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<br />ALP discussions launched ... On October 9, Governor Roy Romer convened <br />a process for the purposes of resolving a long standing dispute regarding the <br />Animas La-Plata Water Project and the Ute Indian tribe's water right claims <br />in Southwest Colorado. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit was present to <br />support the process and to encourage the parties to reach solutions. <br /> <br />State of Colorado representatives included Lt. Governor, Gail Schoettler; <br />Attorney General, Gale Norton; DNR Executive Director, Jim Lochhead and <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board Director, Chuck Lile, Other entities that <br />sent representatives to the meeting included U.S. Department of the Interior, <br />U.S, Environmental Protection Agency, Southern Ute Indian tribe, Ute <br />Mountain Indian tribe, the State of New Mexico, water users and <br />environmental groups. <br /> <br />At the meeting, Lochhead agreed to lead negotiations for a "stand still" <br />agreement through which all parties would agree to continue their <br />participation in the discussions started on October 9 and to postpone taking <br />any other actions to accelerate or halt the project outside the discussion <br />process. This effort was accomplished on October 23 by the agreement of all <br />parties involved. <br /> <br />The Animas La-Plata Project is a key component of the Colorado Ute Indian <br />Water Rights Settlement Agreement. The project is designed to provide <br />water and water development infrastructure to the tribes in exchange for their <br />senior water rights on streams in Southwestern Colorado. The project would <br />