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<br />I\) <br />w <br />o <br />.- <br /> <br />PREFACE <br /> <br />Section 13(a) of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and <br />Development Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-577) states that the U.S. Water <br />Resources Council shall, at the request of the U.S. Department of <br />Energy <br /> <br />undertake assessments of water resources <br />requirements and water supply availability <br />for any nonnuclear energy technology and <br />any probable combination of technologies <br />which are the subject of federal research <br />and development efforts authorized by <br />this Act, and the commercial development <br />of which could have significant impacts <br />on water. <br /> <br />In 1977, the Department of Energy made such a request of the Hater <br />Resources Council whereupon three regional section 13(a) assessments <br />were begun. In 1979, several more assessments were initiated. This <br />docurr.ent reports on the findings and conclusions of the Upper Colorado <br />River Basin 13(a) assessment. <br /> <br />Objectives of This Assessment <br /> <br />The nonnuclear energy technologies to which this assessment is <br />addressed include oil shale and coal gasification developments in the <br />Upper Colorado River Basin. The study is not specifically concerned <br />with other energy conversion processes, although the assessment of <br />water availability for the two specified emerging energy technologies <br />(EETs) is presented against a background of projected conventional <br />energy developments. <br /> <br />The objectives of this Upper Colorado River Basin 13(a) assess- <br />ment are to assess, at a broad regional level of detail: <br /> <br />1. The tmter requirements of coal gasification and oil <br />shale technologies (collectively referred to as EETs) <br />and of the associated growth. <br /> <br />2. The availability of water for the potential development <br />of these EETs and the associated growth. <br /> <br />xv <br />