From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
Last week, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor responded to a 27-page letter from Colorado Springs City Councilman Tom Gallagher to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar challenging Reclamation’s evaluation of SDS and claiming that MWH, the engineering firm hired to complete an environmental impact statement, had a conflict of interest. Gallagher asked Salazar to suspend negotiations and reopen the EIS…
Meanwhile, Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera wrote [U.S. Representative John Salazar] to say the other eight members of the city council want to see a contract awarded so that construction can begin and the project come on line by 2016. “We strongly disagree with Mr. Gallagher’s assertions that SDS requires additional analysis through the National Environmental Policy Act,” Rivera said. “The project has been the subject of analysis for more than a decade, including a comprehensive 5-year review process for the EIS which cost our community $17 million.”[…]
Gallagher said the EIS does not take into account changes in the project that have taken place since Reclamation issued its record of decision in March 2009…
Rivera staunchly defends Reclamation’s process in completing the study. “The SDS alignment originating from Pueblo Reservoir was deemed the preferred alternative,” Rivera said, adding that the Colorado Springs City Council voted 8-1 on July 22, 2009, to implement the alternative with the goal of going online in 2016.
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