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<br />,-"--~. <br /> <br />PAGE 2 <br />THERE WAS VIRTUALLY flO CONSULT~TION OR DISCUSSION WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL <br />DELEGATImL OUR \'I,~TER CONSERVANCY DISTRICTS AflD MUNICIPALITIES, OUR <br />INDIAN CO~lr1UNITIES, NOR MYSELF. EVEN MORE PICREDIBLY, THE VERY FEDERAL <br />AGENCI ES D I RECTL Y CHARGED WITH PLAfJN !fIG Arm f'1ANAG ING OF OUR WATER RESOURCES <br />WERE ALSO CAUGHT TOTALLY IN THE DARK BY THE DECISION. THE DEPARTflENT OF <br />THE ItlTERIOR, HISTORICALLY THE VlEST'S BEST LHIK TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU- <br />CRACY, WAS RELEGATED TO A RUBBER-STAMPING ROLE. <br />IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE DECISIONS WERE ~lADE BEHItID CLOSED DOORS, <br />IMMUNE FRDr-1 THE SUNLI GHT OF FACTS AND CAREFUL SCRUTI f!Y, BY THOSE UN\4I LL- <br />ING TO LET THE Ar1ERICAfl PEOPLE SHARE IN TilE PROCESS. IT IS REMARKABLE <br />THAT EVEN TODAY, AS WE APPEAR TO DEFEND THESE THREE PROJECTS WHICH WERE <br />LAWFULLY AUTHORIZED MID FUNDED BY n:E UNITED ST.4TES CO~!(.:RESS, ~~E STILL <br />DO NOT KNOI'I WHAT FACTS, RATImIALE, AND CRITERIA WERE USED BY THE PRESIDENT <br />IN CUTTING THESE PROJECTS. ALTHOUGH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND WATER <br />OFFICIALS HAVE REQUESTED SUCH FACTS AND HIFORMATIOfL THE FEDERAL GOVERfl- <br />MENT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO SHARE.IT. <br />AS RECEflTLY AS TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PRESIDENT TOLD ME THAT OUR SUCCESS <br />DEPENDS IN LARGE MEASURE Dr! THE DEGREE TO I/HICH A GEfIUHlE PARTNERSHIP <br />CAN BE ESTABLISHED BETHEEfl THE FEDERAL GOVERflt1ENT AND STATE AND LOCAL <br />