Show pro Renewed Efforts to 10 be tie Made For Approval of Uintah Unit Unil Interior Dept officials have pledged to renew efforts to gain aln approval of plans Ir Ii f r the Uintah Unit reclamation project in Utah Sen Wallace F F. F Dennett Bennett R Utah R-Utah Ulah reported this week weck THE PROJECT to be located near Roosevelt has been held up pending certification of 01 its economic feasibility by bythe bythe bythe the the Secretary of Interior Department representatives told the Senator and Utah water officials meetIng meeting meet ing in hi his office that a new plan designed de do signed to Improve the economics of the project by giving more weight ht to its social economic benefits for tor Indians in northeastern Utah has neary been com corns IT WILL be presented to the Secretary Secretary Secre tary of ot Interior in the next four to six months for a policy polley decision The fhe new lIew plan ordered last year following fol lowing a similar meeting in the Senators Senator's Senators Senator's Sen Send ator's office was delayed due to per personnel sonnet changes within the department and problems at the Bureau Dureau of 01 Indian Affairs IF THE project which was authorized zed by Congress in 1968 1008 1068 Is approved by bythe bythe bythe the Secretary it can then be consid ered for advance planning funds Sen Dennett Bennett said lAid However department officials cau eau cautioned cautioned at the meeting that the decision will not be an easy one within the department WHAT IS at stake slake here Is whether we can count the social benefits to In Indians as all part of the overall economic benefits of the project Sen Dennett Bennett said This Involves a major policy polley d decision de do within the Executive branch but butI I think its it's an appropriate request and andI I will ask the Secretary to approve it it Sen Bennett Dennett said there Is a growing need heed for municipal and industrial water water wa ter In the area to be served by the project and that its primary benefits will go Ito to the Uintah and Ouray Indian In dian dlan Reservations in the Uintah Basin Utah officials attending the meeting included Lynn Ludlow LY and Clyde Ritchie of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District Federal officials of included Bill Wilson acting deputy dep uty my assistant secretary for water and power Warren Fairchild assistant commissioner com come missioner of the Bureau Dureau of Reclamation and Newton Edwards of the Bureau Dureau of Indian Affairs |