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<br />001128 <br /> <br />Testimony of Howard D. Richards, Sr., Chairman <br />Southern Ute Indian Tribe - March 24, 2004 <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />The Southern Ute Indian Tribe continues to participate on both the Project Operating <br />Committee ("POC") and'the Project Construction Coordination Committee ("PCC"). In <br />addition, the Tribe, through Sky Ute Sand and Gravel provides "batched" material for the <br />construction of the project. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has also worked with the Ute <br />Mountain Ute Tribe on the cultural resources contract for the project. At the outset of project <br />construction, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Reclamation <br />discussed the tasks that were required to complete the project and determined who would have <br />the lead, who would provide input and who would provide oversight on each of those tasks. The <br />Southern Ute Indian Tribe has not charged Reclamation for these types of planning and <br />coordination activities under the Self-Determination Act, but has only sought reimbursement <br />when it actually supplies a product, such as concrete, to the project. <br /> <br />Tribal representatives worked with Reclamation, on behalf of the Tribe, when it was <br />developing its report to the Secretary of the Interior on the factors that resulted in the increased <br />cost estimates. These. individuals have advised me that they believe Reclamation is working <br />diligently to correct the problems that resulted in the increased cost estimate, As you know, the <br />project sponsors were not aware of the issues associated the increased costs until they reached <br />the crisis stage. <br /> <br />. In our view, Reclamation has taken two useful steps to address the basic problems that <br />existed with regard to project management. First, Reclamation is working to improve <br />communication with the project sponsors. This effort has focused .on developing a more formal <br />means of communication about the issues facing the project, as well as increased emphasis on <br />the monthly meetings of the PCC. Second, Reclamation has made it clear that Rick Ehat, a <br />construction engineer in Durango, is charged with building the project. We have been told to <br />direct our questions and concerns in the first instance to Mr. Ehat. We are encouraged by these <br />new procedures and hope that they will improve communication and allow those who are <br />directly affected to work with Reclamation to ensure that the project is built on time and in a <br />cost-efficient fashion. <br /> <br />I want to emphasize the complexity of the tasks that face us in reaching those goals. Not <br />only is the actual construction of such a project very complicated, there are a number of other <br />obligations that must be met to complete the project on time. In particular, construction of the <br />project requires substantial environinental mitigation both in the area and on related matters such <br />as the environmental impact statement for the operation of Navajo Dam and Reservoir, These <br />responsibilities require Reclamation to complete various activities and to consult with other <br />federal and state agencies to maintain the construction schedule. Funding is also critical. <br />Without adequate annual funding, the schedule will be delayed and the cost of the project will <br />increase further. In short, there is much to do, but working together, I am confident that we can <br />meet the challenges before us and complete the project and the settlement. <br />