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<br /> <br />O~1582 <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Wyoming is a permit state and recognizes the priority system of water <br />allocation. The system of obtaining the right to use water in Wyoming <br />is under the supervision of the State Engineer with the water right <br />adjudicated by the Board of Control. A prospective user files an <br />application, including maps and plans, with the State Engineer. The <br />priority is established when the application is accepted by the State <br />Engineer. No application is denied unless such denial is demanded by the <br />public interest. Upon approval of a permit, the times for commence- <br />ment and completion of construction are set by the State Engineer at <br />the time of the granting of the permit. The State Engineer may grant <br />reasonable extensions of time in which to complete construction; <br />however, under no circumstance is the extension time to exceed five <br />years. After the water specified in the permit is put to beneficial <br />use and all of the required notices are filed, the Board of Control <br />will issue a certificate of appropriation which is evidence of an <br />adjudicated water right. A water right is recognized as attached <br />to the land in the State of Wyoming, and, through the actions of <br />the Board of Control, may be transferred, and, under certain <br />conditions, the place, purpose, and method of use may be changed. <br /> <br />There are numerous outstanding permits for projects which have not <br />been completed, and as to which a certificate has not been issued. <br /> <br />Federal Responsibilities. ,Indian Water Rights - One of the most <br />important duties of the Secretary is his trusteeship responsibilities <br />for the Indian tribes. There are several Indian Reservations in the <br />Basin states. The largest of these is the Navajo Reservation in the <br />States of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Other Reservations include <br />the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Reservations in Colorado and <br />New Mexico and the Uintah and Ouray Reservations in Utah. <br /> <br />In recent years, Indian tribes generally have asserted numerous claims <br />to the use of water throughout the West. These have included conven- <br />tional water rights applications in accordance with state law and so- <br />called "reserved rights" claims under the Winters Doctrine. There are <br />several pending proposals for the assertion of such claims in the Basin <br />by several tribes. However, because of the short time available for <br />the preparation of this study, these potential claims have not been <br />quantified. It must, therefore, be kept in mind in evaluation of all <br />of the factual material contained in the report that these potential <br />Indian water right claims have not been considered in the figures <br />except as otherwise specifically noted. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Other Federal Responsibilities - One of the major Federal responsibilities <br />in any significant program is compliance with the National Environmental <br />Policy Act (42 U.S.C. g~ 4321 ~~. (1970)). The Department will be <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />