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<br />1058 <br /> <br />The federal definition of surplus waters, as stated by the federal agencies <br />subcommittee departs from that generally taken by the states and certainly <br />from the position of Kansas. As stated in the federal subcommittee report, <br />surplus waters are those that are in eKcess of use as a result of "deferred <br />proj ect purposes." We acknowledge that if a proj ect is deferred, there could <br />be surplus water, particularly if the project originally carried an authorization <br />providing for specific water storage. The question herein which the federal <br />position ignores is the length of time the project use is deferred. A deferred <br />status of one or two years may be acceptable, but a five, ten or perhaps twenty <br />year deferral is not a reasonable period to retain deferred status. This would <br />be analogous to the previously discussed situation relating to the Water Supply <br />Act of 1958--43 USCA 8: 390 b (1964). If the deferred status directing that <br />surplus waters is in perpetuity then certainly a change to M&I use under either <br />Section 6 or Section 9(c) constitutes a major change in purpose, use and <br />operation. It is difficult to find any legal support for the federal position. <br />From the Kansas view point, we cannot agree to such a definition and strongly <br />suggest that the federal agencies reexamine this matter. <br /> <br />As a case in point, we refer to the Garrison Diversion Unit report of the <br />Bureau of Reclamation. Numerous references are made in this report which <br />undoubtedly sre part of the total justification of the project. Those <br />references are to the effect that "A large source of additional water is <br />a recognized need everywhere east of the Missouri River in the Dakotas. <br />The Missouri is the only available source of such a supply." The statement <br />is also made "The plan of development provides for delivery of water to 41 <br />towns and cities and aSSumes that four large industrial areas will require <br />additional supplies." Yet another statement says, "Almost all of the waters <br />for the Garrison Diversion Unit will be diverted from the Missouri River."ll/ <br /> <br />To apply the "deferred project purposes" in light of the above, is most difficult <br />to comprehend. Diversion of an industrial use from the Garrison Reservoir would <br />be generally to the western part of the state--not to the east aa indicated in <br />the authorizing document. Such a diversion would have a depleting effect on the <br />authorized irrigation project and ultimately on other uses that were to be <br />serviced through the irrigation development. If this is the surplus water, <br />then it can only be surplus at the expense of some other use which is already <br />authorized. This, the State of Kansas believes, constitutes a major change and <br />one which is beyond the authority of the two Secretaries to implement without <br />Congressional approval. Such Congressional action would undoubtedly require <br />reauthorization, deauthorization, and reallocstion of the costs. We submit <br />that this same situation is applicable to any of the main stem reservoirs as <br />well as the tributary storage projects where deferred project purpose status <br />is being considered. Perhaps this is an action that is past due and a <br />reexamination of the deferred projects should be undertaken in order to <br />determine if the full potential of the basin's water supplies are being <br />developed in the best interest of all concerned. Certainly it must be recognized <br />that only by such an appraisal can the basin interests properly assess the <br />question of surplus waters and its availability--both as to quantity and place. <br /> <br />6. <br />