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<br />, <br /> <br />I' ~ <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Appendix B <br /> <br />SUMMARY OF HEARING <br />REPORT #6, INTERSTATE WATER USES AND CONFLICTS <br />2:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. <br />SEPTEMBER 29, 1982 <br />Ogallala. Nebraska <br />Holiday Inn <br /> <br />PUBLIC NOTICE <br />Legal notice of this hearing was published in <br />nine newspapers across the State of Nebraska. <br />Press releases were sent to every newspaper <br />and radio station in the state. <br /> <br />HEARING PROCEDURE <br /> <br />This hearing was held simultaneously with <br />hearings on two other Selected Water Rights <br />Issues Policy Study reports and on the Municipal <br />Water Needs Policy Issue Study. Commission <br />members Wayne Johnson. Maureen Manen, and <br />Henry Reifschneider presided jointly over the <br />hearing and James R. Cook conducted the hear- <br />ing. A brief summary of each report was present- <br />ed prior to the receipt of testimony. Those <br />present were given an opportunity to testify on all <br />of the reports. An informal discussion with <br />Questions and answers was then conducted. An <br />opportunity for additional testimony was offered <br />prior to the conclusion of the hearing. <br /> <br />TESTIMONY OFFERED <br /> <br />1. Ron Milner, Upper Republican Natural <br />Resources District. Mr. Milner offered testi- <br />mony in favor of Alternative #6. It was his opinion <br />that Nebraska could not compete with Colorado <br />in preventing the exportation of groundwater out <br />of the State. He cautioned. however, on placing <br />the same restrictions on citizens of Nebraska as <br />on out-of-state citizens. He was not sure he <br />wanted to place this kind of hardship on our own <br />citizens. Distance. he felt. was not a good <br />measure of conservation and might even in- <br /> <br />crease the amount of water pumped out of the <br />state. He reacted favorably to a suggestion that <br />perhaps a law could be framed so that Nebraska <br />won't allow a groundwater permit to be issued if it <br />is not allowed in Colorado. <br />Further comment was given in support of Al- <br />ternative #8 which would seek funding for addi- <br />tional water retention structures. Mr. Milner be- <br />lieved we need more retention dams to increase <br />water supplies in times of shortage. He also <br />made a reference to laws in the States of <br />Montana and Wyoming which provides for a <br />severance tax on coal to be used for water <br />development. <br />In response to a Question concerning the <br />amount and availability of Missouri River water. <br />the Commission.s Executive Secretary, Dayle <br />Williamson. pointed out to the group that the <br />Missouri Basin Commission's Hydrology Study. <br />when completed. would provide an accounting <br />system for the actual amount of water in the <br />Missouri River. It will be a better tool in making <br />progress towards a determination of the actual <br />supply of water available in the river. <br />2. John Williams. Upper Niobrara-White <br />Natural Resources District. Mr. Williams test- <br />ified that consideration 01 Alternative #6 needs <br />to go hand in hand with consideration of Altern- <br />ative #3. The latter alternative. in his opinion. <br />deserved a tot of attention. In response to a <br />Question as to whether enough information was <br />available to make a compact on an interstate <br />groundwater basin. Mr. Williams replied that if the <br />right kind of geologic information was available <br />and hydrologic computer models were de- <br />veloped. it could be done. He further stated that <br /> <br />B.l <br />