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. .. 000302 -5- "Access. Preliminary investigations have been completed for an access road that would ~xtend from Vernal, Utah, on United States Highway No. 40 to I~land Park ~nd that ~!()uld then con- tinue along the south side; of the Green River through V~rlpool Caqyon to the dam site. other routes will be studied during the preconstruction survey~. In the investigations of alter- native routes, consideratipn should be given to the desirability of routing the road by the;constrllction camp and deposits of construction materials. Consideration should also be given to the possibility of locating the road so that it ',ould provide access to facilities of th~ Split "Iountain uni t and permit at least part of the Echo Park construction camp to be used for the Split Mountain unit." , ..' It will be noted that the ~ureau has materially changed its original statements in the report on this subject and merely states that preliminary in- "'<:"tigations have been completed for 'an access road that will extend from Vernal, Ut'6,\1 on U. S. Highway 40 but that other routes will be studied during the pre- con3truction surveys. The statement also pointed out certain factors which should be considered in finally determining the route of access road or roads. It would not be reasonable to expect that the Director of Region 4, in submitting his report to Washington, in the absence of rather complete survey and study of the access roads matter, could definitely determine access road location. Colorado's informal comments requested further study of the matter of roao routes to the Echo Park Dam and Reservoir and indicated arguments in favor of a road leaving Highway U. S. 40 in the vicinity of Artesia, Colorado and following a northerly course to the d?~ site. This State also asked the Bureau not only to conduct the necessary surveys and investigations for access routes, but to keep the Staoe and interested groups within the state informed Rnd advised before a final de- cision on the matter is made. The change in the recent report indicates that the Bl'reau will make the additional surveys and, at the appropriate time, there is nothing to indicate that that Federal agency will not keep State and local intere~ advised, as well as giving them an opportunity to be heard. There is every indication that the National Park and nature lover in- terests will continue their objection to the storage of water at Echo Park. This opposition probably will assume an organized effort when approval of the Colorado River Storage Project and authorization of the initial features thereof are con- sidered by the Congress. Proponents of the project are confident that, with the ruling of the Secretary of the Interior and based upon controlling facts, such opposition will not ultimately be effective to defeat the construction of the Echo Park Dam. However, it may result in the inclusion in the authorization of initial features of the plan for roads which will not only serve construction purposes but also recreational and scenic attractions of the area, These are all unknown fac- tors at this time and efforts to secure a decision now, in view of the status of the report and road surveys and investigations would seem to be premature and might result in delay in securing report status as a basis for project authorization. After all, unless the project is authorized, from the point of view of reclamation Jevelopment, there is no occasion for any access roads.