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.. :..',-~ (;>1 Moreo\~r, states would be required as appropriate to. comply with the l'\:l <Xl CJl N ',.'::-.-\ . ;....:;...,; executing any reclamatiai::(water service cantract. to periodically review and revise their pragrams federal criteria. The House Interiar Water and Power Subcomniittee has tentatively set a May 16.,.~<, hearing an the bill, primarily toexplare . Arizona's experience with graund wateri:t:) management and the Central Arizana,Praject.A second hearing is planned far later this summer. and the witness list will likely include WSWC and WGA representatives. On the Senate side, the Enery Committee's Water and Pawer Subcommittee is preparing far a June 18 . hearing to address the general question of the federal role in ground .. /t;;;;';:;;:;~:i'~~'bili~tion mW Coos~"ion S~i= (ASCS) V ~~U.f;J~ed interim ~es ~or salinity reduction projects in the Co,lo.rada Ri,:er Basin (52 FR 16737). . ,Thelnterun rules set farth proposedtermsand condltwns to unplement . Section dW'2'of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control ACt, which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (corroborating with Interior and EPA) to identify salt source areas and develop a voluntary cooperative on-farm salinity control. program. The Secretary is to provide cost sharing and technical assistance. Congress appropriated approximately $4M for FY87. Environmental impact statements have be been prepared for the Uintah Basin Project in Utah and the Grand Valley and lDwerGtmnison ProjeCts in Colorado. Of note, the law requires the Secretary to give preference to projects that. . reduce sallnity at the least federal. cost per tmit. The USDA program also covers extension . education, research and development, imd monitoring .and evaluation activities. Comments on the proposed interim rules must be received before July 6, and may be sent to the Director of the Conservation and Environmental Pratection Oivision, ASCS, P.O. Box 2415, Washington, D.C. For more information call James R. McMullen, Directar, Conservation and Environmental Protection Division, ASCS, (202) 447-6221; or Gary A. Margheim, Director, Land Treament Pragram Division, SGS, (202) .c';!' 382'-1870. . '%~ -.;;- WATER RESOURcEs/WATER. RIGHTS New Mexico/GroUnd Water After much investigation and study, the State of New Hexico has recently passed a law which will allow the state to appropriate unappropriated gratmd water within its borders. The law is based on the findings and reC()llllIendations of a report by New Hexico State.University and the University of New Mexico. In a seCtion on legislative findings, the Legislature determined that: (1) thefutilre wate~needsof the state can best be met by allowing each region af the state to plan for its water future; ('2) the state' can assist the regions in planning by . implementing a state appropriation program to insure an adequate supply af water for ea.chregion; and (3) the Interstate Stream Commission is the appropriate. agency to implement the program. The law authorizes the Interstate StrEj!am Commissian to. appropriate grotmd water ar . purchase . water rights an behalf o.f any af the variaus regions of the state. The Gamnission is also. autharized to make grants ar loans for regional. water planning. Pi:'iar to. approval of any financial assistance, tmder the law the Commissian must develap criteria which. the regian's planning praposals must meet. 1he new law sets fo.rth minimum criteria to. guide the Commission. The law also. appropriates $550,000 aver the next two fiscal years, from the state general ftmd, far expenditures to. carry out the pravisions af the Act. Copies. af the legislation and an executive S\lIIlDary af the final NMSU/UNM. report are available from the Cotmcil office. MEETINGS 1he Western Governars Assaciatian will hold its annual meeting an July 5-7 at the Cliff lDdge in Snowbird, Utah. Among the tapics to. be addressed are efficiency in state government, reduced federal aid, education, trade, the western ecanomy and state primacy in natural resources. Far mare infarmatian cantact WGA:(202) 623-9378. The pre-registratian fee (before June 26), including meals and entertainment, is $175.00 far public sectar/ $300 far private sectar attendees. Far room reservations call 1- 800-241-6760 (Reference File No. E-0384). ~;,'i!:.:; ~'."'''.' ~:~:.~::