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<br />10. MR. TED BZ~: The increased tax revenues should lower <br />mill levies by one or two mills. That is not a whole lot, but it <br />certainly could help a lot of people, and especially your fixed <br />income or your older people. <br /> <br />Approximately $6 million dollars will be spent in the valley in <br />each of the two construction years. Water assessments paid by <br />irrigators would be reduced. Assessments per acre could be <br />reduced by $2 to $12.- <br /> <br />RESPONSE: The tax revenues generated in Montrose County are <br />presented in chapter 3 of the EIS along with other economic <br />effects during the construction and operation of the project. <br /> <br />11. MR. JOHN BALDUS: The environmental statement is completely <br />inadequate and in violation of the National Environmental POlicy <br />Act. We do not know what the effects of the project will be. <br />For example, in the cost-benefit analysis, there are no <br />mitigation costs assumed for any wildlife impacts. If problems <br />occur with endangered species or other wildlife, no one knows <br />what it might cost to take care of the problems or what those <br />problems would result in. <br /> <br />Impacts to wildlife are not mentioned; impacts to wetlands along <br />the Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers are not presented. <br /> <br />The stylized channel drawing of the Gunnison River in the DEIS <br />does not represent the entire river. We need serious, scientific <br />data that explains how many miles of river bed will be affected, <br />what types of riverbeds are found, and how broad the riparian <br />zones are. <br /> <br />Sediment is not adequately considered--referring to the North <br />Fork sediment load as "not large" is not scientific. We need to <br />know where the sediment sources are, how much sediment they may <br />contribute at what periods of the year, and what effects this <br />change in the river will have on those sources. <br /> <br />The description of the uncompahgre River is only a sketch; more <br />information is critical to understanding the effects on wildlife <br />and other resources. <br /> <br />If there is not sufficient information to make a decision on <br />impacts, then a worst case scenario must be done according to the <br />National Environmental Policy Act; this has not been done <br />anywhere in the DEIS and is needed in 6 or 8 places. <br /> <br />Icing impacts, especially downstream from the North Fork, are not <br />adequately addressed. If something goes wrong, who is going to <br />fix it? <br /> <br />RESPONSE: Reclamation believes that the EIS is in compliance <br />with NEPA, as the document presents alternatives, impacts, and <br />mitigation measures. Fish and wildlife mitigation measures <br />include minimum flow levels, wetland replacement and bank <br /> <br />P-9 <br />