST until an opera-
tional program could be implemented. Then, a surcharge against
only the increased generation resulting from augmentation would be
assessed, which surcharge would be sufficient to repay the cost of
the CREST program. In effect, the federal government would fund
. the CREST demonstration program, and those costs would be recovered
by surcharges on power generated through an operational program
(assuming that the demonstration program was successful) .
Although the proposal has, according to Mr, McDonald' s
knowledge, not been formally presented to Reclamation, it is the
understanding that such a plan is not acceptable to the Commis-
sioner. No other new proposals for funding CREST were presented.
Although no formal action was taken, the Board by consensus
maintained its position with respect to CREST funding as expressed
in motions adopted at the July 13 , 1984 , and January 14-15 , 1985 ,
meetings.
Agenda Item 14 - President' s FY 1986 Budget (Appendix I attached)
Mr. McDonald reported that the President' s FY 1986 budget request
for the Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers was for-
warded to Congress in early February. Table 1, which is attached
to Appendix I , is a summary of the funds requested for projects under
or ready for construction in Colorado. This table also shows a
comparison of FY 86 budget requests to funds appropriated in FY
1985. Funds requested for FY 1986 are about $28 million less than
funds available in FY 85.
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