| Statement of the Interior
Assistant Secretary Bennett Raley on Status of Quantification Settlement
Agreement
August 13, 2003 Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary - Water and Science Washington, D.C. Contact: Trudy Harlow 202-513-0574 I am pleased to announce that after significant work with the State of California, the Department of the Interior believes that the outstanding federal issues that would lead to execution of a Quantification Settlement Agreement have been resolved. We have been working to achieve quantification of California agricultural water use and provide for a reduction in California's use of Colorado River water. We think those goals have been achieved in the agreement that we worked with the State to negotiate with the California water agencies. However, significant work remains among the California parties to reach agreement on non-federal issues, and the ability of the QSA process to proceed will await resolution of those issues. We have also worked actively with the Governors' representatives of the other six Basin States. While they have reservations about some of the details in the agreement, we believe those issues can be resolved pending resolution of the State issues between and among the California parties. Both the State of California and the Department of the Interior are extremely concerned that the window of opportunity for resolution of the issues among the California agencies is rapidly closing. Calvert Press Statement on Status of Quantification Settlement Agreement August 13, 2003 Contact: Rebecca Rudman 202-225-1986 Washington, D.C. - Congressman Ken Calvert, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power, issued the following statement on the announcement of progress made on the execution of the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA). "After intense gridlock over the QSA, I am pleased that progress has been made by the states and the Department of the Interior, and look forward to looking at the framework that has been agreed to. Although there is still work to be done this is a step in the right direction and I hope that all efforts will be made to resolve the remaining issues surrounding the QSA. In light of this news, it is imperative to highlight California's need to lessen its dependence on the Colorado River. I have introduced the Water Supply, Reliability and Environmental Improvement Act, H.R. 2828, which will provide federal resources for less traditional ways of creating water supply such as water desalination, water reclamation, water recycling and treatment for brackish water. These new innovations are the future of long-term water reliability and, ultimately, water self-sufficiency in California. With a final agreement on the QSA in conjunction with the passage of my bill, California will be on track to free itself from water problems that have plagued the state for too long." |