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<br />1 <br /> <br />informal conversation on the scheduling of meetings, I know that I <br />have no prerogative over what the Governor or Congressman Evans, or <br />Mr. Sherman might say in his capacity as Director of Natural Resources, <br />I am interested in what we are going to say, Larry, for the Colorado <br />Water Conservation Board.' So maybe you could give us some background on <br />what we are going to be talking about. I am hopeful that we can meet <br />informally in terms of what this Board is going to say and maybe we can <br />have some background that will be helpful to you all in planning the <br />next day and a half. <br /> <br />MR. SHERMAN: Let me simply say that at the Governor's request I have <br />tried to organize the structure of the state's testimony in such a way <br />that will present the reasons why we so strongly support the projects <br />in question. The Governor will give an overview of the historical <br />reasons and specific reasons today why the state is in favor of these <br />three projects. Following his testimony, we will focus very specifically <br />on some of the more important issues relating to impacts, relating to <br />the cost benefit ratio, which have been viewed so poorly by the Carter <br />administration, and discuss a little bit some of the other matters which <br />we think are important. <br /> <br />For instance, the issue of whether or not construction of these projects <br />will, in fact, have a very important or decided impact on the President's <br />budget. I intend to focus very carefully on environmental aspects of <br />these three projects. If it would be helpful, Mr. Chairman, perhaps <br />Larry could go into some of the particulars that he will address. I <br />will be happy to give an overview of generally what my testimony will <br />include. <br /> <br />.1 <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: I think that would be helpful. I am interested in what <br />is going to be the position during the hearings. We have gone through <br />hearings for years and years and years. I don't want to open up a <br />whole new series of reviews if we can possibly avoid it. I am hopeful <br />that the Governor will take a strong stand that we have been reviewed <br />to death and the inflation on these projects has been devastating. In <br />another few years, if the inflation continues at the rate it has in the <br />last few years, nothing will meet the cost benefit ratio. That is one <br />of the concepts I would like to hear, what the Governor and you and <br />Larry are going to say. I think it is important that we all get in <br />gear on the presentation, and particularly what the conservancy districts <br />are going to say. I hope you have had an opportunity to review that so <br />that we are not going over the same things. All of us are, obviously <br />going to be as articulate as possible, and those are the things I would <br />like to hear now. <br /> <br />MR. SPARKS: Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, the Governor will give <br />an overview of the state's viewpoint on all of these projects at 8:00 <br />a.m. tomorrow morning. He is expressing his support for the projects <br />at the outset. What I plan to cover is a brief history of these projects <br /> <br />-11- <br />