For the second time the federal government has extended the public comment period for a proposed water pipeline project.

US Army Corps of Engineer officials have prolonged the comment period to Sept. 28 for the proposed Million Conservation Resource project.

“If we see this plan implemented it will greatly limit our growth,” says Mike Kitzmiller Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce director.

Planned is the Regional Watershed Supply Project by private developer Aaron Million to deliver 250,000 acre feet of Green River water to municipalities and farms on Colorado’s Front Range.

Under the 1922 Colorado River Compact the State of Colorado has a legal right to the water which is as yet unused.

“Million’s company proposes to get the water from the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir,” says David Allison, environmental consultant for Uintah County.

Allison opened his talk before the Vernal Chamber luncheon saying the comment period relates to the environmental impact statement being prepared for Million’s permit request.

“He has submitted project plans to the Corps in order to receive a permit for the 400-mile long pipeline,” says Allison.

The Million Group’s project scoping request is complex.

“The Corps regulates U.S. waters under the Clean Water Act,” he said. “They issue what is called Section 404 Permits for activities depending on their scope.”

Scoping indicated that a second extension was needed as more than 40 requests for cooperating agency status came into the agency.

One of those seeking cooperator status is Uintah County, who has hired Allison to develop their comments for the federal agency.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Allison says enumerating the county’s concerns. “In the first place, based on water availability the amount of water requested may be unsustainable.”

Water withdrawal would include 85,000 acre feet out of the Green River and 165,000 acre feet to be piped from Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

“Secondly, they’re not dealing with issues relating to water rights in this environmental impact statement,” the consultant said. “Federal process under the National Environmental Protection Act do not allow severalty. They need to address all the impacts.”

The strongest argument Allison says is that water flows will be changed on the Green River which will likely further endanger protected species of fish.

“We’ve spent a lot of money on threatened and endangered species,” Allison says, noting the considerable cost that has gone into protected lands like the Ouray Refuge in Brown’s Park.

He sums up effects by saying “these withdrawals will degrade water quality, increase temperature, raise sediment levels and alter flows.”

“Local business will be affected as the draw-down will impact the recreational use of Flaming Gorge and the Green below the dam,” Allison says. “But these impacts are not part of the current Corps document in preparation.”

Uintah County commissioners have stated their concerns in a 34-page commentary that requests the current environmental impact statement be halted until these aspects are included.

mbernard@vernal.com

SIDEBAR:

Water delivery project proposal

250,000 acre feet of water a year to be piped, including:

85,000 acre feet piped from the Green River

165,000 acre feet piped from Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

400-mile-long pipeline from western Wyoming to the Colorado Front Range.

Three new storage reservoirs may be built to hold the water.

Project cost is projected $4 billion; privately funded.