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Show $V 9hlUli&tW!lll ocal &flirris By ANTON GARRFFY HeraM Staff Writer ..In what was labeled as Utah's ; biggest put barrel project ever, a r j, , Utah County commissioner pressed his concerns about the troversial (CUP.) excon- Central Utah Project County Commissioner Brent C. Morris addressed a Thursday night ' meeting of the Utah County Republican Women, beginning his remarks with a brief outline of the CUP from its meager beginnings in 1922 to its present day status. - Morris briefly reviewed some CUP issues that he said will be &bmi in) addressed in the next year, including the $15 million in funds that have been recently allocated to Strawberry Reservoir water users, the need for a legal agreement with the Ute Indian tribe to use their water to fill Jordanelle. Morris said Jordanelle dam will continue to be a coriroversial issue. He said he was concerned about whether or not the Olmsted Aquaduct Project and the 429 cfs of nonconsumptive water rights will be violated and that the Irrigation and Drainage (I&D) projects will continue to be controversial. The main thrust of Morris' speech dealt with seven of his personal predictions. Morris said he does not believe there will be enough water available to fill the new Jordanelle dam, and that $500 million will have to be spent to construct a pipeline from Strawberry Reservoir to Deer Creek to fill the new dam. He also predicted that the I&D Project for the southern counties of Utah will not gain congressional funding in order to develop lands they were promised some 25 years ago. A third prediction involves the Upalco and Uintah units which are Friday Sept. 15, A : QmM Utah Pmp&L There are two things Morris 'said he would especially like to see tiorte as soon as possible. First, that 'an independent hydrological study 'of the Jordanelle dam be done to determine whether or not there- - is sufficient water to store behind the dam. Also whether or not that' can be accomplished without threatening the Provo Canyon water system, Utah Lake water system, or Provo city's water rights. The second thing Morris said he would like to see done after the new hydrological study is completed, is a new environmental impact study needs to be completed for Provo ' ' ; Canyon and Utah Lake. two of the five units in the original CUP plan. Morris said he believes these two units will likewise receive no funding from Congress to develop areas promised to them in the original CUP plan. river water rights and will have to resort to litigation to get their water back." A sixth prediction stated by Morris says that the counties depending on I&D water and not currently funded Congress will never get Morris said he believes the Provo back thebytaxes they have payed for River flow will be reduced to a the 20 years into the CUP past Utah level that is unacceptable to Project. County residents. He also said that the level of Utah Lake will be Finally, Morris said that the CUP lowered to the extent that the water because of his previous Project, to the be will unacceptable quality community. His fifth prediction is that Provo city will finally "wake up and realize that they are losing their -- predictions, "will end up being the biggest pork barrel project the state of Utah will ever witness and will be to the benefit of Salt Lake County." CUWOO board 1 ;; upset with Morris By MYRNA TRAUNTVEIN Herald Correspondent The board of directors of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District claim a letter written by Utah County Commissioner Brent C. Morris about the Olmstead Aqueduct Project raised questions which might lead the public to misunderstand the project. In fact, the board expressed anger with Morris for his comments printed in The Herald Sept. 5, 1989. At Thursday's meeting the board voted to send a reply to Morris. In response to Morris' concern that Congress had not approved the project, the board said Congress, yearly, is fully appraised of all federally funded construction relating to the Central Utah Project-Bonnevil- le Unit. Herald PhotoBonnie Ellis The pilot of this plane walked away from it uninjured after it flipped in mud near Utah Lake Wednesday night. Pilot spends night in flipped plane A single engine plane was flying low Wednesday averting and ended up upside down near the edge of Utah Lake just south of Provo , Municipal Airport. r 1 Norm Castle of Orem spent a chilly night bundled up in the carpet of his Cessna 172. He didn't know how deep the water and the lriud might be and since nobody knew he was out there, he decided iBYU to stay put until it was light, said Castle. The radio wasn't working because the plane was upside down with the antennas buried in the mud. Castle had left Provo Municipal Airport about 8:45 p.m. to practice turns and slow flight maneuvers. "I was going in on a glide slope and there wasn't any depth perception out there. It was like an ink bottle," said Castle. "It seemed like I was low so I started pulling up, then the next thing I knew I was plowing water." "The plane flipped over and I was hanging upside down by the seat belt," he said. Castle cut out the carpet in his plane and rolled up in it to keep warm throughout the night. The strobe lights were left on but no one spotted him during the night. When the sun came up and warmed things up a little bit, Castle was able to walk back to the airport by 9 a.m. "It was cold out there. My feet were in water all night long." The engine was ripped out of the plane and every wing was bent' out v of shape. student killed in Provo Canyon accident BYU student was killed Thurs- collision one igjf night in a two-cSlid a half miles up Provo Canyon l wfien his car was struck head-o- n ; d3 knocked into the Provo River. Spaniel K. Murdock, 24, address 'inknown, was pronounced dead at - the scene of the accident, according ; ioa Utah High Patrol spokesman. -A ar ieEftinar He was driving west with his passenger and cousin, Kelly L. Murdock, 23, of Spanish Fork, at approximately 11:45 p.m. when an eastbound car crossed the center line and smashed into the Murdock vehicle, forcing it into the river. The eastbound car, with driver, Patrick L. Real, 26, Lake City, Fla., and passenger, Fred K. Siao-s- i, 23, Provo, was apparently traveling at a high rate of speed, the spokesman said. Daniel Murdock did not drown in the accident as there was only six inches of water in the car, the spokesman said. Kelly Murdock was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center where he remained in critical condition this morning. Real was listed in satisfactory condition at UVRMC this morning. Siaosi was treated at the hospital after the accident and released. : Neither driver was wearing a seat belt, although both passengers were, the spokesman said. students to iet new domnie $3 million building to go up in Washington A $3 million home for the , Brigham Young University Wash- intern-- I ington Seminar, a student ship program, will soon be built ; in the downtown area of the nation's capital, BYU President 'Rex Lee announced today. : With plans to build at 1666 P ' Street, N.W., near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., the new building is tentatively designed as ' five-stor-y a structure, pending approval of the city's planning and zoning department It will provide affordable housing for interns studying in Washington and a ; faculty adviser, as well as a : library, office, and conference classroom. Approximately 50 BYU students travel to Washington, D.C., each semester to gain professional experience as interns with prominent private and governmental employers as part of the Washington Seminar. Currently, single students are housed in an apartment complex in Alexandria, Va., while married students must find their own housing. "This center will be a real blessing to the hundreds of BYU ; students, married and single, who ."come here to participate in the . . .Washington experience," Lee aid. He announced BYU had '.received a $2 million gift for construction of the facility. The seminar has given more than 1,300 students an opportunity to participate in the business and politics of Washington. Interns e work for a sponsor four days a week and meet for lectures and discussions on Fridays. "It will make it easier for noted lecturers, statesmen, academicians, and guest speakers to interface with our students and exchange ideas and concepts with them," Lee said. full-tim- Fowler, Ferguson, Kingston and Ruben Architects of Salt Lake City have been retained by BYU to design the building. Final plans will be submitted to the Washington, D.C., City Planning Commission in the next two months and if approved, construction could begin in the spring, said Warren J. Jones, architectural section supervisor in BYU's Physical Facilities Division. Lit by J . , f Z.7$fH. t ' yv '. f" endowment is being sought A model of the new Washington Seminar building is shown. through private funding sources. "We expect the new center to create a noticeable presence for BYU and the church in Washing- - will dramatically strengthen their stature among the nation's leaders and decision makers," Lee said. ton that vo. Olmstead Aqueduct allows water to be used for municipal and industrial purposes and allows stream release for fish habitat. The board of directors said Morris' charge the NEPA (National Evironmental Protection Act) had been skirted was not so. The Bureau of Reclamation has been in Environmental Impact Statement was filed on proposed construction of Jordanelle Dam and Reservibr, impacts on Provo River were covered. Neither the Bureau of Reclamation nor .the Central Utah 'Water Conservancy District are proposing converting nonconsumptive Use 'water rights to consumptive use water rights, agreed the board. "In fo;t, there is no possibility absolute) none that this district 'br ' the Bureau could, if they wanted'- lo, convert this nonconsumptive :usc into a consumptive municipal' or industrial use, but such is not, the intent," reads the letter. The board also claimed there was a complete EIS filed on the municipal and industrial segment' of the Bonneville Unit. ' The EIS was challenged in Federal court but both the Federal District Court and the United ; States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals! held there had been full compliance with : NEPA. ,. In addition, the question of alternative water sources was analyzed and addressed in the case, directors explained to Morris. Morris says letter doesn't change his views on CUP By MYRNA TRAUNTVEIN Herald Correspondent Utah County Commissioner Brent Morris said he still holds the same views he had before the letter from the board of directors of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District directed to him. The letter was the typical type of bureaucratic response he expected, said Morris. Those working as part of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District were interested in keeping their jobs and in keeping tax dollars for the projects rolling in, said Morris. "As to the survey (conducted by Dan Jones for the district), I don't think 90 percent of the citizens of Utah County understand CUP." He said the district has too much authority. "The district has too much discretion." When they can authorize the construction of a $15 million tunnel construction project like the Olmstead Aqueduct they have too much power, he said. "In their letter, they admit they have done the project too rapidly," he said. Morris said, in his opinion, the CUP should never have been begun f Photo cwrtetjr M BYU of 1991. Lee said BYU is seeking to also establish a $1 million endowment to support students who cannot participate in the seminar because of financial hardship. The V ' . BYU administrators hope to have the building finished in time for occupancy beginning fall se- mester rr, Congress need not approve the Olmstead Tunnel Project because it is a project funded and administered by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District in its role as legal administrator in the operation and maintenance of the Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project, according to directors. Projects built with tax money sometimes benefit only individual areas. "It would be impossible for the district to perform its statuato-r- y duties if it were to always spend money which would only proportionately benefit all 12 counties," the directors wrote. Directors said without the Olmstead Aqueduct, water couldn't be diverted to either Salt Lake County users or the Utah Valley Water Treatment Plant. Benefits come to Orem and, ultimately, to all of North Utah County, including Pro- full compliance, they say. Many different activities, such as obtaining easements for construction, advertising and awarding contracts, and filing of environmental peCmits, need to be completed at the 'same ' time. "The work is critically needed, and the tight schedule is justified by the urgency of repairs," explained directors. Morris did not think the EIS addressed the severe impact the proposal would have on the' Provo River System and Utah Lake. 'How- ' ever, the board disagreed. "The Olmstead Tunnel Project 'is a project to solve a local landslide : problem," they said. None of; the alternatives analyzed to solve 'the landslide problem would have 'an ' impact on Utah Lake. Directors claim, since a detailed in the first place. Other alternatives should have been found, nevertheless, he said all of that is history. However, the Olmstead project should not go forward until Lite Utah Power and Light litigation is resolved. "What if the court awards . a substantial amount of money to UP&L? They should have evaluated whether the project is still affordable (if the award is made)." He said the Central Utah District board of directors and staff did not want CUP questioned. They don't want any red flags sent back to Washington in case Congress notices and funding , is cut. "They want the tax money to continue to flow so the Jordenelle project is not threatened," said Morris. n waMorris said the ter treatment plant benefits only Orem and will, because of cost, never really be of benefit to any other residents of Utah County. Morris said he thinks the Olmstead project will affect Provo River. He said he fears the river will be reduced to a trickle below Qie project. multi-millio- Chase leads to arrests A car chase involving Provo police, Orem police, Brigham Young University police and Utah Highway Patrol officers early Friday morning resulted in the discovery of two stolen cars and resolution of six auto burglaries, a Provo police officer said. the remaining car through O'ran and onto finally apprehending the driver in Alpine. ; One juvenile front. Provo was arrested at the scene, while the driver of the other car, Captain Duane Fraser said a cars driving recklessly in the BYU stadium chase were stolen, Fraser' said, and the teens had apparently; committed three auto burglaries in the Timpview High School area To! Provo that night after stealing thd : automobiles. : BYU officer saw two parking lot and investigated. The cars sped away and after finding one car abandoned, officers chased another Provo was. Both later. cars involved up Eicked |
