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<br />" "+;',,,,". <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Implementation Plan <br /> <br />proposal, the State of Utah, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the <br />Department of the Interior's Irrigation Drainage Water Quality Program <br />could join with Reclamation's basinwide program to share in the project's <br />cost to the mutual benefit of all interests. <br /> <br />Other incidental benefits due to the program can be expected, but it would <br />be unfair to our cost-sharing partners to give them much priority in the <br />ranking if their costs are significantly higher than other alternatives. <br />Incidental benefits will directly affect the ranking if other interests (or <br />programs) share in the cost of the project. Cost sharing would buy down the <br />salinity program's costs, improving project's cost effectiveness and, <br />ultimately, its position in the ranking. On the other hand, negative impacts <br />to the general public will be considered in the ranking if they are <br />determined to have a significant impact. <br /> <br />Special Requirements for Non-Federally Financed Projects <br /> <br />Section 208 of the Salinity Control Act of 1974 was amended by P.L. 104-20 <br />to authorize the appropriation of an additional $75,000,000 for the <br />construction of the federally financed improvements described in <br />section 202(a). This ceiling will be used to fund capital improvements <br />(federally financed construction) throughout the Basin over the next decade. <br /> <br />Section 202(a)(6) of P.L. 104-20 also authorizes a new class of salinity <br />control projects where non-Federal entities may put up the cost of <br />constructing facilities (primarily through private loans or bonds). The <br />Government would then pay to remove salt for a fee (as the source is <br />desalted). The payments would be made from Reclamation's O&M appropri- <br />ations through a long-term agreement. <br /> <br />Capital for non-federally financed projects may come from private, local, or <br />State governments or some other non-Federal source. Project proposals <br />would be ranked in the proposed RFP process along with all other <br />alternatives available to the program. If found to be competitive in the <br />RFP process, the program would negotiate an agreement to pay a fee per <br />ton of salt removed in periodic installments. Some non-federally financed <br />projects may require their capital costs be amortized over periods of up to <br />30 years. Most agreements of this type will need to ensure that the <br />program will continue to meet its future payment obligations through the <br />full term of the agreement or face termination penalties to repay the <br />sponsor's interests in the project. <br /> <br />~' <br /> <br />To provide a degree of fiscal review over the execution of these long-term 0 0 C 2, 5 <br />agreements, non-federally financed projects will be reported to Congress and <br />the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council (Advisory <br />Council). The Secretary will not expend funds until 90 days after the date <br /> <br />18 <br />