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U.S. GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION
GP
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RE-
LATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2004
U.S. SENATE,
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS,
Washington, DC.
NONDEPARTMENTAL WITNESSES
[CLERK'S NOTE.-The subcommittee was unable to hold hearings
on nondepartmental witnesses, the statements and letters of those
submitting written testimony are as follows:]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL FORUM
In Support of $5,200,000 to assist in Colorado River Salinity Control, Title II, and
with support for the President's request for the Land Resources Subactivity: Soil,
Water, and Air Management. Specifically, this testimony supports the President's
request for the Soil, Water and Air account in the amount of $34,936,000 and for
a designation that $800,000 be used to further advance Colorado River salinity con-
trol efforts.
This testimony is in support of funding for the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) for activities that assist the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program.
The BLM budget, as proposed by the Administration in the BLM budget justifica-
tion document, calls for four principle program priorities within the Soil, Water and
Air Management. One of these priorities, in part, is through continuing BLM meas-
ures to meet the international agreement for salinity of the Colorado River. It is
also noted that in the budget justification document there are identified perform-
ance estimates for 2003 and it is stated that The BLM continues to implement on-
the-ground projects, evaluate progress in cooperation with Bureau of Reclamation
and Natural Resources Conservation Service, and report salt-retaining measures in
order to further the Plan of Implementation of the Federal Salinity Control program
in the Colorado River Basin. The Forum believes that in fiscal year 2004 funds ap-
propriated by Congress will be used for this purpose in this next fiscal year.
The seven Colorado River Basin States, through the Colorado River Basin Salinity
Control Forum, have been trying to engage the BLM in a partnership with the
Basin states as has been done with other federal agencies. This enhanced working
relationship has been slow to develop. The Forum is encouraged by the words in
the BLM budget document. The Forum supports the funding request. Our analysis
indicates that the BLM needs to specifically target the expenditure of funds in the
amount of $5,200,000 for activities that help control salt contributions from BLM
managed lands in the Colorado River Basin in fiscal year 2004 with $800,000 being
focused upon salinity control efforts.
Although the Forum has not been able to determine, to its satisfaction, how funds
have been or will be spent, we are encouraged by recent BLM efforts. The Forum
has requested that the BLM select a salinity coordinator for the basinwide program.
This person would serve with the two full-time coordinators now in place for the
USBR and the USDA. Salinity Coordinators in each of the state BLM offices have
been identified.
The BLM has been charged by the Congress with preparing a special report as
to how the Bureau will advance salinity control activities. In the past, it has been
difficult to determine the extent of BLM efforts in the water quality program. It has](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.cbhear/fdsysaerg0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)