BOARD00607 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e e e Interior's "Working Group," I also discussed our concerns with the Western States Water Council and discovered that our concerns and questions are widely shared. I am told that Tribal water officials are as uncomfortable with the draft report as non-Tribal water users, The meeting between members ofInterior's Working Group and water users that I am organizing this week is likely to attract strong participation fro!1l other states and the Tribes (assuming our selection of a date doesn't conflict with too many other events), Tim Vollman and Margot lallen have expressed strong interest in discussing our concerns before finalizing their recommendations to Secretary Babbitt, but they also express an urgency to complete their tbree-year assignment. Given the interstate character of the expected participants, we are looking for a site near Denver International Airport and planning an agenda that assures we can quickly identify the highest priority concerns and establish a constructive means for suggesting improvements, The frustrations raised by Tribal officials are not unfamiliar to other water users, but coordinating this discussion among so many concerned experts will be a chalIenge! TMDL Update: The EP A has extended the comment period on the proposed regulatory revisions to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Progranl, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program and Water Quality Standards (WQS) Program to Jan, 20,2000, The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) discussed the TMDL rule at a hearing on Nov 8 and 9, including testimony prepared for the,Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, WQCC is now in the process of drafting a letter to the EPA about the rules, Copies of the testimony, the letter and more information about this subject may be found at htto:l/www.cdohe.state.co.us/Wq/wqcc/eoatmdLhtmL Colorado's testimony and proposed comment letter has become the basis ofa WSWC letter that is being prepared. The WSWC letter, however, is expected to go beyond the Water Quality Control Commission's COIIl1l1ents by addressing some ofthe particular flow related questions that may arise in the future, For example, a federal agency charged with examining a permit application might require a dilution flow to address a TMDL priority even though the WQCC has no authority under state law to require such flows to address water quality problems, We will remain involved in the issue and keep you appraised of developments as they occur, We are also considering sending our own comment letter following additional discussions with the DWR and DNR and plan to discuss the proposed comments under Agenda Item 21(b). Clean Water Act Amendment Might Preclude Colorado from Incentives: In January 1999, Sen. Wyden introduced, the "Water Conservation and Quality Incentives Act" (S, 188), The bill proposes to amend the Clean Water Act to authorize the use of state water pollution control revolving funds for assistance to eligible recipients for construction of water conservation improvements and of water quality improvements or practices, However, it restricts the definition of "eligible recipients" to those located in a state that: (1) provides a water user who invests in water use efficiencies with a right to use water saved by the improvement; (2) provides authority to reserve minimum flows of streams; and (3) prohibits transactions that adversely affect existing water rights. The eligibility limitations also bar the use of water conserved through such improvements for the irrigation of land that has not been previously irrigated. A hearing was held on the bill on Oct. 13 and there are currently two cosponsors, Clearly, Colorado water users would not be eligible for funding with these restrictions and we may want to oppose this bilL We are evaluating these concerns and plan to present our assessment in January, Meanwhile, for more information see htto://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-binlbdquervlz?dI06:s,00188, 5