[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1400-E1401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCING TO THE RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM FOR ENDANGERED FISH 
    SPECIES IN THE UPPER COLORADO AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 1999

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I am introducing an 
Act that would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost 
sharing for the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for 
the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basins. This Act is needed 
so that two cooperative intergovernmental programs can continue working 
to achieve recovery of four endangered fish in the Upper Colorado River 
and San Juan River Basins while meeting continuing demands for water in 
the arid West. To date, requests for

[[Page E1401]]

funding for the recovery programs have received considerable support in 
Congress because the programs serve as a dispute resolution and provide 
a means to solve a very complex set of problems. However, as the amount 
of funding required increases because capital construction projects are 
underway, program participants are seeking clear statutory authority to 
help ensure that needed funds continue to be appropriated by Congress.
  The Recovery Program is a mutually supported program including the 
states, government agencies, Indian tribes, private organizations, and 
environmental organizations. Participants in the Upper Colorado River 
program alone include the state of Colorado, the state of Utah, the 
state of Wyoming, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, the Western Area Power Administration, environmental 
organizations, water development interests, and federal power 
customers.
  This bill would authorize the appropriation of $46 million to the 
Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and ensure the 
completion of the capital projects and research needed to recover the 
listed species. Once the bill is enacted, non-federal participants like 
the states and those who purchase power from federal hydroelectric 
projects, will also share in the cost of the capital projects.
  This bill is a good example of how the recovery of listed species can 
coincide with existing and future uses of water for states needs. Also, 
this is an opportunity to set a precedent for other regions of the 
country who could be impacted by the recovery of a listed species. 
These implementation programs are running models--showing how 
cooperation between states, government agencies, and private 
organizations can achieve results. Participants in these programs are 
eager to move ahead and willing to share the costs. I urge all my 
colleagues to support and co-sponsor this Act to authorize the Bureau 
of Reclamation to provide cost sharing for the endangered fish recovery 
implementation programs for the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River 
Basins.

                          ____________________