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)urango Herald Online (; [) 2 2 9 ~ Page 3 of: I Evans. I Elizabeth Taylor, a Farmington, N.M, lawyer who represents the San Juan commission, said only two voting commissioners were present. As a result, she said, New Mexico open-meetings rules did not apply. Still, she said, the commission followed the law. "I can tell you the commission always follows the open-meeting laws," said Taylor, who wouldn't say what was said at the meeting. "They are always very concerned about it and take it very seriously." Initial cost estimates said A-LP would cost $338 million, but the bureau said in July that it would cost more than $500 million. The bureau, which is paying most of the construction costs, is conducting an internal review. Lawyers for four groups that attended the meeting the Animas-La Plata Conservancy District, the San Juan Water Commission, and the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute tribes signed a nondisclosure agreement a week later promising not to reveal to the public what they are telling the bureau about their knowledge of the cost increase. At least two other meetings were held for supporters of the project, but they were held in Denver and included only the groups' attorneys, Robbins said. A-LP at a glance What: The Animas La Plata Project is a water-diversion and storage project. A plant being built on the Animas River in Durango will pump an average 57,100 acre-feet of Animas water uphill each year to a new reservoir two miles west in Ridges Basin, where a dam is being built. The reservoir will store up to 120,000 acre-feet of water for release into Basin Creek, and back to the Animas, as needed. A 29-mile pipeline in New Mexico will deliver A-LP water to the Navajo Nation. . Who benefits: A 1988 federal law promised Colorado's two Ute tribes a long-term water supply to satisfy their water-rights claims and thereby protect existing water users. Most of A-LP's water will belong to the two tribes. Water districts in La Plata County and San Juan County, N.M., will receive smaller amounts for use by municipalities including Durango, Farmington, Aztec and Bloomfield. The Navajo Nation will receive some water. The reservoir will allow recreation, including fishing and camping. . Cost: Construction is estimated at $500 million, up 48 percent from $338 million previously. . Who pays: U.S. taxpayers through annual congressional appropriations. The tribes pay nothing. Non-tribal users will pay for their water. . To learn more: Bureau of Reclamation, 866-720-0918, or www.uc.usbr.gov, then click on ALP Project. Reach Herald Deliver Bureau Chief Charles Ashby at chasbv@durallgoherald.com . Web Duranco I Cortez Journal I Inside Outside I Southwest Colorado Home I Herald Store A. top Contents copyright@. the Durango Herald, All rights reserved. I::LQme I Search I News I.S.Jl.Q.!:l.s I Outdoors I Business I Enle.f1ainment I Technoloc)'. I Education I Police I Obituaries I .I::ieiltb I Religion J.Q.gJnlQn I Columnists I Weather I Classlfieds J Eyent Calendar I Caoitol Report I Ad Rates I Subscribe I Order Products I Links I CouDons I Site FAQ I About Us I Write the Editor Ittp:/ /www.durangoherald.comlasp-bin/article _generation.asp?article _ type=news&article -path=/news/03/... 10/16/200: