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. ,... \~, , lU:" Uintah Basin that would cover 120,()(X) acres and could reduce salt contribution by about 77,()(X) tons annually. In mid-1979, the- Water and Power Resources Service awarded a contract for a feasibility study of the Meeker Dome Salinity Control Unit to a consulting enginN'ring firm. This was the first consulting contract for a planning study on a salinity control unit issued by the Service. and was entered into because the Service did not have sufficient staff to do the nt'Cessary planning studies in a timely manner. In ordl'r to expedite the salinity control program, the Service contemplates that it will enter into similar contracts in the future. Amendments to Title fI, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act In May 1979, as authorized by St'Ction 208(a) of P.l. 93.320, the Department of the Interior advised the appropriate comminres of Congress that certain changes in the authorized salinity control units were warrantro. Section 208 (a) provides that, if the committees do not disapprove the changes within 60 days, funds may b€" expend€"d thNefor. The chanR~ included the placing of laterals in pipes in the Grand Valley Unit and authorization for fish and wildlife mitigation measures. The Act had listed the lining of off-farm laterals as an authorized control measure but was silent on using pipes. However, studil'S ha\'e shown that replacing th€" unlined laterals with pipe rather than lining the laterals is a cost-effe<tive method for increased salt removal and that it also otfers a grealE'r opportunity for salt reduction by permitting more extensive on-farm practices. The Act had been silent on fish and wildlifE' mitigation. By lener dated June 1, 1979, Senators Jackson and Hatfield of th€" Senate CommittN' on Energy and Natural Resources disapproved the expenditure ot funds for the above purposes and sUE(gested that the proposed measures be presented for fuller consideration by the Congress. In accordance with that suggestion, H.R. 5199 was introduced by Colorado Congressmen Johnson and Kogovsek. The bill would authorize measures to mitigate losses of tish and wildlife habitat and would authorize pipes to be used to replace canals and laterals for the Grand Valley Unit. Since the bill would also limit construction activities in the Grand Vall€"y Unit to only a portion of the unit, pending completion of that portion and subsequent analyses, the bill was not considered to be completely satisfactory by the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum. Hearings on the bill were not held during 1979. 8,151" l Vater Quality Control Plans Sl"Ction 208 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 requires procedures for continuing planning for improving the nation's water quality. These "208 planning studies" were being carried Co,Jclwll,J Br,lIlch oi AJ/-AmericJrl CmJI on throughout the Basin. The Environm€"nlal Protection Agency, which is funding the 208 studies, has dirt'Cted the local planning agencies doing the work to consider salinity as part of th€"ir overall plans. The salinity portions of the plans are being reviewoo and commented upon by the Forum Work Group with a goal of obtaining compatible plans involving salinity control throughout the Basin that will also be consistent with the Forum's policies. Within the Basin, four new 208 plans rt'Ceived state certification and four plans previously certified by the states rt'Ceived conditional approval by the Environmental Prott'Ction Agency. Those portions of the 208 plans d€"aling with salinity became a part of the Salinity Control Forum's plan of implementation for salinity control after certification by the states and approval by the Environmental Protection Ag€"ncy. little progr€"ss was made on the 208 planning study for the Colorado River region in California durinf! the year. New funding arrangements for this I ~ -, ~ ~ . \. . . ~ - ,.. ,-. J - .--' .~ 10 -=- ~