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<br />submitted editorial comments, and raised several technical questions and observations,
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<br />Finally, Dr. Barry Gold, Chief of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, has resigned
<br />his position, He has accepted a position with the Packard Foundation, His resignation is effective May
<br />3, 2002,
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<br />WATER QUALITY
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<br />Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
<br />
<br />It is that time of the year to begin submitting testimony to Congress in support of appropriations
<br />for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program, In his budget submittal to Congress, President
<br />Bush has requested $1 billion in appropriations for the Department of Agriculture's Environmental Quality
<br />Incentives Program (EQIP) and $10,85 million for Reclamation's Basinwide Salinity Control Program,
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<br />With regard to EQIP, President Bush's request is $125 million above the initial authorization level
<br />for EQIP, Last year, Congress reduced the spending for EQIP from the mandatory level of$200 million,
<br />to $174 million, This year, the Forum is requesting that the EQIP program be restored to at least the $200
<br />million level, or more, if necessary, so as to allow the funding of national priority areas, The table below
<br />shows the level of appropriations approved by the Forum and Advisory Council for FY 2002 and FY2003,
<br />
<br /> Fiscal Years
<br /> 2002 2003
<br />DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
<br />Bureau of Reclamation $17,500,000 $17,500,000
<br />Bureau of Land Management $5,200,000 $5,200,000
<br />DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE $12,000,000 $12,000,000
<br />TOTAL FUNDS NEEDED $34,700,000 $34,700,000
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<br />FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS
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<br />Included in the handout material, for your reference, is a copy of Board's letter to Congress in
<br />support of appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, Also, included in the handout material is a
<br />copy ofMr, Jack Bamett's testimony in support of funding for Reclamation, For those agencies that are
<br />planning to provide comments, information can be extracted from these letters for inclusion in your
<br />testimony,
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