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<br />f- <br /> <br />environmentally preferred alternative, to implement the 1988 Settlement. [t primarily consists of a, <br />down-sized project that focuses on providing the Colorado Ute Tribes an assured water supply. <br />Because the Department's selection will provide benefits to the Colorado Ute Tribes which are not <br />identical to those envisioned in the 1988 Settlement, this ROD, in and of itselt: does not allow for <br />implementation of activities specific to RAA. Congressional authorization is needed to achieve final <br />implementation of the 1988 Settlement. <br /> <br />This ROD does, however, provide the Department's confirmation that the Administration proposal, <br />as modified, is the best means to tinalize the settlement. It should also be noted that the cost ofR.A..4 <br />would be significantly less than the cost associated with the original settlement. By executing this <br />ROD, the Department adopts the reasoning and analysis contained in the July 2000 Final <br />Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS), Nonetheless, until such time as <br />authorization is provided or other statutory guidance is forthcoming, the Department will not <br />commence any signiticant activities (e.g, construction) in furtherance of RA4. <br /> <br />The components of RA4 are as follows: <br /> <br />Structural <br /> <br />. Off-stream reservoir of 120,000 acre.feet total capacity (including a conservation <br />pool of approximatdy 30,000 at) at Ridges Basin <br />. 280 cfs pumping plant <br />. a pipeline from the pumping plant to the reservoir <br />. a pipeline to transport M&I water to the Shiprock area for the benefit of the <br />Navajo Nation <br /> <br />Non-structural <br /> <br />. $40,000,000 acquisition fund for the Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute <br />Tribes to purchase existing water rights on a willing buyer/willing seller basis or <br />to engage in other resource development activity <br /> <br />The Department's selection of RA4 as the recommended course of action is in accord with the <br />Department's policy "to recognize and fulfill its legal obligations to identify, protect, and conserve <br />the trust resources of federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal members." (512 OM 2). The <br />Colorado Ute Tribes, who participated in the development of the FSEIS and were consulted with on <br />an ongoing basis during its development, have strongly endorsed RA4 as their preferred course to <br />resolve the remaining issues associated with the 1988 Settlement. <br /> <br />2 <br />