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<br />.' <br /> <br /> <br />01'\< 5~.n <br />d L ~j J <br /> <br />WESTERN <br />STATES WATER <br /> <br /> <br />TIIE WEEKLY NEWSLETfER OF TIIE WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL <br /> <br />Creekview Plaza, Suite A-201/942 East 7145 So. 1 Midvale, Utah 84047 1 (801) 561-5300 1 FAX (801) 255-%42 <br /> <br />editor - Tony Willardson <br /> <br />typist - carrie Curvin <br /> <br />ADMINISTRATlON UPDATE <br /> <br />Interior <br /> <br />The White House has nominated Daniel Beard to <br />replace Dennis Underwood as Commissioner of the . <br />Bureau of Reclamation, Beard has served as a chief <br />aide to House Interior Committee Chair George Miller <br />(D-CA). Reactions to the nomination have been <br />mixed, Observers agree it signals continuation of the <br />Bureau's efforts to redefine its mission. Also of note, <br />contrary to reports, USGS Director Dallas Peck has <br />announced he has no plans toretire fY'{SW #979), <br />" . <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />WATER QUAUTY <br /> <br />Water Quality StandardS/lndian Tribes as States <br /> <br />A New Mexico congressman has recommended <br />mediation to resolve differences between Albuquerque <br />and the Pueblo of Isleta over the effects of the <br />pueblo's new water quality standards ryvSW #956). <br />The pueblo is located 00 the Rio Grande downstream <br />from Albuquerque, It adopted water quality standards <br />under Clean Water Act Section 518, which were <br />approved by EPA last December, <br /> <br />In January, Albuquerque sued EPA over its <br />approval of the Isleta standards, claiming they were <br />arbitrary, lacked supporting scientific evidence, and <br />would cause a financial burden on the city's <br />ratepayers without improving the quality of the Rio <br />Grande. David Campbell, the city's attorney, ,said, 'I <br />want to emphasize we are not suing the Isleta Pueblo <br />and not challenging whether they can adopt such <br />standards, but we are challenging EPA's approval of <br />those standards,' The city has estimated it could cost <br />as much as $250M to meet the standards. EPA <br />officials contend the costs should be $50M or less, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />chairman,::" Dave Kennedy <br />executive director - Craig Bell <br /> <br />Rep. Steve Schiff (R-NM) has requested that new <br />EPA Administrator Carol Browner assign a member of <br />her staff to help him achieve a mediated resolution of <br />the dispute. He has taken initial steps in this regard, <br />but warned the city to 'recognize that there will be <br />tightening water-emissions standards independent of <br />the Isleta...standards." <br /> <br />WATER QUAUTYIPUBUCATlONS <br /> <br />Water Quality Monitoring <br /> <br />The Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring <br />Water Quality has published, 'Ambient Water-Quality <br />Monitoring in the United States: First Year Review, <br />Evaluation, and Recommeodations.' ,The study <br />contains preliminary recommendations' on how to <br />improve the effectiveness and coordination of <br />monitoring activities conducted by federal, state, and <br />local agencies. According to the report's forward, <br />"Better ambienl...monitoring is needed to assure that <br />the decisions made and the actions taken achieve <br />their...objectives effectively and economically ...to allow <br />better management of our natural resources.' For <br />information contact USGS, Office of Water Data <br />Coordination, 417 National Center, Reston, VA 22092 <br />(703) 648-5023. <br /> <br />WATER RESOURCES <br /> <br />Corps of Engineers/Kansas <br /> <br />The state of Kansas is considering paying up to <br />$25M to. purchase aliailableStorage in Corps of <br />Engineers' reservoirs in Kansas to gain more control <br />over water management in the state. From 1974-91, <br />Kansas executed contracts for storage space in ten <br />major reservoirs. In 1985, Kansas and the Corps <br />signed a memorandum of understanding (MOUl <br />