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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Conclusion <br /> <br />Mr. Chairman, I suggest that for the immediate future <br /> <br /> <br />it would be fruitful to consider the water needs and water <br /> <br /> <br />use opportunities of the Jicarilla A!=,ache Tribe without <br /> <br /> <br />confining our thoughts to the priority, nature and exten~ of <br /> <br />the Tribe's water rights. <br /> <br />I am convinced that New Mexico's <br /> <br />entitlement to the waters of the San Juan River system is <br /> <br /> <br />adequate for all existing, authorized and proposed uses <br /> <br />incluqing water for the El Paso Natural Gas Company coal <br /> <br /> <br />gasification complex with a margin of at least 26,000 acre- <br /> <br /> <br />feet annually available fo~.use on the Jicarilla Reservation, <br /> <br /> <br />the Navajo Reservation or elsewhere, as opportunity for such <br /> <br /> <br />use may arise. Furthefmore, :1r. Chairman, I suggest that it <br /> <br /> <br />is very important to keep in mind that the commitments to <br /> <br /> <br />municipal and industrial contracts that have already been made, <br /> <br /> <br />or are contemplated, are not irrevocable in perpetuity. Existing <br />and proposed commitments totaling about 87,000 acre-feet annually <br />will terminate in 2005; that amount of water will be available <br />for reallocation in 2005 in accordance with rights as they may <br />be determined and needs and opportunities as they may arise. <br />Hr. Chairman,. on behalf of the state of r:ew ;-lexico, I wish <br />to express my appreciation of this opportunity to appear before <br />your Committee to discuss the San Juan-Chama Project and its <br />potential impacts on the San Juan River Basin. <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> <br />-24- <br />