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Show Interior's Andrus gives McKay first I commitment on CUP. new starts "The first serious commitments" com-mitments" to new construction con-struction starts for the Central Utah Project (CUP) is how Utah Congressman Con-gressman Gunn McKay characterized answers he received Wednesday from Interior Secretary Cecil D. Andrus. Responding for the record to questions Rep. McKay posed two weeks ago, Secretary Andrus agreed with McKay that "the best way" to develop water rights for the Ute Indian Tribe is "immediate" "immedi-ate" construction of the Uintah and Upalco units of the CUP. McKay said this means the administration sees the Central Utah Project as the best vehicle for honeying the 1965 Indian water deferral agreement. "The Indians will get their water," McKay said, "and as important, they will get it through the - CUP. That all but guarantees guaran-tees the future of the project." The Utah Democrat also revealed Secretary Andrus An-drus admitted he could, let construction contracts on the controversial Upper Stillwater Dam by late 1979. "Not only are these major concessions on the administration's part, but they appear to be the first break in the 'no new starts' policy," said McKay. Mc-Kay. Secretary Andrus appeared ap-peared February 22 before the House Appropriations Public Works subcommittee subcommit-tee where Rep. McKay asked him to respond to several important questions ques-tions regarding the capability capa-bility figures for the development devel-opment of the Central Utah Project. McKay, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Commit-tee, said the figures were essential to his securing higher funding levels for the year. Secretary Andurs' answers arrived at McKay's Mc-Kay's office Wednesday, stating total Bureau of Reclamation capability figures for the entire Central Cen-tral Utah Project could reach $52,484,000 for 1979 -$15,050,000 beyond that requested in the proposed budget. McKay noted, however, Andrus' statement that "while we do have the capability (to build these projects)... I am not here before this committee advocating any deviation from the President's budget." bud-get." The administration requested a total of $37.4 million for the entire CUP. McKay asked Andrus, "Does the Department agree with the Ute Tribal Council that the Uintah and Upalco units must proceed to construction immediately to honor the commitment the Federal Government made in the 1965 deferral agreement?" agree-ment?" Andrus said "yes." Answering McKay's question, "Is there any reason aside from fiscal constraint why the Uintah and Upalco units could not begin construction in the fiscal year 1979?" Andrus dispelled speculation he would contest the projects on environmental or cost benefit grounds. "No," he answered. "Assuming that no major problem develops, construction could be initiated init-iated in fiscal year 1979." During the earlier questioning on February 22, McKay challenged Andrus to show why construction con-struction could not begin on the two Indian projects immediately. Andrus answered then that while he had the capability it was a "policy determination determin-ation whether or not they would proceed with construction. con-struction. "Apparently they've set their policy and the Indian units are part of it," commented McKay as he reviewed Andrus' answers. For the record, McKay asked about the SI million he had included in the 1978 budget for completion comple-tion of pre-construction work on the Bonneville Unit's Upper Stillwater Dam. "Will that money be obligated in fiscal year 1978 as Congress direc- , ted?" J Secretary Andrus re- i sponded that it would '. not. "It has taken more time than we anticipated to collect the field data ! and we now expect to ' complete it in March (1978)." He continued that his department would ', require another 15 months to complete design work citing "complicated de- sign problems." Andrus specified Bur-enu Bur-enu of Reclamation capa- bility for the CUP saying 1 the Bonneville Unit could use S10 million compared with the $28.5 million budget request. It would ' pay for continuation of work on the Jordan aqua- duct and the Strawberry ! collection system and a ', new contract award for the ' Rhodes Hades Tunnel complex. It would also f include study money for the Upper Stillwater Dam, purchase of land and rights for Jordanelle Dam ; and Reservoir, a contract to relocate U.S. Highway 40 out of the Jordanelle Reservoir and award of a contract for three of the Jordan aqueducts. That money would also allow for fish and wildlife facilities work to continue at Strawberry Reservoir and Currant Creek and permit work to begin at the Soldier Creek site. The capability for the Uintah unit is $2.3 million -$2 million above that requested. It would provide pro-vide foi purchase of land, preconstruction work ; location of a road 't 'i construction of a ca ' and laboratory. ' ,- For the Upalco Unit ' capability rises $1.5 'J? t lion to a total of $fi ' million. The money W(J ' pay for preconstructio U activities, purchase lands and rights for i -Taskeech Dam and Re,? '; voir and for initial J -struction of a laborator," ' Andrus testified the was no higher capabffit, for the Jensen Unit, 'j'- |