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<br />OOJ403 <br /> <br />At tachment 2 <br /> <br />PUBLIC LAW 94-587 -- OCT. 22, 1976 <br /> <br />90 STAT. 2943 <br /> <br />SEC. 193. In order to assure an adequate supply of food to the Na- <br /> <br />tion and to promote the economic vitality of the High Plains Region, the <br /> <br />Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to in this section as the <br /> <br />"Secretary"), acting through the Economic Development Administration, in <br /> <br />cooperation with the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of <br /> <br />Engineers, and appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and the pri- <br /> <br />vate sector, is authorized and directed to study the depletion of the natur- <br /> <br />al resources of those regions of the States of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, <br /> <br />Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska presently utilizing the declining water re- <br /> <br />sources of the Ogallala aquifer, and to develop plans to increase water sup- <br /> <br />plies in the area and report thereon to Congress, together with any recom- <br /> <br />mendations for further congressional action. In formulating these plans, <br /> <br />the Secretary is directed to consider all past and ongoing studies, plans, <br /> <br />and work on depleted water resources in the region, and to examine the feasi- <br /> <br />bility of various alternatives to provide adequate water supplies in the <br /> <br />area including, but not limited to, the transfer of water from adjacent areas, <br /> <br />such portion to be conducted by the Chief of Engineers to assure the contin- <br /> <br />ued economic growth and vitality of the region. The Secretary shall report <br /> <br />on the costs of reasonably available options, the benefits of various options, <br /> <br />and the costs of inaction. If water transfer is found to be a part of a rea- <br /> <br />sonable solution, the Secretary as part of his study, shall include a re- <br /> <br />commended plan for allocating and distributing water in an equitable fashion, <br /> <br />taking into account existing water rights and the needs for future growth of <br /> <br />all affected areas. An interim report, with recommendations, shall be trans- <br /> <br />mitted to the Congress no later than October 1, 1978, and a final report, with <br /> <br />recommendations, shall be transmitted to Congress not later than July 1, 1980. <br /> <br />A sum of $6,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of carry- <br /> <br />ing out this section. <br />