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<br />ooa97r <br /> <br />-38- <br /> <br />Federal Coal Leasinq Reform Initiatives--Colorado should also continue <br />its policy of supporting changes in the Department of the Interior's coal <br />leasing and regulatory programs. These should result in minimizing duplication <br />and delay in permitting processes at the Federal level. <br /> <br />Cumulative Coal Mininq Hydroloqic Impacts Study--The new Colorado Surface <br />Coal Mining Act (Section 34-33-110 (2) (1) and 34-33-114) will: require an <br />assessment of the cumulative hydrologic impacts of projected mining in a given <br />watershed prior to issuance of a new mining permit in the watershed. Clearly ~ <br />several baseline studies of entire watersheds covering both quantity and quali~ <br />considerations will have to be undertaken. Ground and surface water systems <br />would have to be included in these studies. This could act as a constraint <br />on orderly development of energy activity and these studies should be <br />initiated quickly so that they do not become the delay concerning the issuance <br />of mining permits. <br /> <br />Accelerated Soil Conservation Initiative--Serious consideration should <br />be given to the use of public funds to buy conservation easements on private <br />lands. This would allow private land owners to be compensated for foregone <br />profits from private economic activities which are destructive to the private <br />lands and adjacent lands and water courses. There may also be a need for <br />stronger state legislation to require that counties give more credence to the <br />recommendations of the soil conservation districts and other land use and <br />natural resource agencies. <br /> <br />Natural Areas Accelerated Enerqy Focus--The likelihood that substantial <br />new energy development will occur in the northwest portion of Colorado calls <br />for an acceleration of the plans to conduct comprehensive inventories of <br />natural areas and put that information into the comprehensive data-base of <br />standardized ecological information being developed. Such an effort would <br />help identify, evaluate, and protect ecologically sensitive natural areas <br />in Colorado, at a pace consistent with the level of energy development being <br />planned. <br /> <br />Water Resources Coordination Effort--There is a need for a smoother permit <br />processing procedure to support energy production activities. All surface / <br />and ground water hydrologic problems should be routed through the Division <br />of Water Resourc~s. This would allow for a coordination of legal~ <br />an.r administrative matters concerning water. Hydrologic evaluation by units <br />unfamiliar with legal and administrative constraints can result in misleading <br />and often erroneous conclusions. This may slow the entire process of energy <br />development. <br /> <br />Water Conservation Effort--It is essential that private and Federal <br />funding be focused on water storage requirements of energy production, if <br />water is to be available to support production goals of the state and private <br />producers. There is also a requirement for local, state and Federal funding <br />for municipal water systems. The minimum stream flow issue needs to be <br />negotiated concerning operating criteria for reservoirs, so that environmental <br />concerns can be alleviated and integrated with the proper management of <br />water reservoirs. <br />