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<br />.~uo <br /> <br />The O'Mahoney version which was presented <br />yesterday would Carry out the sense of the Allott <br />amendments which were proposed in the first in- <br />stance by the Water Congress, that no areas would <br />be established except by specific acts of Con- <br />gress. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />As I say, if you wanted to go into detail as <br />to what the various amendments do, I would be <br />happy to do so but it would be a rather time-con- <br />suming proposition. <br /> <br />The other amendment which I consider to be <br />of vital significance deals with permissible ex- <br />ceptions. Now the O'Mahoney version does not <br />carry out the intent of the Allott amendment <br />concerning exceptions for rights-of-way, for <br />ditches and canals and reservoirs, -roads that <br />are used in connection therewith, for the purpose <br />of conserving water or utilizing water. The <br />Allott amendments would specifically, in the Act, <br />require such rights-of-way to be granted in ac- <br />cordance with exiRting statutes. There are <br />several Acts under which these rights-af-way are <br />granted. . I feel, as far as the Water Board is <br />concerned, this is a matter of primary importance. <br />That the establishment and maintenance of these <br />areas should not preclude the construction of <br />necessary water conservation works. <br /> <br />One amendment that was proposed by another <br />one of the Senators, Senator Dvorchak, such <br />rights-of-way would be granted for federal proj- <br />ects. But I think it's clear that if this ex- <br />ception is made it shouldn't be hinged on fed- <br />eral project construction because if a local con- <br />servancy district, a state, or a municipality <br />has to go into one of these areas to put in col- <br />lection facilities, etc., they should have the <br />right to do it without having to have a federal <br />project before they can do it. <br /> <br />As I say, this amendment has been proposed <br />by Senator Allott. It has not been acted upon <br />and I think the Bill without that amendment, and <br />without the amendment for the creation of these <br />areas by statute, must be opposed by this Board <br />or any agency which has the responsibility for <br />the planning and carrying out of water ~velop- <br />ment. I started on this thing more or less ob- <br />jectively, in an objective frame of mind. The <br /> <br />I <br />