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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />000713 <br /> <br />BRIEFING FOR SENATOR WIRTH <br /> <br />January 19, 1987 <br /> <br />LEGISLATION REQUIRED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE <br />COLORADO UTE INDIAN RESERVED WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The December 10, 1986, settlement agreement contains <br />several elements whose implementation will require <br />Congressional legislation. In turn, the settlement will not <br />become final until the necessary legislation is enacted. <br /> <br />The parties to the settlement agreement are now in the <br />process of drafting the required legislation, It is <br />anticipated that a bill will be ready for introduction when <br />Congress convenes. <br /> <br />Sources of Opposition to the Leqislation <br /> <br />Objections to the legislation are likely to arise in three <br />major areas: <br /> <br />1. Off-reservation use of water <br /> <br />Issue: The settlement agreement permits the use of the <br />Tribes' water outside of their reservations through the <br />leasing or other temporary disposal of those waters. <br />Such leasing must be authorized by Congress. It will <br />probably be opposed because many parties want to keep <br />the water available to tribes tied up on reservations <br />where it is less likely to actually be developed, it <br />being feared that such development (outside of <br />colorado) would reduce the water available to <br />non-Indians. <br /> <br />Opposition: california, Arizona, and Nevada; other <br />western states; and national environmental groups. <br /> <br />Supporters: Other Indian tribes and national Indian <br />organizations. <br /> <br />2. Repayment of costs with CRSP power revenues <br /> <br />Issues: The cost-sharing agreement for the Animas-La <br />Plata Project calls for those construction costs which <br />are to be repaid with CRSP power revenues to be repaid <br /> <br />2375E <br />