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<br />STATEMENT ON S. 2807 <br />BEFORE THE <br />WATER AND POWER SUBCOMMITTEE <br />SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />July 24. 1990 <br />Washington. D.C. <br /> <br />~ <br />! <br />~ <br />~ <br />Pi <br />l'~ <br />;~ <br /> <br />This statement is submitted on behalf of the seven Colorado <br />River Basin States' governors' representatives for Colorado <br />River reservoir operations (Basin States' representatives) and <br />on behalf of the members of the Upper Colorado River Commission <br />(Commission). which persons are listed on the last page of this <br />statement. <br /> <br />,~. <br /> <br />~ <br />I;;j <br />~ <br />~-, , <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National <br />Recreation Area are national assets deserving of proper <br />management and protection. In this regard. the Secretary of <br />the Interior's decision to commence the Glen Canyon Dam <br />Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate and has our <br />support. <br /> <br />In the House ~earings on H.R. 4498. the companion bill to <br />S. 2807. the Secretary testified that he has adequate authority <br />to undertake the EIS and will complete it in a timely manner. <br />Furthermore. the Secretary testified that he would. pending the <br />completion of the EIS process. put interim flows into effect at <br />the conclusion of the on-going test flow program. <br /> <br />The Basin States' representatives and the Commission <br />support the Secretary's position. We also believe that the <br />Secretary has authority under existing law to implement such <br />permanent changes in power operations at Glen Canyon Dam as are <br />found justified based upon the EIS. Subject to and consistent <br />with the Colorado River Compact. the Upper Colorado River Basin <br />Compact. the decree of the U.S. Supreme Court in Arizona v. <br />California. the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. the <br />COlorado River Basin Protect Act of 1968. and the other laws <br />governing the regUlation of the COlorado River. the Secretary <br />can also take steps. as has already been done. to reduce the <br />prObability of having to make sustained releases in excess of <br />powerplant capacity (referred to by some as "flood releases"). <br /> <br />Under the circumstances. the Basin States' representatives <br />and the Commission do not believe that legiSlation is needed. <br />Furthermore. we believe that passage of this legiSlation would <br />set an ill-advised precedent for Congressional involvement in <br />the details of reservoir operations. these being matters better <br />left to the secretary. <br /> <br />~ <br />,-Jl11 <br />I~' <br />(~~ <br /> <br />;~):- <br /> <br />ti <br /> <br /> <br />:J4i <br />~ <br />I':!,."'< <br />'f:<i~ <br />~~:; <br />~;t. <br />:.;" <br /> <br /> <br />2869E* <br /> <br />ti~" I <br />.,"1 <br />~.'. i <br />k.' <br />~} <br />. <br />ilV-.-.,i <br />~J!-i <br />:~J5' <br />