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<br />revolving fund to be used over and over as directed 'by the General <br />Assembly. <br /> <br />(5) The remaining fifteen percent of all monies received <br />from the mineral leasing fund, except those monies received from oil <br />shale leases, would be paid into a local government mineral impact fund <br />for distribution by the Department of Local Affairs in accordance with <br />the purposes and priorities set forth in the federal act. This would <br />amount to about $2,000,000 annually. No further appropriation from <br />the General Assembly would be necessary. Under Section (b) of this <br />subsection an energy impact assistance advisory committee is created. <br />The purpose of the committee would be to continuously review the <br />existing and potential impact of the development, processing, or energy <br />conversion of mineral and fuel resources on various areas of the state <br />and to make recommendations to assist such impacted areas. This would <br />include areas indirectly affected. <br /> <br />Section 3 of the amendment authorizes the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board to construct various small water projects throughout <br />the state pursuant to existing law. An appropriation for these projects <br />is made, but only from funds which will accrue in the future or which <br />are now on hand in the construction fund. It will actually take several <br />years for sufficient funds to accumulate in order to provide the autho- <br />rized $7,705,000. Priorities for construction are specified in the <br />amendment based upon the urgency of constructing the project and mineral <br />development impact. For instance, Dove Creek is given the first <br />priority because of the critical water supply situation in that town. <br />within the next sixty days, it is anticipated that Dove Creek will be <br />hauling all of its water either from some source in Utah or from some <br />source in adjoining Montezuma county. Dove Creek is the county seat of <br />Dolores County where considerable increased oil, gas and mineral explo- <br />ration is now taking place. Dolores County is also the sixth largest <br />contributor among the Colorado counties to the mineral leasing fund. <br />The Yamcolo project has been given the lowest priority, even though it <br />is in an impacted area, because it would take a minimum of two years to <br />secure the necessary federal funds for this project. <br /> <br />The total cost of all these projects is approximately $19,000,000. <br />Of this amount, approximately $10,000,000 would come from federal funds <br />and the balance from local funds. From the estimated $7,705,000 which <br />would be expended on these projects from the construction fund, the fund <br />would receive a return of slightly over $12,000,000. I don't know of <br />any other state program through which state funds can be continuously <br />utilized over and over again for the benefit of the people of this state. <br /> <br />In addition to the energy and minerals impact on various areas <br />of this state, everyone of our communities is now being severely impacted <br /> <br />-3- <br /> <br />2339' <br />