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<br />.' <br /> <br />I- <br />W <br />~ <br />t\;; <br /> <br />(4) Authorization for the Bureau of Land Management, <br />Department of the Interior, to develop a program to <br />minimize salt loading from lands which it manages, and <br /> <br />(5) Miscellaneous changes to various provisions of Title <br />II, which changes are needed to clarifiy the <br />authorities and procedures for the execution of the <br />salinity control program. <br /> <br />Colorado has a major interest in H.R. 2790. First, we are <br />working together with the other states and the federal government <br />to address the salinity problem through the agreed-upon basinwide <br />approach while we continue to develop our compact apportioned <br />waters. Secondly, Colorado is the state in which: (1) three of <br />the new projects and two of the already authorized projects are <br />located, (2) a large portion 'of the Department of Agriculture <br />on-farm program will be carried out, (3) much of the land in the <br />basin which is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land <br />Management is located, and (4) some of the larger sources of <br />saline water for industrial use are found. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />In light of the fact that a very large portion of the <br />salinity control program occurs in Colorado, local water users <br />have taken a particular interest in the provisions of H.R. 2790. <br />I can report to you their support for this legislation. Indeed, <br />this legislation is needed in order to resolve concerns of the <br />State 9f Colorado and local water users. <br /> <br />For example, the on-farm program carried out to date in the <br />Grand Valley in Colorado has proceeded on the basis of existing <br />authorities not tailored to the needs of the salinity control <br />program. H.R. 2790 would specifically authorize the on-farm <br />component of the salinity control program, thereby providing a <br />statutory framework within which to solve previously encountered <br />problems. <br /> <br />Another example is the provision which H.R. 2790 makes for <br />the replacement of incidental wildlife values. The 1974 Act did <br />not give authority to the Bureau of Reclamation to implement <br />replacement measures when constructing salinity control units. <br />This has led to some misunderstanding among interested parties <br />and agencies as to what could and should be done. H.R. 2790 <br />clarifies this matter and will provide the basis for resolving <br />such issues in the future. <br /> <br />In summary, Colorado supports the passage of H.R. 2790 with <br />the changes proposed by the Forum. We urge your expeditious <br />action in reporting this bill favorably to the full committee. <br /> <br />gl <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-3- <br />