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JUL-ll-S7 13.35 FROM,M.B.S.S. ID.S70 2'17 8827 PAGE 22/27 .~ If') 'C\.' abandon ALP and seek an alternative water rights settlement. Our tribes may well exercise this right to reject ALP, notwithstanding federal investments in me project up to mat date. No private developer would invest a dime in this project given mese political and legal uncertainties. r' ~ We believe alternatives to ALP can better serve the interests of our tribes. In fact, in April 1997 , SUGO publicly presented an alternative called the Ute Legacy Land and Water Fund. It would provide funds for the tribe to purchase water rights and land at fair market value on any river adjacent to their reservation, or on neighboring rivers outside the reservation. The land would be purchased on a willing seller basis over an e;s;tended,period of time (perhaps 30 years). SUGO's proposal is patterned after the re-negotiated water rightS seruement approved by Congress in 1990 for our Northern Ute cousins in Utah. The alternative 11:ll we propose would provide greater benefits to our tribes at less cost to taxpayers and the en vironment. The Bureau of Reclamation has not evaluated any such alternatives. Congress should refuse to provide funher funds for ALP until the Bureau of Recla.:mation thoroughly studies other alternatives. The Bureau of Reclamation has ample funds te"'"ining from previous years to conduct such a study. No further money should be spent for Al.;P_ The undersigned are the Southern Ute Grassroots Organization's directing Council of Elders, who also constitute the Southern Ute Tribe's Elders advisory committee, an institution of traditional Tribal government which provides independent advice and direction to the'Southern Ute Tribal Council: ~CJ~ Annabelle W. Eagle Tn'bal Elder ~~ Ervin Taylor Tn'bal Elder Former Tribal Council member u/~~&J7L ~ William S. TtJJ:jmpsonr:r/'~ Tribal Elder ~ , F1i~ z}~ Tribal Elder ~~~ Ruby Garcia Tribal Elder Tribal Elder 2