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<br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />In the spring of 1987, after many years of being involved <br />in the Animas La Plata Project, the Environmental Policy <br />Institute decided to undertake an in-depth analysis of the <br />project. The analysis in part was an outgrowth of a meeting <br />with representatives of the two Tribes involved in the <br />project, who suggested that we layout the problems which <br />we saw with the project and put forth some alternatives that <br />were more environmentally, socially, and economically sound. <br /> <br />This report is a result of reviewing over twenty different <br />documents - some government, some public, and some private <br />to reveal what was contemplated by the Bureau of Reclamation <br />by way of construction of the Animas La Plata Project. The <br />review was complex because since the development of the <br />project Environmental Impact Statement in the late 1970's <br />and the preparation of the Definite Plan Report for the <br />project in the same period, the project has just recently <br />been divided into a Phase I and a Phase II. In addition, <br />an Indian Water Rights Settlement has been reached with the <br />Tribes, the State, conservancy Districts and the Department <br />of Interior which further complicates the project. <br /> <br />Our review attempts to consolidate the material from all <br />of the basic documents and put in one place the issues, <br />problems, and concerns so that those concerned about the <br />project can judge for themselves whether this particular <br />project is the best way to proceed. Over the years we <br />had found that not everyone could agree upon the facts as <br />to what this project would or would not do. Some of the <br />financial data and cost figures used in the report are from <br />1979 and we have attempted to identify them as such. Other <br />figures are as current as the spring of 1987. <br /> <br />Some may quesstion the presentation of the project in this <br />report. I would like to stress that without exception, all <br />of the material utilized in the preparation of this report, <br />all the facts and figures, can be found in the documents <br />reviewed for the project and was not created out of thin <br />air. If there are conflicts, it can only point to the need <br />for updating project documents before proceeding with a <br />reconstituted Animas La Plata Project. <br /> <br />~,; <br /> <br />l., <br /> <br />11 <br />\.,,' <br /> <br />.or; <br />'~.' . <br /> <br />,,,,- <br />;.,~" I <br /> <br />Peter Carlson <br />July, 1987 <br />