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<br />state budgets and Council members' time, a majority
<br />of states favored meeting three times a year, rather
<br />than four. After some discussion, the committee
<br />agreed to suggest the Council make the transition.
<br />
<br />The Legal Committee discussed possible state
<br />approaohes to dealing with the effects of the U.S.
<br />Supreme Court's ruling in U.S. v. Idaho ryvSW # 990)
<br />that the United States is not subject to the payment of
<br />the type of fees charged by the state in its generai
<br />adjudication proceeding. Next, the committee
<br />evaluated the third WSWC/NARF Symposium on the
<br />Settlement of Indian Reserved Water Rights Claims
<br />ryvSW (1009). The' committee also spent a good deal
<br />oftime discussing a draft report on improving relations
<br />between federal entities and state water resource
<br />managers so as to enhance endangered species
<br />protection while at the same time respecting state
<br />water management decisions. The committee also
<br />discussed a number of recent court cases, Oregon's
<br />new water conservation law, and the reserved rights
<br />language in the recent Colorado Wilderness bill.
<br />,
<br />
<br />On Friday, the 1121h Quarterly Meeting began with
<br />a panel discussion of efforts in the Coeur d'Alene
<br />basin to remediate pollution related to mine waste (as
<br />well as other sources) on a voluntary, non-CERCLA
<br />basis. A number of state, federal and local
<br />representatives discussed their interest in beginning to
<br />correct past and present problems in the basin without
<br />waiting for federal action under CERCLA or Super1und
<br />mandates, which are cumbersome and can result in
<br />open-ended liability for certain parties, while leaving
<br />some "orphan sites" with no viable party responsible
<br />for cleanup. In order to address these problems, a
<br />voluntary, cooperative council was created. Panel
<br />members represented the Idaho Departments of
<br />Health and Environmental Quality, EPA, Hecla Mining,
<br />and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.
<br />
<br />Elizabeth Ann Rieke, Assistant Secrcltary of Interior
<br />for Water and Science (and a former WSWC member),
<br />was also a special guest. She briefed members on
<br />the Administration's goal of "reinventing government,"
<br />and earlier Interior review initiatives examining the
<br />need for virtually every program. Betsy also noted
<br />efforts to resolve a number of longstanding conflicts,
<br />including specifically the Pacific Northwest salmon and
<br />Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta issues. Part of
<br />the challenge is that federal agencies' actions are not
<br />well coordinated. Another part is that the "science" is
<br />
<br />not well settled. Secretary Bruce Babbitt strongly
<br />supports creation of a National Biological Survey to
<br />provide "credible" Independent scientific information, .
<br />but the proposed federal legislation has been caught
<br />up In the 'frustration over reauthorization of the
<br />Endangered Species Act. While Interior has had some
<br />success in resolving ESA problems using habitat
<br />conservation plans, the Northwest salmon and Delta
<br />controversies involve many more complex issues.
<br />After her formal remarks, Betsy responded honestly
<br />and directly to a number of questions from members.
<br />
<br />Each of the standing committees reported on
<br />various topics, as well as discussions and priorities
<br />related to their 1994 work plan items. A final work
<br />plan will be approved at the January meetings. There
<br />were no external positions considered, but the Council
<br />did adopt a resolution of appreciation in honor of
<br />retiring member George Christopolus (WSW #1007).
<br />Also, the Council unanimously agreed to suspend the
<br />rules, as the Executive Committee recommended, in
<br />order to try reducing the number of meeting to three
<br />per year, beginning in 1995. Individual states reported
<br />on significant events and activities, and members
<br />expressed their thanks to Keith Higginson and the
<br />other Idaho representatives that planned and hosted
<br />the meetings and special activities, The next Council
<br />meetings will be hosted by the state of Hawaii at the .
<br />Royal Lahaina Resort, in Kaanapali Beach, Maui on
<br />January 12-14, 1994.
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />We are sad to report that Tom Choules passed
<br />away on October 8, in Arizona. He was 65. Tom
<br />suffered for many years with health problems related
<br />to diabetes, but he was always cheer1ul and active.
<br />He enjoyed golf and tennis. Funeral services were
<br />held in Yuma at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
<br />Day Saints, on October 12. Tom was active in his
<br />church, as well as his community. An attorney, he
<br />was president of the Arizona Bar Association, and
<br />represented many water interests, including the
<br />Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation District. For over seventeen
<br />years, he represented Arizona as a WSWC member
<br />and served as chair of the Legal Committee and
<br />numerous subcommittees. He often came to WSWC
<br />meetings with a box of dates from a farm in Yuma that
<br />he also partly owned. We will miss his friendship.
<br />Letters may be addressed to his wife Ida Choules,
<br />1483 S. Gateway Drive, Yuma, Arizona 85364,
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
<br />Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
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