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<br />. <br /> <br />Aqenda Item 15 - Colorado River Salinity Control Proqram <br /> <br />Three separate issues were discussed as follows: <br /> <br />a. Orqanization of Grand Valley Laterals <br /> <br />Mr. McDonald stated that he had discussed the <br />organization of Grand Valley Laterals with Reclamation <br />and had concluded to retain legal assistance to <br />determine what type of organization would be legally <br />and politically most suited for contracting with the <br />Federal Government. He added that he had requested and <br />received authority from the Attorney General to <br />contract with an attorney from the Grand Junction area <br />to perform this analysis. The Bureau will provide <br />funds for this study. Reclamation would also provide <br />the funds to the State to organize the laterals based <br />on the findings of this study. - <br /> <br />b. <br /> <br />Implementation of USDA On-farm Proqram <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Mr. Jencsok stated that the USDA has prepared draft <br />RUles and Regulations for implementing the USDA program <br />authorized in the Colorado River Salinity Control Act <br />as amended by PL 98-569. The Rules and Regulations <br />have been reviewed by the Salinity Control Forum/Work <br />Group. <br /> <br />Issues that need to be resolved by USDA are: <br /> <br />1. Cost-sharing of replacement facilities after <br />initial projects are implemented. The Basin <br />states' position is that if replacement benefits <br />salinity control the USDA should cost-share in <br />those replacements. <br /> <br />2. How the reimbursable costs of the cost-sharing <br />program will be defined. <br /> <br />Mr. Jencsok stated that the USDA will address these <br />issues and circulate further drafts for review and <br />comment. Furthermore. the Regulations will be subject to <br />review and comments after they are formally published in <br />the Federal Register. <br /> <br />Mr. Jim Thornton USDA/BCS made some general remarks <br />with respect to the Rules and Regulations. <br /> <br />Mr. McDonald stated that a letter from Congressman <br />Kogovsek to former Commissioner Broadbent addressed the <br />reimbursable cost-sharing issue. The letter states that <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-11- <br />