COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAYNE N. ASPINALL, Colorado, Chairman JAMES A. HALEY, Florida ROBERT W. KASTENMEIER, Wisconsin JAMES KEE, West Virginia ROBERT G. STEPHENS, JR., Georgia TENO RONCALIO, Wyoming NICK BEGICH, Alaska JAMES ABOUREZK, South Dakota JOHN P. SAYLOR, Pennsylvania SAM STEIGER, Arizona KEITH G. SEBELIUS, Kansas JAMES D. MCKEVITT, Colorado JORGE L. CORDOVA, Puerto Rico (Resident Commissioner) Note: The chairman, Hon. Wayne N. Aspinall, and the ranking minority member, Hon. John P. Saylor, are ex officio members of each subcommittee. Brosz, Donald J., extension irrigation engineer, University of Wyo- Copenhaver, Ross, attorney, Polecat Irrigation District. Dillon, Clive, president, Wyoming Municipal Power Agency, Powell, Fagerberg, Robert M., project manager, Shoshone-Heart Mountain 64 59 Hathaway, Hon. Stanley K., Governor, State of Wyoming- Hecht, Robert N., Powell, Wyo. Hinckley, John T., Northwest Community College, Powell, Wyo- Holtz, Paul, field representative, representing Senator Clifford P. Wilkins, Robert, vice president, First National Bank. 70 Brunk, J. D., Department of Economic Planning and Development, State of Wyoming, to Subcommittee on Irrigation and Reclamation, Carlson, William D., president, the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Curtis, C. W., vice president, Two Dot Ranch Corp., to commissioners Mann, Theodore E., acting regional director, Bureau of Reclamation, 41 POLECAT BENCH UNIT, PICK-SLOAN, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROGRAM, WYOMING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1972 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Powell, Wyo. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 o'clock a.m., the Honorable Abraham Kazen, Jr., presiding. Mr. KAZEN. The Subcommittee on Irrigation and Reclamation will now come to order. Ladies and gentlemen, I am Congressman Kazen of the 23d Congressional District of Texas. I have been designated to preside at this hearing by the chairman of the subcommittee, Congressman Harold T. Johnson of California. We are a subcommittee of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives, which has jurisdiction over all legislation affecting the Federal reclamation program. Before commencing the hearing, the Chair would like to make a personal note to the effect that we are happy to be in Wyoming and are looking forward to having a profitable, as well as an enjoyable. time here in the Shoshone River Valley. We are, of course, very happy to be in the district of our distinguished colleague on the committee, Teno Roncalio, your very able Congressman. In a few minutes I will call on the other members of the subcommittee to make whatever statements they might want to. The rules of the House of Representatives authorizes each committee or subcommittee to decide for itself the question of live media coverage. It would be the Chair's intention to authorize the taking of still and motion pictures and the use of recording devices during the hearing so long as such does not interfere with the orderly conduct of the hearing. Do I hear objection from the committee? Hearing none, it is so ordered. The Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, under the leadership of Chairman Wayne N. Aspinall of Colorado, has for many years followed the policy of having field hearings on project authorizations. The wisdom of this policy has been demonstrated many times. It affords the members the opportunity to see, first hand, the setting of the project and to gain a better understanding of what the program will accomplish. It also affords a broader cross section of the community a chance to express itself on behalf of the program, or in opposition to it, as the case may be. We have a sizable witness list this morning and it will therefore be necessary that we strictly observe the committee 5-minute rule. This means-witnesses should hold their statements until they are called to the stand to testify. At that time the statement should be handed to the staff for distribution. Except for the Bureau of Reclamation witnesses, they are also urged to summarize their testimony orally, particularly if their statement exceeds one page in length. After the hearing has been concluded, spectators are welcome to pick up copies of surplus witness statements as long as there are any left. Normally, we give the press first priority in this regard. At the conclusion of the hearing, if there is anyone in the audience who would like to make a statement and did not get the opportunity to do so, they may submit such statement in writing, and it will be made a part of the record or file. At this time, I would like to introduce to you my colleagues on this committee. Of course, on my left is your very able Congressman, and I will leave him for the end to make a wrap-up, if you want to, Teno. On my right is the Honorable Jim Abourezk, your neighbor from the great State of South Dakota. Congressman Abourezk, we are delighted you got here in time, sir. Do you have any statement to make? Mr. ABOUREZK. Well, only that we just flew over from Rapid City, South Dak., and I have never seen scenery quite like that in my life. There were no clouds, so we flew right by the beautiful mountains. Now I know why Teno is so proud of Wyoming. I would say it was better looking than South Dakota scenery, but I had better not, because I am running for election to the Senate. But. I am very happy to be here and look forward to hearing your testimony. Mr. KAZEN. The next gentleman on the subcommittee is the Honorable John Melcher whom most of you know. He is your immediate neighbor right across the line in Montana. He is a very able member of this committee. Congressman. Mr. MELCHER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I notice that my good friend, Congressman Abourezk, almost told the truth. I think before he leaves today he will admit that it is prettier over here than in South Dakota. I can say that without any fear of losing any prestige because, as you know, or perhaps you do not know, I am your neighbor to the north from Montana, and the adjoining congressional district. The Eastern Congressional District is the one I serve in Montana. I want to first of all compliment you people here on this Northwest Community College. I think it is a marvelous institution. I am proud that you people down here so close to us have such a fine institution in Powell. In general, I favor reclamation projects. I am not overwhelmed by this idea that you might continue to produce too much in agricultural products. I view the extension of reclamation projects, with the accompanying new irrigated land, as a stabilizing force in areas such as we have in your area, and such as we have in many areas of Montana. After all, we know what cattle, sheep, and other types of livestock, need as this is our basic industry both in Montana and Wyoming. We know that occasionally we have droughts, and if it were not for the irrigated land that we have in Montana-and I was sure it is true here, too-the drought years would be terribly devastating to the livestock industry and terribly devastating to the economy of our entire States. |