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<br />WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) and Fourth District <br />U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan) on Monday introduced <br />revamped legislation to authorize construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit. <br />The legislation creates a cost-share formula that requires the federal government to pay <br />for 80 percent of the Conduit's construction costs. The remaining 20 percent will be paid <br />for by local entities. Senator Allard and Representative Musgrave worked closely with <br />citizens and elected officials from communities in the Lower Arkansas Valley in drafting <br />the legislation. <br />"Congresswoman Musgrave and I have reworked the legislation from last session in an <br />effort to garner more federal support and give even greater assistance to southeast <br />Colorado. By raising the cost-share level to 80 percent federal, 20 percent non-federal, <br />we can deliver a conduit without placing a financial burden on local communities," <br />Senator Allard said. "This project is critical to the future of the Arkansas Valley." <br />"Building the Arkansas Valley Conduit is the best alternative for the water quality <br />problems in Southeastern Colorado," said Congresswoman Musgrave. "Today, residents <br />in the region are still waiting for the clean, safe and affordable drinking water they were <br />promised more than 40 years ago. It is crucial that we pass this legislation, because the <br />conduit is even more needed today that it was in 1962. As I introduce this bill in the <br />House, I applaud Sen. Allard for his leadership in the Senate." <br />"This local-federal partnership breathes new life into the conduit project, which when <br />completed will provide the small towns and water agencies of Southeastern Colorado <br />with the clean, fresh water which they have long been promised," Senator Allard said. <br />When completed, the Arkansas Valley Conduit will supply 16 towns and 25 water <br />agencies in Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Prowers, Pueblo and Otero counties with clean, fresh <br />water, serving a geographic area slightly larger than the state of New Hampshire. The <br />project was initially authorized by Congress in 1962 with the enactment of the <br />Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. <br /> <br />In addition, on June 30 Senators Allard and Salazar announced a public meeting, the <br />"Arkansas Valley Conduit Forum", to be held in La Junta on July 16,2005. This meeting <br />is "further evaluate the status... address concerns... and develop a timeline for moving <br />forward." Sen. Allard noted, "Today, I am even more convinced that the Conduit must <br />be built if SE Colorado is to continue to flourish, and it must be built without placing an <br />unbearable financial burden on the communities involved." Sen. Salazar added, "... <br />there is no reason we cannot have a ... successful and beneficial project here in the <br />Arkansas Valley - one that bolsters lower Arkansas communities and ensures them a <br />bountiful future." Staff will attend the July 16 Forum, as well as a meeting of the <br />Conduit Committee being held on July 12 to prepare for the Forum and organize the <br />presentations that will be made to the Senators. <br /> <br />Colorado River Basin <br /> <br />Colorado River 7-Basin State Meeting: The July 6th meeting of the 7-Basin States <br />almost did not occur due to uncertainty over the agenda and whether or not there was <br />anything of enough substance to merit a face-to-face meeting, this matter was not <br />resolved until the day before the meeting. <br /> <br />27 <br />