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<br />COMMENTS ON THE DEIS NAVAJO RESERVOIR OPERATIONS <br />Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources & Department of Justice <br />Page 7 <br /> <br />the community of Shiprock will be unable to thrive without severe <br />economic impacts on both the Indian and non-Indian economies, <br /> <br />Comment 16, Page 111-36, Navajo Indian Irrigation Project <br /> <br />The DEIS underestimates the positive benefits from the <br />completion of Blocks 9, 10 and 11, The Navajo Nation anticipates <br />the construction of a $70 mi 11 ion potato processi ng plant. $20 <br />million invested in the growing venture including storage <br />buildings. a 40,000-head feed lot, and a 25-MW steam co-generation <br />plant. This complex will employ more than 400 people, Vertical <br />integration is critical to the success of NIIP and its benefits are <br />far greater than just the gross crop revenues, <br /> <br />Comment 17, Page 111-36, Water Contracts Associated with the <br />Jicarilla Apache Nation <br /> <br />The DEIS underestimates the possible consequences to the water <br />supply to the San Juan Generating Station attributable to the No <br />IAction Alternative, The Public Service Company of New Mexico <br />~ employs more than 100 tribal members and contributes millions of <br />I'dollars per year to the regional economy, The benefits of the <br />I continued operation of the San Juan Generating Station and the mine <br />,I' are far greater than the total annual dollar benefit of $1.110,800 <br />per year derived from the sale of the water by the Jicarilla Apache <br />Nation to PNM, <br /> <br />Comment 18, Page 111-37, First Paragraph <br /> <br />The annual economic benefits for both the Navajo and Jicarilla <br />tribes are estimated to range from $81 to 124 million, This range <br />dramatically undervalues the full scope of the benefits to the <br />tribes from the economic development that is associated with the <br />water that will be available under the Preferred Alternative, but <br />~'will not be available under the No Action Alternative and the <br />" <br />500/5000 Alternative, At the very least, The DEIS should include <br />i an estimate of the tribal jobs and payroll that would be lost or <br />, foregone if the Preferred Alternative is not adopted, <br /> <br />Comment 19, Page III-4B, Top Paragraph <br /> <br />The population data should be updated based on the 2000 <br />census, The current Navajo on-reservation population exceeds <br />180,000, <br /> <br />Comment 2B, Page III-4B, Fourth Full Paragraph <br /> <br />The Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources Water <br />Development Strategy Document is referenced, That document focuses <br /> <br />0013 5 \1 <br />