[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   YAVAPAI-PRESCOTT INDIAN TRIBE WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                               speech of

                            HON. BILL ORTON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 1994

  Mr. ORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4615, a bill 
that I introduced earlier this year. H.R. 4615 is intended to allow 
private entities, in this case the city of Provo, UT, to contract for 
use of the Central Utah Project [CUP] for the delivery, storage and 
impounding of Provo City water through CUP facilities.
  This legislation will allow the Central Utah Project to carry both 
its own water and nonproject water to maximize the CUP's efficiency. 
This legislation will also allow the city of Provo to avoid having to 
duplicate many of the same, and very expensive, kinds of storage and 
delivery facilities that the CUP has already constructed. It is rare 
indeed when a situation such as this comes along when it is an absolute 
win-win situation for everyone involved, from the city of Provo, to the 
Central Utah Water Conservancy District [CUWCD], to all of the 
taxpayers in Utah who would have contributed to separate and 
duplicative projects. In the long run, this legislation will also have 
the positive effect of improving the long-range health of the Provo 
River.
  As the distinguished chairman knows, water from the city of Provo is 
already being distributed through the Central Utah Water Conservancy 
District system, but questions have arisen recently as to whether the 
district has the authority to move such non-project water. This 
legislation is clearly intended to clarify this technicality.
  In addition, an amendment was added to this legislation designed to 
clarify original congressional intent that employees and board members 
of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District [CUWCD] are eligible to 
serve as members of the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation 
Commission if they are duly appointed by the President under the 
provisions of the act. The original statute specifically provides that 
the district may submit a nominee to serve as a member of the 
Commission. This provision placed no limitation on whom the district 
could nominate. The CUWCD's board has nominated its general manager to 
serve in this capacity but his appointment has been held up for over 2 
years pending clarification that a district employee or board member is 
eligible to serve on the Commission. Attempts through correspondence 
from the committee chairman and ranking member have failed to resolve 
the issue therefore this amendment is offered to provide the necessary 
clarification.
  In closing, I would just like to thank the distinguished chairman of 
the Natural Resources Committee for all of his and his staff's hard 
work on this much needed legislation that will end up saving the 
taxpayers money and allow the most efficient use of already established 
facilities.

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