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<br />nO;.532 <br /> <br />Purpose and Need <br /> <br />1-2 <br /> <br />impacts that have not changed, such as upland vegetation, are discussed only briefly in <br />this report. <br /> <br />1.2 Authorization <br /> <br />The Secretary of Interior authorized the Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project <br />(originally called the Gunnison Project) on March 14, 1903, under the provisions of the <br />Reclamation Act. Rehabilitation of the project and construction of the Taylor Park Dam <br />was approved by the President on November 6; 1935. <br /> <br />The PElS stated that "hydropower development in association with the UVRP was <br />authorized by the Act of June 22, 1938 (Public Law 75-698, Stat. 941)(the Act)." This <br />and other legislation provides the authority to utilize project water (historic irrigation <br />water of UVRP) for hydropower. The 1938 Act would not, however, provide clear <br />authority to use newer hydropower rights (1981 and 1984 rights discussed later in <br />Section 2,5.3 of this SEIR). These newer rights are in the name of the UVWUA and <br />would have to be transferred to the United States in order that the water becomes "project <br />water." The project plan has been modified since the PElS to transfer these rights to the <br />United States and make them useable for the AB Lateral Hydropower Project. <br /> <br />Reclamation published a Notice of Intent to contract for hydropower development on the <br />UVRP in the December 9, 1985 issue of the Federal Register (50 CFR 50238). <br />Reclamation received one proposal in response to that notice, the proposal submitted by <br />the Sponsors. Reclamation and the Sponsors subsequently signed an agreement on June <br />6, 1986, to study the feasibility of developing hydroelectric power on the UVRP. <br /> <br />The hydropower facility would be constructed and operated under a lease of power <br />privilege and water service contract with Reclamation. The contract would provide for a <br />lease payment to the United States, reimbursement of administrative costs, Reclamation's <br />role as overseer, and the Sponsor's obligations, including environmental commitments. <br />The Sponsors provide funding for the hydropower studies. Reclamation serves as the <br />lead Federal agency responsible for ensuring compliance with the National <br />Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. <br /> <br />1.3 Purpose <br /> <br />The purpose of the AB Lateral Hydropower Project is to economically develop the <br />potential energy of water flows from the Gunnison Tunnel to the Uncompahgre River. <br />The large difference in elevation between the West Portal of the Tunnel and the <br />Uncompahgre River creates the potential for hydropower production. <br /> <br />>- <br /> <br />AB Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />'. <br />, <br /> <br />JUly 2000 <br /> <br />j Ii <br />I ',,_J <br />, . <br /> <br />, :iJ1 <br />"_<.J; <br />~ ...~ <br />;~;_ ,: ".,' ~- _<~~..; 't;~'~1i <br />,-~. ~ - -. " <br /> <br />.k.,- <br />