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<br />001536 <br /> <br />{~~{~ <br /> <br />it <br /> <br />of developing within -five years substantial local and state cost <br />sharing and a virtually complete repayment contract package and <br />then have the Secretary approve the project as economically and <br />environmentally feasible. If they fail, the 1956 and 1968 <br />authorizations will lapse. <br /> <br />It <br /> <br />At the same time, the last project in Colorado which is likely <br />to be developed pursuant to the grand scheme of 1922, the Animas-La <br />Plata Project, fights for its life. In order to remain on the <br />books, the project required, pursuant to legislation in 1985, an <br />infusion of. substantial state and local cost sharing. Largely <br />rural communities in Colorado and in New Mexico have made <br />significant commitments and the state of Colorado has contributed <br />in an exceSs of $30,000,000. Bven with those contributions the <br />Animas-La Plata is not assured of construction, largely because of <br />relentless attacks by the environmental community. Those attacks <br />are not premised on the fact that the project creates material and <br />noncorrectible environmental injury. To the contrary, the Animas- <br />La Plata is after all, an orr-stream reservoir, leaving virtually <br />no physical damage to the Animas River. Rather, the <br />environmentalists have mandated that any water development, i.e., <br />any withdrawal of water from streams and rivers creates a per se <br />environmental injury. <br /> <br />The continuing battle over Animas-La Plata demonstrates the <br /> <br />degree to which -federal policies relating to both cost sharing and <br /> <br />10 <br />