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~ \ "\ 0-\ , Wl/(O.- GLM C't=" ~ ~t C> l'0 ....:I i"-_: Statement of Gordon W. Fassett Wyoming_ State Engineer ~ to the House Appropriations Committee Sub~ommittee on Interior and Related Agencies Requesting Appropriations for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program Submitted on April 2. 1996 This testimony supports the President's Fiscal Year 1997 Budget relative to funding for the Bureau of Land Managem~LM) to accomplish Colorado River Basin Salinity Control activities This testimony supports funding for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Fiscal Year 1997 that specificallVVl!-Ould be used to carry out Colorado River Basin salinity control activities. You recently received testimony dated March 25, 1996 from the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum) on behalf of the seven Colorado River Basin States that was submitted by the Forum's Fxecutive Director, Jack Barnett. The State of Wyominll concurs in the Fiscal Year 1997 funding request and justification statements (or BLM funding set forth in the Forum's testimony. In addition to being the Wyoming State Engineer, I represent the State of Wyoming on the Forum and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council (Council). The Council was J. created by the 1974 Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, Public Law 93-320, and like the1?~~;) Forum, the Council is composed of gubernatorial representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin /1-- A}L-/: I states. The Forum and Council's members serve important liaison roles among the seven states, c..vv uJI the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture and the Administrator of the Environmental (l Protection Agency (EPA). The Council is directed by statute to advise these federal officials on the progress of the federal/state cost-shared, basin-wide salinity control program, and annually makes funding recommendations, including the amount believed necessary to be expended by the BLM for control of salinity in the Colorado River Basin. At its most recent meeting last October, the Council developed funding recommendations for Fiscal Years 1997 and 1998 based on the progress the Program is making in reducing the salt load into the Colorado River. The Council, after conferring with BLM agency officials, believes that $3,700,000 is needed to accomplish activities that BLM has underway, and should initiate, in Fiscal Year 1997 to help control the salinity of the Colorado River. ~ tJJ GJ"'~ VA/O""